The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
As the snow flies
On a cold and gray Chicago mornin'
A poor little baby child is born
In the ghetto (in the ghetto)
And his mama cries
'Cause if there's one thing that she don't need
It's another hungry mouth to feed
In the ghetto (in the ghetto)
People, don't you understand
The child needs a helping hand
Or he'll grow to be an angry young man some day?
Take a look at you and me
Are we too blind to see?
Do we simply turn our heads and look the other way?
Well, the world turns
And a hungry little boy with a runny nose
Plays in the street as the cold wind blows
In the ghetto (in the ghetto)
And his hunger burns
So he starts to roam the streets at night
And he learns how to steal, and he learns how to fight
In the ghetto (in the ghetto)
Then one night in desperation
The young man breaks away
He buys a gun, steals a car
Tries to run, but he don't get far
And his mama cries
As a crowd gathers 'round an angry young man
Face down on the street with a gun in his hand
In the ghetto (in the ghetto)
And as her young man dies (in the ghetto)
On a cold and gray Chicago mornin'
Another little baby child is born
In the ghetto (in the ghetto)
And his mama cries (in the ghetto)
(In the ghetto)
(Ah)
On a cold and gray Chicago mornin'
A poor little baby child is born
In the ghetto (in the ghetto)
And his mama cries
'Cause if there's one thing that she don't need
It's another hungry mouth to feed
In the ghetto (in the ghetto)
People, don't you understand
The child needs a helping hand
Or he'll grow to be an angry young man some day?
Take a look at you and me
Are we too blind to see?
Do we simply turn our heads and look the other way?
Well, the world turns
And a hungry little boy with a runny nose
Plays in the street as the cold wind blows
In the ghetto (in the ghetto)
And his hunger burns
So he starts to roam the streets at night
And he learns how to steal, and he learns how to fight
In the ghetto (in the ghetto)
Then one night in desperation
The young man breaks away
He buys a gun, steals a car
Tries to run, but he don't get far
And his mama cries
As a crowd gathers 'round an angry young man
Face down on the street with a gun in his hand
In the ghetto (in the ghetto)
And as her young man dies (in the ghetto)
On a cold and gray Chicago mornin'
Another little baby child is born
In the ghetto (in the ghetto)
And his mama cries (in the ghetto)
(In the ghetto)
(Ah)
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Silent Planet
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
this song is so sad. It's about not being able to get out of poverty; being subjected to crime, hatred, prejudice; and when you finally die(probably after being in the mids of a gang shooting), another baby has born and he/she is to lead the same life you did.
one of the best songs of elvis
I agree surely one of his greatest
dear la_femme_morte89, so you're saying that as soon as a person becomes rich and famous, they're no longer allowed to discuss social and political issues? i'd say that if anyone should be discussing life in the ghetto, it is someone like elvis who has a large enough platform to influence/educate a lot of people in the words of bill hicks, "you fucking moron. you FUCKING moron."
la_femme_morte89, Elvis was dirt poor growing up. Did you ever see the shack he lived in for the first 18 years of lhis life? And now you begrudge him for singing about the visciuos cyle of poverty? One that he know s and is grateful to have escaped. He gave millions to charity, how much do you give? And as Elvis sang, "Walk a mile in my(his) shoes" Bee-ahhch.
This is easily one of the greatest songs of all time!
This is an amazing song while also being an incredibly sad song, it's amazing what it portrays. These children have no help, they are born into a situation that they can't help and do things that they have to do to survive. We talk of the horrible things that happen yet we turn a blind eye to the things we could have an impact on. These kids need people who care about them and can help them but we don't do it.
As the snow flies On a cold and gray Chicago mornin' A poor little baby child is born In the ghetto And his mama cries 'cause if there's one thing that she don't need it's another hungry mouth to feed In the ghetto
Child born in the ghetto which mom will have a hard time tryin' to take care of.
People, don't you understand the child needs a helping hand or he'll grow to be an angry young man some day Take a look at you and me, are we too blind to see, do we simply turn our heads and look the other way
Help the kid or he'll grow up to be an enemy. Do you just ignore him?
Well the world turns and a hungry little boy with a runny nose plays in the street as the cold wind blows In the ghetto
Most of you turn and he's hungry and sick.
and his hunger burns so he starts to roam the streets at night and he learns how to steal and he learns how to fight In the ghetto
the stage when he grows to be an enemy.
Then one night in desperation a young man breaks away He buys a gun, steals a car, tries to run, but he don't get far And his mama cries
The climax; he dies trying to get the heck out of the ghetto.
As a crowd gathers 'round an angry young man face down in the street with a gun in his hand In the ghetto
Crowd watches him dead
As her young man dies, on a cold and grey Chicago mornin', another little baby child is born In the ghetto And his mama cries
As he dies another mom has a baby and the process starts all over again
Just my attempted interpertation. To shorten it up. I could be wrong I could be right.
Strong lyrics. I think chamiga hit the nail on the head. Elvis himself came up poor but I don't think he was a criminal. But he did know about poverty.
Also, listen to, "If I can dream" maybe if the dead woman (La Femme mort) had that kind of optimism, as others should, we'd all be living in a better world. Obtuse troglodytes like her should just go live in France, spoonge off thier socialism and fade away.