Song Analysis 3---"What would you do?"

Ashlie LaCivita
4/30/09
Period A
Song Analysis #3
Trapped
“What would you Do?” by City High portrays an important message for single mothers. It is about a woman who feels as though she has to sleep with different men to make enough money to provide for her son. The male in the song cannot believe how much she has changed since he last saw her in middle school and says, “I guess a whole lots changed since I seen you last”. He tries to make the audience realize that becoming prostitutes and strippers are not the only options for young women who are single mothers. There are plenty of other jobs out there where they can make enough money for their child, and feel as though they are respected by the people around them. Overall, City High is able to make their message more unique by using many different types of poetic devices.
City High feels as though women should be treated better than an item for men to do whatever they want with. Women deserve the same respect as anyone else, whether they are married and have children, or are single mothers. Single mothers need to receive support from people around them because raising a child on their own is not an easy thing to do. They need to know that they do not have to turn to prostituting themselves or stripping in front of people to make a decent amount of money so they can raise their child. The woman in this song believes that “thee only way to feed him is ta sleep wit a man for a little bit of money”, but the male is trying to get her to realize that is not true. He says, “Girl you aint thee only one wit a baby, that’s no excuse to be livin all crazy”. His goal is to get her to realize that there are other jobs out there that provide benefits and a decent paycheck. The paychecks at a new job may not be fast cash, but at least she would be able to feel proud of how she is making money to take care of her little boy. She then backfires at him and says that he has no clue how rough her life has been and he has no right to be giving her advice on how she should live her life. She tells him, “Me and my sister ran away so my daddy couldn’t rape us, before I was a teenager, I done been through more s*** you can’t even relate ta”. She wants him to realize that for her, it is easier said than done because she has not had an easy life. Her own father, who was supposed to take care of her, raped her and her sister, and they were forced to run away in order to protect themselves. Loni assumes that he never had to deal with any difficulties and he has no clue what she is talking about, but his mother was also a single mother; “Girl I know if my mother could do it baby you can do it”. All in all, City High makes their listeners realize that anything is possible, no matter what they have gone through.
City High makes their song even more catchy by using poetic devices. One poetic device that is used is rhyme. Rhyming can help make a song flow easier and make the song simpler to sing. Some examples from the song include; cup and buck, cash and last, baby and crazy, and eye and die. Another poetic device that is used is consonance. The line, “you do” is an example of consonance because it has the same “ou” sounding. Also, other examples include; “little bit”, and “rock now”. Finally, the last example of a poetic device that is in this song is alliteration; which is “the repeated occurrence of a consonant sound at the beginning of several words”. Some examples include, “six strippers”, “somewhere smoking”, and “what would”. Overall, these three types of devices are what make the song an all time hit.
In conclusion, “What Would you do?” by City High is a very influential song. It not only teaches single mothers that they are able to do anything they set their minds to, but also that no matter how many struggles people have been through, there is a way to get their life back on track. Also, Loni and her sister were raped by their father and in order to protect themselves, they made a hard, but intelligent decision to run away. Although she went through many difficult times, like being a single mother, the man in the song does not believe that is a valid excuse to be living the way that she is living. He believes that since his mother, who was also a single mother, was able to raise him alone with working a decent job, she can do the same thing. There is no need for her to publicly display her body just to make easy money when she could go out and find a decent job that could possibly provide health benefits for her and her son. The listener is able to realize this message not only through the poetic devices, but also through the tone, which is stressed out, tired, emotional, and angry. All in all, City High created one of the best songs that are on the radio.

