This song is basically a lament about black-on-black violence. They set up an relatively idyllic scene, a day at the park, listening to tunes, running into someone you love and being pleased about it. The song goes out of its way to highlight the contrast between the speaker's more traditional African cultural roots, and the more boorish behavior of a couple of drunk "tough-guys" at the park.
The song is actually kind of sad. There's a part after most of the lyrics where you can hear the background singers saying "Why, oh, why, oh why, oh why?" In other words, why do people who should have solidarity together decide to mess with one another like this? I think the author is saying that this type of division is PARTLY responsible for why it often feels like African Americans cannot seem to get ahead even when they are trying as hard as they can, and how sad it is to be pulled down by people who should want to see you succeed.
This song is basically a lament about black-on-black violence. They set up an relatively idyllic scene, a day at the park, listening to tunes, running into someone you love and being pleased about it. The song goes out of its way to highlight the contrast between the speaker's more traditional African cultural roots, and the more boorish behavior of a couple of drunk "tough-guys" at the park.
The song is actually kind of sad. There's a part after most of the lyrics where you can hear the background singers saying "Why, oh, why, oh why, oh why?" In other words, why do people who should have solidarity together decide to mess with one another like this? I think the author is saying that this type of division is PARTLY responsible for why it often feels like African Americans cannot seem to get ahead even when they are trying as hard as they can, and how sad it is to be pulled down by people who should want to see you succeed.
Great song.