Lyrics
Ever since I was a young boy
Reflecting on youth and the early stages of self-discovery.
Before I'd ever know who I am
Exploring personal identity before self-awareness.
My father said you got to walk before you can crawl
Fatherly advice emphasizing the importance of progression.
So you can run as soon as you can stand
Encouragement to stand and run as soon as one can.
So you can run as soon as you can
Reiteration of the urgency to run as soon as possible.
Now if every breathing day is a lesson
Every day as a learning experience; writing as a form of expression.
I been writing this before I could read
Writing as a skill developed before the ability to read.
When momma said, son, don't let this hard world
Maternal advice to resist the harshness of the world.
Do what it's doing to me
A plea to avoid succumbing to the world's challenges.
Don't let it do what it's done to me
Warning against the negative impact of life's hardships.
It's a hard rain that's gonna fall on the city
Symbolic expression of difficult times ahead for the city.
Still a hard rain that's gonna fall on the farm
Continued hardship, affecting both urban and rural areas.
There's no 7th day in a world without pity
Highlighting the absence of compassion in the world.
There's no ball and chain but the change didn't come
No literal chains, but change is slow to come.
Where's my better days? Where's my Jesus saves?
Yearning for better days and questioning religious salvation.
Where's someone to say?
Seeking guidance or reassurance from someone.
We got to hang on
Call to persevere and hold on to hope.
We're brothers in arms
Declaration of unity and solidarity as brothers in challenging times.
Down in southern Alabama
Describing a region with a strong sense of etiquette and politeness.
It's "Yes sir", "No ma'am", "Thank you", and "Please"
Expectations for manners with a warning against defiance.
But don't you step out of line, don't re-write or define
Caution against challenging established norms.
What it means to see a man take a knee
Referencing controversy around a man taking a knee, potentially alluding to protest.
Okay, oh, say can you see
Allusion to the national anthem with a question about seeing and understanding.
It's a hard rain that's gonna fall on the city
Reiteration of the impending hardships for the city.
Still a hard rain that's gonna fall on the farm
Continued challenges for both urban and rural areas.
There's no 7th day in a world without pity
Emphasizing the lack of compassion in the world.
There's no ball and chain but the change didn't come
Change is slow despite the absence of literal restraints.
Where's my better days? Where's my Jesus saves?
Yearning for better days and questioning religious salvation.
Where's someone to say?
Seeking guidance or reassurance from someone.
We got to hang on
Call to persevere and hold on to hope.
We're brothers in arms
Reiteration of unity and solidarity in challenging times.
We're brothers in arms
Reaffirming brotherhood in the face of adversity.
It's a hard rain that's gonna fall on the city
Repetition of the theme of hardships for the city.
Still a hard rain that's gonna fall on the farm
Continued challenges for both urban and rural areas.
It's a hard rain that's gonna fall on the city
Repetition of the theme of hardships for the city.
Still a hard rain don't give a damn who you are
Emphasis on the relentless nature of challenges, indifferent to individual identity.
There's no 7th day in a world without pity
Emphasizing the lack of compassion in the world.
There's no ball and chain but the change didn't come
Change is slow despite the absence of literal restraints.
Where's my better days? Where's my Jesus saves?
Yearning for better days and questioning religious salvation.
Where's someone to say?
Seeking guidance or reassurance from someone.
We got to hang on
Call to persevere and hold on to hope.
We're brothers in arms
Reiteration of unity and solidarity in challenging times.
We're brothers in arms
Final affirmation of brotherhood in adversity.
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