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The Show Goes On Lyrics

Alright, already the show goes on
alright, till the morning we dream so long
anybody ever wonder, when they would see the sun up
just remember when you come up
the show goes on!

Have you ever had the feeling that you was being had
Don’t that sh-t make you mad
They treat you like a slave, with chains all on your soul,
and put whips up on your back,
they be lying through they teeth
hope you slip up off your path
I don’t switch up I just laugh
put my kicks up on they desk
unaffected by they threats than get busy on they ass
see that’s how that Chi-Town made me
That’s how my daddy raised me
that glittering may not be gold, don’t let no body play me
if you are my homeboy, you never have to pay me
Go on and put your hands up, when times are hard you stand up
L-U-P the man, cause a brand that the fans trust
so even if they ban us they’ll never slow my plans up!

One in the air for the people that ain’t here
Two in the air for the father that’s there
Three in the air for the kids in the ghetto
Four for the kids who don’t wanna be there
None for the n-ggas trying to hold them back
Five in the air for the teacher not scared to tell those kids thats living in the ghetto that the n-ggas holdin back that the World is theirs!
Yeah yeah, the World is yours, I was once that little boy
Terrified of the World
Now I’m on a World tour
I will give up everything, even start a world war
for these ghettos girls and boys im rapping round’ the World for!
Africa to New York, Haiti then I detour, Oakland out to Auckland
Gaza Strip to Detroit, say hip-hop only destroy
tell em’ look at me, boy!
i hope your son don’t have a gun and that would be a D-boy


So no matter what you been through
no matter what you into
no matter what you see when you look outside your window
brown grass or green grass
picket fence or barbed wire
Never ever put them down
you just lift your arms higher
raise em till’ your arms tired
Let em’ know you’re their
That you struggling and survivin’ that you gonna persevere
Yeah, ain’t no body leavin, no body goin’ home
even if they turn the lights out the show is goin’ on!
Song Info
Submitted by
cey On Oct 27, 2010
11 Meanings

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Cover art for The Show Goes On lyrics by Lupe Fiasco

omg this song means so much to me it taught me so much i cant even put it in to words really. i think this song means when something knocks you down stand back up again and keep fighting keep raising your arms higher. this is the best song ever thank you lupe i have no idea what i would so with out this song. when ever i'm sad i listen to it and i feel better. i hope all the people who have to deal with alot of crap in their lives listen to this song and get back up again because no matter what happens life will move forward and the show will go on. i <3 u lupe

I think you nailed it

Cover art for The Show Goes On lyrics by Lupe Fiasco

Lupe has always chosen his words very carefully, no matter how simple they may seem in this song. For example, he only used the N-word when he was telling a story on previous albums, now he is using it to point out his distaste for particular people in the black community trying to hold back the black youth.

The idea of hip-hop being used in a positive light with the consistent barrage of negativity these kids face from their music is like someone reminding a crime riddled community that a gun can be used to feed your family, not ruin others.

I teach in a low income community and I know that many of the kids know who Lupe Fiasco is, and I attempt to push them toward this style of intelligent rap and away from the disgusting damaging ideas of trash like Lil Wayne and Lil Boosie (Louisiana school). These kids see hip-hop as their life, because for most of them it really is that bad, so Lupe is doing a service by being conscious of his influence (and kicking ass while doing it).

Also not saying that Lupe is the first artist to use hip-hop in this manner, but lately it just seems that those who do are very poor at the craft or simply ineffective. These aren't exactly the days of Grandmaster Flash.

Cover art for The Show Goes On lyrics by Lupe Fiasco

It's an anthem single which means that the song is meant to inspire. Specifically, it is meant to reach out to "the ghetto boys and girls" Lupe's "rappin 'round the world for". If the theme of the album is meant project some positivity (Shining Down) into hip-hop, than The Show Goes On is trying to show kids that not only the World, but hip hop doesn't have to "only destroy". Lupe is trying to be a positive (beaming) role model for kids surrounded by negativity and violence.

And I've heard some flack about Lupe "selling out" with this single. But, I think the lyrics were purposefully dumbed down to reach a younger audience. For instance:

"Have you ever had the feeling that you was being had Don't that sh-t make you mad"

It seems like he's talking directly to a 11/12 year old.