City High- What Would You Do? lyrics

City High - What Would You Do?
Boys and girls wanna hear a true story

Saturday night I was at this real wild party

They had the liquor overflowing the cup

About five or six strippers trying to work for a buck

Then I took one girl outside with me

Her name was Loni she went to junior high with me

Said why you up in there dancing for cash

I guess a whole lots changed since I seen you last

She said

What would you do if your son was at home

Crying all alone on the bedroom floor

'Cause he's hungry

And the only way to feed him is to

Sleep with a man for a little bit of money

And his daddys gone

Somewhere smoking rock now

In and out of lock-down

I ain't got a job now

So for you this is just a good time

But for me this is what I call life

Girl you ain't the only one with a baby

That's no excuse to be living all crazy

Then she looked me right square in the eye

And said everyday I wake up hoping to die

She said n**** I know about pain 'cause

Me and my sister ran away so my daddy couldn't rape us

Before I was a teenager

I done been through more s***

You can't even relate ta

What would you do if your son was at home

Crying all alone on the bedroom floor

'Cause he's hungry

And the only way to feed him is to

Sleep with a man for a little bit of money

And his daddy's gone

Somewhere smoking rock now

In and out of lock-down

I ain't got a job now

So for you this is just a good time

But for me this is what I call life

Then she said

What would you do if?

Get up on my feet and let go of every excuse

What would you do if?

'Cause I wouldn't want my baby to go through what I went through

What would you do if?

Get up on my feet and stop making up tired excuses

What would you do if?

Girl I know if my mother could do it baby you can do it!

What would you do if your son was at home

Crying all alone on the bedroom floor

'Cause he's hungry

And the only way to feed him is to

Sleep with a man for a little bit of money

And his daddy's gone

Somewhere somking rock now

In and out of lock-down

I ain't got a job now

So for you this is just a good time

But for me this is what I call life

[Repeat 2 more times]

Sorry, Blame it on Me lyrics--creative proj.

Sorry, Blame It On Me
As life goes on
I’m starting to learn more and more about responsibility
I realize everything I do is affecting the people around me
So I want to take this time out to apologize for things I have done
And things that have not occurred yet
And the things they don’t want to take responsibility for
I’m sorry for the times I left you home
I was on the road and you were alone
I’m sorry for the times that I had to go
I’m sorry for the fact that I did not know
That you were sitting home just wishing we
Could go back to when it was just you and me
I’m sorry for the times I would neglect
I’m sorry for the times I disrespect
I’m sorry for the wrong things that I’ve done
I’m sorry I’m not always there for my sons
I’m sorry for the fact that I'm not aware
That you can’t sleep at night when I am not there
Because I am in the streets like everyday
Sorry for the things that I did not say
Like how you are the best thing in my world
And how I'm so proud to call you my girl
[Bridge]
I understand that there are some problems
And I am not too blind to know
All the pain you kept inside you
Even though you might not show
If I can't apologize for being wrong
Then it’s just a shame on me
I’ll be the reason for your pain and you can put the blame on me
[Chorus]
You can put the blame on me [4x]
Said you can put the blame on me [3x]
You can put the blame on me
Sorry for the things that he put you through
And all the times you didn’t know what to do
Sorry that you had to go and sell those packs
Just trying to stay busy till you heard from Dad
And you would rather be home with all your kids
As one big family with love and bliss
And even though Pops treated us like kings
He got a second wife and you didn’t agree
He got up and left you there all alone
I’m sorry that you had to do it on your own
I’m sorry that I went and added to your grief
I’m sorry that your son was once a thief
I’m sorry that I grew up way too fast
I wish I would’ve listened and not be so bad
I’m sorry your life turned out this way
I’m sorry that the FEDS came and took me away
[Bridge]
I’m sorry that it took so long to see
They were dead wrong trying to put it on me
I’m sorry that it took so long to speak
But I was on tour with Gwen Stefani
I’m sorry for the hand that she was dealt
For the embarrassment that she felt
Just a little young girl trying to have fun
Her daddy should never let her out that young
I’m sorry for Club Zen getting shut down
I hope they manage better next time around
How was I to know she was underage
In a 21 and older club they say
Why doesn’t anybody wanna take blame
Verizon backed out disgracing my name
I’m just a singer trying to entertain
Because I love my fans I’ll take that blame
Even though the blame’s on you [3x]
I’ll take that blame from you
And you can put that blame on me [2x]
You can put that blame on me
And you can put that blame on me

Creative Project

I am going to draw a picture that is inspired by the song "Sorry Blame it on me" by Akon.

