Lyrics

When Anh Vinh came from Vietnam he hardly said a word
He never spoke of what he left behind
He'd kneel before his altar; prayers were all his family heard
His supplications were for peace of mind
His first stop was Westminster
They called it "Little Saigon"
But his kids wanted more of a big city life
And so Anh Vinh moved on

NOW HE FEELS AT HOME IN KOREATOWN
AT HIS PLACE AT IROLO AND EIGHTH
THEY'VE GOT PLENTY OF MARKETS THAT HE CAN AFFORD
AND HOUSES OF WORSHIP TO PRACTICE HIS FAITH
HE'S GRATEFUL HE MOVED TO KOREATOWN
HIS KIDS LIKE THE KIDS ON THE BLOCK
HIS SON IS A FAN OF THE LAKERS AND KINGS
HIS TALENTED DAUGHTER IS PRACTICING BACH

Kenisha is a CPA who has no friends at work
The frantic pace leaves her no time to think
The job is pretty thankless and her manager's a jerk
She always feels as if she needs a drink
When she finally boards the Purple line
Each day at 5:05
A smile breaks across her face
Her spirits come alive

'CAUSE SHE FEELS AT HOME IN KOREATOWN
FROM THE MOMENT SHE GETS OFF THE TRAIN
SHE'LL MEET HER FRIENDS JUST A FEW BLOCKS AWAY
WHERE THEIR CHOICES FOR DINNER ARE TRULY INSANE
SHE'S GRATEFUL SHE MOVED TO KOREATOWN
HER APARTMENT IS SMALL BUT IT'S CLEAN
SHE'S GOT A GREAT VIEW OF THE HOLLYWOOD HILLS
AND THE ART-DECO WILTERN'S MAJESTIC BLUE-GREEN

With so many people at work and at play
There are feelings the friction ignites
Koreatown's right in the heart of LA
And sometimes the older folks get deja vu
They remember the looters below and the shooters above
And the glare of the tv crew lights
There was little to gain; there was nothing to love
In the spring of '92
What the old folks called sa-i-gu
What is the new generation to do?

Jin Soo is a high school kid who always gets straight As
He'd like to change the whole world if he could
He knows so much is broken but he says it's just a phase
Deep down he thinks that everyone is good
His best friend thinks he's too naive
His best friend's named Jesus
He tells him "I'm the Savior, man,
What is your excuse?"

THEY BOTH FEEL AT HOME IN KOREATOWN
THOUGH SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO CONNECT
THEY ARGUE A LOT BUT THEY LEARN A LOT TOO
THEY REALIZE THE SECRET IS IN THE RESPECT
THEY'RE GLAD THEY GREW UP IN KOREATOWN
WHERE PEOPLE WILL VOICE THEIR CONCERNS
'CAUSE ONE THING THEY KNOW FROM THEIR OWN GIVE AND TAKE
IF NOBODY LISTENS NOBODY LEARNS

Living in Koreatown is living in the world