Story Behind The Song
A friend had a co-worker who had to leave her job because her parents both passed away within months of each other. The girl and her younger brother lost their home and were now displaced to a part of town I grew up in.
She needed a better paying job to get them out of there and the kid was going to have to attend a school that I had gone to and barely survived. It was tough to hear their all too familiar tales. At least my family was intact.
| Song Length |
4:04 |
Genre |
Rock - General, Rock - Grunge |
| Tempo |
Medium Fast (131 - 150) |
Lead Vocal |
Male Vocal |
| Mood |
Outraged |
Subject |
Change, Justice |
| Similar Artists |
Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam |
Language |
English |
| Era |
1990 - 1999 |
| |
Lyrics
Heart of the City
Driving around on the streets of this town
There?s always shit going down, keeps me spinning around
And you know it ain?t always pretty
In the Heart of the City
A tiny red shack just east of Broadway
Daddy and mommy checked out, now it?s here we must stay
And you know we don?t want your pity
In the Heart of the City
Big sister take a stand, bringing home half a grand
She?s not gonna take it
Little brother forms a band, plays the best that he can
He?s not gonna take it, she?s not gonna take it
They?re not gonna take it no more
In my neighborhood there's a stream of red light
All those back alley pimps are getting ready to fight
And they know they rule by committee
In the Heart of the City
Father Patrice is marching out in the cold
He?s chanting for peace before he get?s old
But you know his voice is so gritty
In the Heart of the City
Big sister take a stand, bringing home half a grand
She?s not gonna take it
Little brother forms a band, plays the best that he can
He?s not gonna take it, she?s not gonna take it
They?re not gonna take it no more
Driving around on the streets of this town
There?s always shit going down, keeps me spinning around
And you know it ain?t always pretty
In the Heart of the City