[Verse #1]
These ideas are nightmares for white parents
Whose worst fear is a child with dyed hair and who likes earrings
Like whatever they say has no bearing
Its so scary in a house that allows no swearing
To see him walking around with his headphones blaring
Alone in his own zone, cold and he dont care
He's a problem child, what bothers him all comes out
When he talks about his f**kin' dad walkin out
Cos he hates him so bad that he blocks him out
But if he ever saw him again, he'd prolly knock him out
His thoughts are whacked, he's mad so he's talkin' back
Talkin black, brainwashed from rock and rap
He sags his pants, 2 rags and a stocking cap
His step-father hit him so he socked him backAnd broke his nose, this house is a broken home
There's no control, he just lets his emotions go
[Chorus:]
Sing now, sing for the year
Sing for the moment, sing for the tears
Sing with me, just for today
Maybe tomorrow, the good Lord will take you away
[Verse #2]
Entertainment is danger, intertwine it with gangsters
In the land of the killers, a sinner's mind is a sanctum
Only you're unholy, only have one homey
Only this gun, lonely, 'cause don't anyone know me
But everybody just feels like they can relate
I guess words are a motherf**ker, they can be great
Or they can degrade, or even worse, they can teach hate
Its like kids hang on every single statement we make
Like they worship us, plus all the stores ship us platinum
Now how the f**k did this metamorphasis happen?
From standin' on corners and porches just rappin'
To havin' a fortune, no more kissin' ass
But then these critics crucify you, journalists try to burn you
Fans turn on you, attorney's all gonna turn it to
To get their hands on every dime you have
They want you to lose your mind every time you mad
So they can try to make you out to look like a loose canon
You need to spew, dont hesitate to produce air-guns
Thats why these prosecutors wanna convict me
Swiftly just to get me offa these streets quickly
But all their kids been listen'n to me religiously
So I'm signing cds while police fingerprint me
They're for the judges daughter, but his grudge is against me
If I'm such a f**kin' menace, this shit doesnt make sense, Pete
It's all political, if my music is literal and I'm a criminal,
How the f**k can i raise a little girl?
I couldn't. I wouldn't be fit to
You're full of shit too, Guerrera, that was a fist that hit you!
[Chorus]
[Verse #3]
They say music can alter moods and talk to you
But can it load a gun for you and cock it too?
Well if it can, then the next time you assault a dude
Just tell the judge it was my fault, and I'll get sued
See what these kids do, is hear about us toting pistols
And they want to get one, cos they think the shit's cool
Not knowin' we're really just protectin' ourselves
We're entertainers, of course this shit's affecting our sales
You ignoramus! But music is reflection of self
We just explain it, and then we get our cheques in the mail
It's f**ked up ain't it, how we can come from practically nothin'
To bein' able to have any f**kin' thing that we wanted
It's why we sing for these kids that don't have a thing
Except for a dream and a f**king rap magazine
Who post pinup pictures on their walls all day long
Idolize their favourite rappers and know all they songs
Or for anyone who's ever been through shit in they lives
So they sit and they cry at night, wishing they die
Till they throw on a rap record, and they sit and they vibe
We're nothing to you, but we're the f**kin' shit in their eyes
That's why we sieze the moment, and try to freeze it and own it
Squeeze it and hold it, 'cos we consider these minutes golden
And maybe they'll admit it when we're gone
Just let our spirits live on, through out lyrics that you hear in our songs
This song is clearly a response to some of the negative criticism that Eminem gets. He has been vehemently protested against by parents who feel that he is a bad influence. This is basically his explanation to the world that in the world of music, nothing can be taken literally, but because of the level of celebrity that rappers have, it IS taken literally. Eminem is saying that parents are not being responsible for not explaining to their children that the music he makes isn't a representation of who he really is or how he wants his fans to behave.
The first verse breaks down Eminem's childhood. Ironically, Eminem explains that his parents were exactly the likes one who now protest against his music. He paints a clear picture of how he was changing as a child, and how his parents started to lose control over him.
The second verse explains just how dangerous the messages of the music industry have become. The kids who listen to today's rap are impressionable teenagers who naively believe everything they hear. So when they hear about degradation of women, or firing pistols when someone makes them mad, they take it to heart and act on what the artist is supposedly telling them to do. However, many of these so called "gangster rappers," are really just thriving businessmen trying to feed their families. As Eminem says "If my music is literal and I'm a criminal, how the fuck can I raise a little girl?"
The last verse is most intriguing to me. Can music really make someone "load up a gun and cock it too?" Eminem basically is pointing out that it is an easy cop-out to blame music for a violent action, and because so many believe the insanity plea, the artist who raps about violence will always come down with the blame. Unfortunately, the state of rap music industry is such that violence, drugs, and sex sell, and if you don't stick to those topics, you won't make as much money as you would otherwise.
It's funny how children our age find authority in the strangest places. It's almost as if we look up to these artists as a lost child would to his/her parents for guidance. We feel as though these rappers hold a certain level of credibility because of how famous they are, and therefore act on what they say to get an almost subconscious seal of approval.
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