In this dirty old part of the city
Where the sun refused to shine
People tell me there ain't no use in tryin'

Now my girl, you're so young and pretty
And one thing I know is true
You'll be dead before your time is due, I know

Watch my daddy in bed a-dyin'
Watched his hair been turnin' grey
He's been workin' and slavin' his life away, oh yes I know it

(Yeah!) he's been workin' so hard (yeah!)
And I've been workin' too, baby (yeah!)
Every night and day (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!)

We gotta get out of this place
If it's the last thing we ever do
We gotta get out of this place
'Cause girl, there's a better life for me and you

Now my girl you're so young and pretty
And one thing I know is true, yeah
You'll be dead before your time is due, I know it

Watch my daddy in bed a-dyin'
Watched his hair been turnin' grey, yeah
He's been workin' and slavin' his life away
I know he's been workin' so hard

(Yeah!) I've been workin' too, baby (yeah!)
Every day baby (yeah!)
Whoa!
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!)

We gotta get out of this place
If it's the last thing we ever do
We gotta get out of this place
Girl, there's a better life for me and you
Somewhere baby
Somehow I know it, baby

We gotta get out of this place
If it's the last thing we ever do
We gotta get out of this place
Girl, there's a better life for me and you
Believe me baby
I know it baby
You know it too


Lyrics submitted by magicnudiesuit

We Gotta Get Out Of This Place Lyrics as written by Cynthia Weil Barry Mann

Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

We Gotta Get Out Of This Place song meanings
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10 Comments

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  • +7
    General Comment

    Vietnam?... maybe on one level. But Eric and the band came out of working class roots in the grey industrial wasteland of north-east England. "In this dirty old part of the city" speaks to me more about personal experiences in Newcastle, Sunderland and Middlesbrough of the 60s rather than the jungles of a far off land Britain wasn't involved in.

    makhnoon March 22, 2008   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    this commentary about how the 'civilized' world is rife with slums and toil really hits home in my heart. i hate the city and pray one day that it will all be abolished, so we may all return to rural lifestyle. the bucolic call of the wild, howling to turn off your computer and get back to basics. the beauty of the girl in this song demands an escape from dirt.

    shauncreaneyon July 31, 2002   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    A desire to escape your prescribed fate and stike out for something better.

    See also Bruce Springsteens: Thunder Road for a simerlar theme (if not style)

    Comrade_Liaron March 29, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I know this song is more about society than the war, but when I hear it, it makes me think of the soldiers in vietnam thinking the war is pointless, and "We gotta get out of this place." I am only 16 but listening to classic rock and watching movies like "Platoon" and "We were soldiers" makes me feel like I was almost a part of the war. I know what I am feeling is nothing like what people who lived through it felt, and I admire all of you who did.

    P.S. Those two movies are great. I would highly suggest watching them. They are great war movies, up there with "Patton" and "The Longest Day"

    classicRokkeron January 15, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    wen i saw 'the animals and friends' they said this song was dedicated to the young people who fought in the veitnam war and it was number one for 3 years in some kind of army chart i cant remember its name

    skater-maton August 14, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It doesn't surprise me why...Vietnam was hell for those men.

    Listen the 8th of November by Big & Rich Still in Saigon by Charlie Daniels Band Rooster by Alice in Chains

    OpinionHeadon June 16, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Yeah, it's an Urban Blight Song, like The Temptations "Cloud Nine" and Stevie Wonder's "Just Enough for the City" (OK-that was Urban AND Rural Poverty, along with Racism.)

    But, it looks like the 'Nam Vets took it for their Own. In Contrast to the myriad Protest Songs (such as The Animals own "Sky Pilot") the Soldiers who were actually IN Vietnam fighting had their Own faves. Some, like "Incoming" Civilians can't identify much with. There was a similar Billy Joel Song. And I'm sure "Okie from Muscogee" was on their Hit List, too.

    "Orange Crush" by REM was pruportedly about Agent Orange. And, YES, "Rooster" perhaps The Greatest Grunge song-EVER-was written by the AIC lead Guitarist-whose Father fought in the War and did Not discuss it for years afterward.

    drpoundsignon June 13, 2016   Link
  • -1
    General Comment

    a vietnam favourite too, i might add...

    Hanumanon March 26, 2005   Link
  • -1
    General Comment

    They used this in HAMBURGER HILL as well.

    Keep it mind, aside from the draftees, most Vietnam vets were there because they wanted to be. Remember these were the people who grew up listening to Kennedy about "asking not what their country can do for them, but what they can do for their country."

    As a result, you have many people signing on for multiple tours of the RVN. One man, I believe, spent seven straight years there working with the indigenous highlanders. Devotion to the cause was always higher among Special Forces personnel and also Marines...

    Awesome song, anyway.

    EveryMnon February 10, 2008   Link
  • -1
    General Comment

    do you think he is dating the girl he is singing about? i mean it is WE gotta get out of this place, but he could be talking about its little sister or somethig tbh. idk whady reckon? xxx

    Startme_upon September 24, 2008   Link

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