In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
I am the stone that builder refused
I am the visual
The inspiration
That made lady sing the blues
I'm the spark that makes your idea bright
The same spark
that lights the dark
So that you can know your left from your right
I am the ballot in your box
The bullet in the gun
The inner glow that lets you know
To call your brother son
The story that just begun
The promise of what's to come
And I'm 'a remain a soldier till the war is won
I am the visual
The inspiration
That made lady sing the blues
I'm the spark that makes your idea bright
The same spark
that lights the dark
So that you can know your left from your right
I am the ballot in your box
The bullet in the gun
The inner glow that lets you know
To call your brother son
The story that just begun
The promise of what's to come
And I'm 'a remain a soldier till the war is won
Lyrics submitted by ethanjhayward, edited by Zakariya
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Blue
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“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Amazing
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Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
The song embodies the spirit of the African American journey. It's struggles, triumphs and promise. It exemplifies McGruder's message vividly. Was this song written for the show or selected?
I am the stone that builder refused
but they will be made the cornerstone. Hip Hop, sports, entertainment.. see how that works?
I am the visual
The inspiration That made lady sing the blues
I'm the spark that makes your idea bright
The same spark that lights the dark So that you can know your left from your right
I am the ballot in your box The bullet in your gun
The inner glow that lets you know To call your brother son
The story that just begun
The promise of what's to come
And I'm 'a remain a soldier till the war is won
Just my thoughts.
You got it so right. That's a deep interpretation, you should do the same with books !
yeah, shenlong's totally right. because rap and hip hop is all male too. i mean, it's not like there are female rappers like peaches rap about sex. NO. all rap is about sex with WOMEN and drugs. oh, and jesus freak? that's ALL about sex and women. damn, that christian rap sure is vulger...
hip hop or rap isnt all male. there are female rappers you know. and also, rap isnt only about sex with women and drugs. got money by lil wayne featuring tpain isnt aobut sex or drugs, over by drake isnt about sex or drugs, ransom by drake featuring lil wayne isnt about sex or drugs, empire state of mind by jayz isnt about sex or drugs, lucifer by jayz isnt about sex or drugs, on to the next one by jayz isnt about sex or drugs, killillumanaties by Tupac isnt about sex or drugs, a milli by lil wayne is about sex or drugs, i wanna rocck by snoop dog isnt abotu sex or drugs, and forever by drake featuring lil wayne, kanye west, and eminem isnt about sex or drugs. and there is many more. and you are also wrong about there not havign female rappers. there is niki minaj, lil kim, Amil, ms jade, thebrat, etc. there is over 147 female rappers. its funny how you say most of the rap songs are about sex and drugs because the majority of it isnt about sex or drugs now a days. its all about "i get money" or "follow me". there are a lot of rap songs that talk about sex and drugs but now a days, there isnt much of that anymore.
But independent hip hop isn't shit like mainstream is.
Give the OP a break, he didn't say all rap, he said all mainstream rap.
At any rate, when you take the song into context it does have a more central meaning, but it does hold meaning outside of the show, and a good lot.
The first section"I am the stone...builder refused" is symbolic to being a castaway by society because you don't fit the mold. Next comes "I am the visual...sing the blues." The first two lines are obvious, visual...inspiration? He's the physical of what the blues are. The Lady refers to Billie Holiday who was known as "Lady Day" and had a movie made called "Lady Sings the Blues" which was named after her autobiography.
"I'm the spark that makes your idea bright...same spark...left for your right" refers to the ignition of change and that once the "revolution" occurs that those who follow will know what to do.
I'm the ballot in your box...your gun" simple here, Malcolm X's speech, "The Ballot or the Bullet"
"The inner glow...call your brother 'son'" Brother here can be applied not as a sibling but as a spiritual brother, a brother working towards the same end. To call him son would mean to assume leadership. The inner glow is a call to leadership.
"The story that's...of what's to come" This is to the changes that people like Malcolm X, MLK, Gandhi, and all other revolutionaries have started, they never truly got to see them finished, they were only the first chapter, the promise of what's to come.
Last line is fairly straightforward. Keep in mind this is what I get from the song, and I do believe it is fairly accurate interpretation but as with most songs, words can be applied to different things.
"And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner" Mark 12:10
The inner glow that lets you know To call your brother "Son"
This either intentionally refers to Christ or the artist is using Christian language to call himself some sort of messiah.
CHUK CHUK CHUK
does that ending have a meaning?
Yes it does its basically saying i will fight for my rights until i win them
the genius of this short rap is how such a powerful meaning is portrayed in a manner that is both not obvious (following the old axiom "show, don't tell"), powerful, and in terms easy enough to understand and feel the impact of its meaning.
it is the height of what a rap can aspire to. clever, poignant, powerful, deeply meaningful, and accessible.
I'm not really a hip hop fan, because all mainstream rap is about women and drugs, but undergroung is more original, and has thought put into it, deeper messages, as this song does.
btw, if you havent watched the boondocks, an teletoon(canada) or on cartoon network/adultswim(USA) then ur missing out
not all the mainstream rap is about sex or drugs. i can name numorous songs and none of them have anything to do with sex or drugs. if you did really listen to rap or hiphop then you would really know. i dont know hwo lied to you or if you lied to yourself but not all mainstream rap is about sex or drugs. also, rappers like lil wayne, drake, jayz, tupac, snoopdog, tpain, etc have deep meanings in thier songs. wanna know why these rappers or one of the most popular ones? its because they are very original. if all rappers were the same then dont you think rap wouldve been dead a long time ago?
Irrelevance. Back on topic.
This little rap's meaning is pretty obvious and straightforward. It's pretty clear from the beginning that it's a representation of one of the show's main characters, Huey Freeman. He's a radical, left-wing 12 year old black boy who has devoted his life (which is part of the joke--he's only 12, albeit a really smart, perceptive one) towards black rights and justice. Huey does his best in almost every episode to make the other characters quit being stupid, and usually fails, not out of incompetence, but because the other characters are embodiments of society's stereotypes. Anyway, the theme song's actual lyrics don't have much depth, they just represent Huey and his struggle.
I agree with Ivory Tusk. Anyway, doesn't "the story that just begun and the promise of what's to come" mean they want us to fight for what we beleive in and that people like MLK just wanted to give us a headstart to taking control of the world around us?