Gangsta

This song is talking about how there are so many people that want to come off like something (gangster or rasta), but their backgrounds make it so they'll never be what they want to be. Merrill then suggests that her neighborhood is actually bad, or these could be the words of the wannabe-gangsters. I see all these white kids in suburban neighborhoods trying to act tough.

I always thought she was saying "rockstar" not "rasta." But you're probably right! For all I know there's a lyric book and you got it from that, so don't take my word for it, lol.

I listened to an NPR interview with Merrill Garbus and she played and discussed this song on the air. One of the things that I remember from the interview is that she said it's about not being able to be what you want to be, like a gangsta or a rasta. And the lyrics there are definitely rasta, not rockstar, because she said that when she was little she wanted to be Jamaican and rasta, but obviously you can't just make yourself Jamaican. I love her and this group, such a talented group of people!

This song is referring to all the people that feel they have something to say or prove, but are too timid to do it.

What do you do with the "anger in your heart" when you'll never be a "gangsta". A "gangsta" is someone with the confidence/swag/arrogance to draw attention to themselves aka Drake or Kanye (both having middle to upper class childhoods). So for those timid people from all kinds of backgrounds, how do you express your anger/energy/view and get positive attention for it? Tough question.

The chorus could be Merrill referring to herself as a gangsta, because of where she lives (which couldn't be farther from the truth and also proves and says little). But the chorus is definitely empowering, so in a way Merrill or the audience singing this to themselves are just boosting their own ego. Lying or persuading themselves to feel "gangsta" swag/arrogance, just like anyone else who wants to feel powerful.