Lyric discussion by MasterAndreRaven 

Cover art for Many Moons lyrics by Janelle Monáe

I believe that these are the actual lyrics, which many people seem to not have the ears enough to listen for nowadays. After playing Halo 3 for around 12 days straight listening to this song, and ONLY this song, for that entire length of time, it is hard to mistake these as being correct.

Verse 1: We're dancing free but we're stuck here underground And everybody trying to figure they way out Hey Hey Hey, all we ever wanted to say Was chased erased and then thrown away And day to day we live in a daze

Refrain: We march all around til' the sun goes down night children (night children in a round) Broken dreams, no sunshine, endless crimes, we long for freedom (for freedom) You're free but in your mind, your freedom's in a bind

Chorus: Oh make it rain, ain't a thang and it's gonna fall (The silver bullet's in your hand and the war's heating up) And when the truth goes BANG the shouts splatter out (Revolutionize your lives and find a way out) And when you're growing down instead of growing up (You gotta ooo ah ah like a panther) Tell me are you bold enough to reach for love? (Na na na...)

Quite Often Forgotten Lyrics: He lived in sector 10 He had a friend named Linderman Sail away, sail away some time.

2nd Verse: So strong for so long All I wanna do is sing my simple song Is it square or round, rich or poor At the end of day and night all we want is more I keep my feet on solid ground and use my wings when storms come around I keep my feet on solid ground for freedom You're free but in your mind, your freedom's in a bind

Chorus

Cybernetic Chantdown: Civil rights, civil war Hood rat, crack whore Carefree, nightclub Closet drunk, bathtub Out-outcast, weirdo Stepchild, freak show Black girl, bad hair Broad nose, cold stare Tap shoes, Broadway T-t-tuxedo, holiday Creative block, Love song Stupid words, erased song G-gun shots, orange house D-d-dead man walking with a dirty mouth Spoiled milk, stale bread Welfare, bubonic plague Record deal, light bulb K-keep back kid not corporate thug Breast cancer, common cold HIV, lost hope Overweight, self esteem Mis-misfit, broken dream Fish tank, small bowl Closed minded, dark hold Cy-cy-cybergirl, droid-droid control Get away now they trying to steal your soul Mi-microphone, one-one stage Tomboy, outrage Street fight, bloody war Instigators, third floor Promiscuous child, broken heart STD, quarentine Heroin user, coke head Fin-final chapter, death bed Plastic sweat, metal skin Metallic tears, mannequin Carefree, night club Closet drunk, bathtub White house, Jim Crow Dir-dirty lies, my-my regards

Closing Lullaby: And when the world just treats you wrong just come with me and I'll take you home No need to pack a bag Who put your life in the danger zone? You running drop it like a rolling stone No need to pack a bag You just can't stop your heart from hanging on The old man dies and then a baby's born Chan, chan, chan, change your life And when the world just treats you wrong just come with me and i'll take you home Shang, shang, shang, shan-gri la Na na na na na na na na na na na na.

As for a meaning? Well...without the full story (this is only a chapter of the first suite, The Chase) you cannot truly find a answer to what this song is about. You only know that Cindy Mayweather, or Alpha Platinum 9000 (her robotic model), has fallen in love with a human named Anthony Greenboum (possibly), which in the futuristic society Janelle Monae has created, is illegal. Therefore, Cindy is being hunted for her crimes. From the music video, though, this seems to be one of the last songs which she sang in public before she decided to run for her life. Perhaps the main reason for why she mentions such things as "Quarantine", "Jim Crow", "Outcast", "Gun Shots", "Misfit", "Final Chapter", and "Dirty Lies" in her cybernetic rap. Mayhaps this is her programming telling her that what she has done is wrong, but she thought it was right at the time. It would account for the stuttering on such words as she sings them.

In any case, this is a brilliant song from one of the greatest musical talents of our age. Well done, Ms. Monae.

My Opinion

Anthony's last name is Greendown. I really like your interpretation of the cybernetic rap. I always thought it was a list of things that were worse than an android girl falling in love with a human boy.

"I imagined many moons in the sky lighting the way to freedom."

Now, I get that Sir Greendown is about an actual character. Although some lines in that song are beyond me:

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