South Side Lyrics

Lyric discussion by austinprod 

Cover art for South Side lyrics by Moby

OK, everyone here has had a good shot at what this song is about and I can TOTALLY see where you all are coming from, however, I happen to have personal experience that explains this song to me to a tee. Yes, where you grew up may have something to do with it, I grew up in the suburbs but was constantly in bad neighborhoods or the ghetto by my own choice. This song is all about the choices you choose and need to make for daily survival... Survival of opiate/heroin addiction. You NEVER know what is going to happen or quite WHERE you may end up, but you know you are going and going to back whoever is with you. May be dangerous, may be worse, but YOU are there for better (scoring) or for worse (anything but scoring). I am from the heroin capital of the US and probably the World, but it does NOT matter, all Opiate addicts go through the same sketchy troubles because they need to survive. ESPECIALLY if they are functional addicts like I was. I was and am still a Project Manager in IT for a very good company, but my whole life was a sham, a gamble, a simple ruse to score heroin. Being smart was easy if it meant getting the ultimate goal. This song is all about going through whatever B.S. or sketchiness you need to go through to avoid the sickness of withdrawal. "weapons in hand" and "ride all night we ride all day" and don't forget "looking out for a sunny day" these are all very, VERY obvious references to the existence of trying to score opiates or heroin. I lived that life for a LONG time and there are many songs that speak to this lifestyle. Gwen or Moby or their band member(s) must have had this experience as well. Just watching their interaction in the music video is reminiscent of any heroin/opiate couple. Complete soullessness and hopeless heedless devotion to an unseen chemical. I COULD be wrong, but if I am, this song has not much meaning at all...and is otherwise nothing worth listening too...but i love it because i identify with it in my former self...(thank god I am clean now, OPIATES are a HARD thing to deal with.)

Song Meaning

Yes, the verse lyrics seem to describe a hopeless yet comfortable lifestyle, supported by this constant exploration. I may just be wrong, but there are some songs that feel just quite right in what they mean and this is one of them. Does not matter WHERE you go or WHAT you have to do to get there. Some may come love and some may stay. But what does it matter when you are the devoted one who is there to score for better or worse. Some may NOT come, but you surely will if it...

Even though I identify with this song perfectly in terms of opiate/heroin addiction, I would love to hear other opinions, especially if you think I am wrong! I would LOVE to hear people who completely agree with me but it is a beautiful some and I would LOVE to hear other interpretations. Throw me a line!!!

You got it man, as a Ex-addict you got this song 100%. I live 30 minutes outside of Chicago and I've been clean for half a year now. This song is about the experience of picking up. My friend was a DJ in the 90's and said the House scene was phenominal, which probably had to do alot with drugs, mainly Heroin. I'd be willing to bet all the money I have thats what Moby is talking about. In the beggining of the video moby is holding a wilted sun flower rubbing his hands, obviously anxious. He moves in to...