Lyrics
Put on your lights for me
Asking someone to turn on their car lights to assist the speaker
I put my keys up on the windscreen
The speaker places their keys on the car windshield
I take a seat in the back of your car
The speaker takes a seat in the back of a car
Express my gratitude for your bravery
Expressing thanks to the driver for their courage or kindness
You tell me I'm lucky
The driver suggests the speaker is fortunate
And I know what that means
The speaker understands the implication or reasoning behind being lucky
The way I speak and colour of my skin
Reference to how the speaker talks and their skin color affects their treatment
Means you'll spare me the brutality
Implies the speaker might be spared from harsh treatment due to their speech and skin color
They don't
Highlighting a contrast: the police do not ensure safety for everyone
Keep you safe
Reiteration that the police do not guarantee safety
They don't
Repeating the idea that the police do not provide safety
Keep you safe
Reemphasizing the lack of safety provided by the police
They don't
Further reinforcement that the police do not ensure safety
Keep you safe
Continuing to stress the absence of safety from the police
They dont
Continuing to emphasize that the police do not keep people safe
Keep you safe
Reiterating the point that the police fail to ensure safety
You have a real hard time
Pointing out the challenges faced by law enforcement
Writing tickets and fighting crime
Expressing difficulties in issuing tickets and combating crime
Why is it people wanna focus on state violence
Questioning why people focus on state violence when an officer is involved in positive actions like proposing at a Pride event
When that officer proposed at Pride?
Highlighting conflicting perceptions regarding law enforcement's actions
Cos nothing goes your way
Indicating things are not going well or favorably
Shutting stations and freezing pay
Referring to unfavorable circumstances such as station closures and pay freezes
We're all living with austerity too
Highlighting that everyone is affected by financial constraints
But we're not killing for a living wage
Comparing the struggles of ordinary people with the extreme measures some take to earn a living
They don't
Reiterating that the police do not ensure safety
Keep you safe
Emphasizing the lack of safety provided by the police
If Police don't ruin lives
Challenging the idea that the police do not ruin lives
Let the soap shop spread their lies
Referring to misinformation or propaganda spread by a soap shop
But the next time you have a noise complaint
Asking who one should contact for assistance when faced with a problem or disturbance
Who you gonna call?
A reference to the famous line "Who you gonna call?" from the Ghostbusters theme song, questioning who to seek help from in situations of distress
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