Story Behind The Song

The song was written in response to the increase in poverty and senseless violence in America's inner cities.

Song Description

This song creatively paints a picture of inner-city violence and poverty, in a way that allows the listener to see using their ears.

Lyrics

I say this is what it sounds like
When the sun don't shine
And the gray clouds come
And the raindrops fall
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yay
I say this is what it sounds like
When the shots go off
And the heartbeat stop
And the lawman comes
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yay

If you can hear
Can you tell?
The hoods make a whole lot of noise
Listen well
Do you know what the streets sound like?
Or why a mother can't sleep most nights?
You've probably never ever
Thought about it
And if you did
You've probably done forgot about it
So I had to write a rhyme about it
In case you do or ever truly doubt it
We used to walk in the grass
But can you hear the sounds
As we walk through the glass?
On the concrete under our feet
The city won't spend that cash
To have the street sweeped
In our neighborhoods we try and make due
Kids wanna play in the park
Like little kids do
While niggaz try and flip a stack or two
It's happening right in front of you

CHORUS

Sunny days
Everybody loves them
But the sun won't shine
And the rain won't fall in the ghetto
In the ghetto can you hear the sounds
Of kids on the playground?
Seesaws, double-dutch, carousel
Spinning round and round it goes
Clockwise like the second hand
Kids playing in the sand
Check it
Backdrop, blacktop, gats pop, ball drops
Heart stops, tears drop
Somebody call the cops
Young man caught up in the crossfire
Couldn't make it through the wired fence
And it makes no sense
Young bodies in the coffin
And it happens so often
I say this is what it sounds like
And many people fear it
Don't be afraid
You need to hear it

CHORUS