Well, that's my thoughts anyway.

yeah, definitely a song to give people hope and open their eyes (last verse)

to your argument about "selling out": the thing is, he doesn't have many songs in which he's talking to 11/12 year olds - so people think he's selling out but i get your point

I've heard and read other comments on some of Lupe's videos that his record company wouldn't release his new album unless he put something mainstream on it. Anyways its a good song. I really like it, it has a nice positive message and i pretty much agree with what siriuslynow commented.

Agreed, this song is meant an inspirational/pick yourself up kind of song. Theres a video on youtube called " behind the scenes, show goes on" Lupe is basically saying that he wanted to use this song as an anthem to keep peoples heads up, no matter whats going on in life. As for the remarks that Lupe is "Selling out" - its absurd, your correct that he purposely made the lyrics simple to reach the audience, i see this an on par with "Superstar" in which the lyrics weren't complicated but the overall feeling of the song added to its effect. I...

Cover art for The Show Goes On lyrics by Lupe Fiasco

Modest Mouse - Float On.

The most unfortunate moment of my day was hearing this. I'm that girl who doesn't want people to mess with my Modest Mouse.

The most unfortunate moment of my day was hearing this. I'm that girl who doesn't want people to mess with my Modest Mouse.

I'm a Modest Mouse fan too, but it's great exposure for them. And I enjoy how this sample turned out. I realize Lupe Fiasco was forced to do this song, but it's a good song and I'm glad he recorded it. The verses have a message, they aren't meaningless raps. Be happy a good artist sampled Modest Mouse instead of someone careless.

Cover art for The Show Goes On lyrics by Lupe Fiasco

I think very differently, so the meaning of this song gets to me. I personally love this song so much. He writes this music to tell us something: that when we fall, we have to keep going. There have been far worse things happening in the world, and its continuing.

"Raise em till your arms' tired, let em' know you there. That you're struggling, surviving, that you gon' persevere. Ain't nobody leaving, nobody going home. Even if they turn the lights out, the show is going on."

This part right here just concludes the entire song. It tells you the message of the song in lyric. This song isn't just meant to inspire, its so much more. What else does Lupe rap about most of the time?

Open your eyes, people.

Song Meaning
Cover art for The Show Goes On lyrics by Lupe Fiasco

Great song!

damn, inspirational

My Interpretation
Cover art for The Show Goes On lyrics by Lupe Fiasco

record label dicked him around and forced him to record with this sample and put it out as the first single. i can see a few of the first lyrics being about that, cast in that light.

Cover art for The Show Goes On lyrics by Lupe Fiasco

They say hip-hop only destroy Tell 'em look at me, boy! I hope your son don't have a gun and never be a D-boy

Being a new father, this line really touched me. Hip hop's subject matter is normally pretty consistent with drugs, misogyny, and murder--basically anything negative is portrayed as positive. But growing up in the 80's and 90's, this was the music I was exposed to so they are my classics. Would I ever let my son listen to them? Hell NO!

That being said, hip hop music is an art and it does take a considerable amount of talent to get people to enjoy what you produce. I would hate to deprive my son of such talent. I'm just happy that Lupe is helping hip hop evolve more positively. So who cares if he's accused of selling out? His true fans should realize they became fans because of his lyrics. And to understand everything that he says, they would have had to do a little research. What kid wants to do research on rap lyrics? Normally, they're just happy with a good hook and a beat.

I applaud him for making his music more accessible because this is the kind of music you want on the radio. He's building a foundation for new fans to see his true talent.

My Opinion

I very much agree, as a Kid I listened to some questionable music, and it wasnt always rap, but most times I hardly paid attention to lyrics and was easily pleased with a good beat. Luckily, ever since hearing Lupe, I've taken more note of lyrics and found myself drawn to his more positive and intellectual messages. Anyways, could anyone here explain what a D-Boy is? I couldnt find anything that seemed to make sense...

Cover art for The Show Goes On lyrics by Lupe Fiasco

This song is like a vanilla ice vs. queen issue. This is float on by modest mouse sped up and added rap into. Very inspirational lyrics but a very unoriginal song

 
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