Children's Story Lyrics-- Slick Rick Analysis

"Children's Story" by Slick Rick is about how a child grew up on the wrong side of life. He was only a little kid when one of his other friends decided that it would be a good idea for them to rob some houses; "`Me & You, kid, we gonna make sum cash, robbin' old folks and makin' da dash`,. The two kids realized that they did not even have to do a lot to make fast cash, "They did the job, money came with ease". During one of his raids, the boy trys to steal from an undercover cop. The boy gets away but the cop sends other officers after him. Once he is surrounded he grabs a pregnant lady out of the crowd and points an automatic gun at her head; "Deep in his heart he knew he was wrong, so he let the lady go and he starts to run on". After doing this, he finally remembers what is right and what is wrong and lets her go. Eventually he gives in and drops his weapon and the storyteller says, "He was only seventeen, in a madman's dream,
the cops shot the kid, I still hear him scream". Overall, the social message that the artist is portraying in this song is that people need to be aware of the dangers that children face these days due to gang violence and wrong decisions; they need to try and help as many kids stay on the right path so they can eventually become successful in life.

Where is the Love analysis

"Where is the Love?" by Black Eyed Peas has a political message for its listener. The song is about the terrorist attacks that occurred on 9/11 and how the US is in Iraq fighting a war. Also, it talks about how the United States is so focused on helping other countries get rid of terrorists, that they do not see the awful things that are occuring in their own country. They say, "But we still got terrorists here livin' In the USA, the big CIA The Bloods and The Crips and the KKK" to show how much the United States needs to help its own self. The Black Eyed Peas are trying to get the message that no one really cares about what is going on, out there to the citizens of the US so that hopefully, in the future, they will pay attention and try to help out. The reasoning for the world's problems are always hidden from everyone so that it seems as though everything is under control; "A war is goin' on but the reason's undercover The truth is kept secret, it's swept under the rug". Overall, "Where is the Love" is a very persuasive song that attracts the attention of people all over the world.

Children's Story Lyrics-- Slick Rick

CHILDREN'S STORY LYRICS

~Slick Rick~

Girl:Uncle Ricky, could u read us a bed time story please, o please

(Alright you kids get to bed i'll get the story book. yall tucked in?)yea

Here we go,

Oncee upon a time not long ago,

when people wore pajamas and lived life slow,

When laws were stern and justice stood,

and people were behavin' like they ought to good,

There lived a lil' boy who was misled,

by anotha lil' boy and this is what he said:

"Me & You, kid, we gonna make sum cash,

robbin' old folks and makin' da dash",

They did the job, money came with ease,

but one couldn't stop, it's like he had a disease,

He robbed another and another and a sista and her brotha,

tried to rob a man who was a D.T. undercover,

The cop grabbed his arm, he started acting erratic,

he said "Keep still, boy, no need for static",

Punched him in his belly and he gave him a slap,

but little did he know the lil' boy was strapped,

The kid pulled out a gun, he said "Why'd ya hit me?",

the barrel was set straight for the cop's kidney,

The cop got scared, the kid, he starts to figure,

"I'll do years if I pull this trigga",

So he cold dashed and ran around the block,

cop radioes it to another lady cop,

He ran by a tree, there he saw this sista,

a shot for the head, he shot back but he missed her,

Looked around good and from expectations,

so he decided he'd hit for the subway stations,

But she was coming and he made a left,

he was runnin' top speed till he was outta breath,

Knocked an old man down and swore he killed him,

(sorry)

then he made his move to an abandoned building,

Ran up the stairs up to the top floor,

opened up the door there, guess who he saw?,

Dave the dope fiend shootin' dope,

who don't know the meaning of water nor soap,

He said

(I need bullets, hurry up, run)

the dope fiend brought back a spanking shotgun,

He went outside but there was cops all over,

then he dipped into a car, a stolen Nova,

Raced up the block doing 83,

crashed into a tree near university,

Escaped alive though the car was battered,

rat-a-tat-tatted and all the cops scattered,

Ran out of bullets and still had static,

grabbed a pregnant lady and pulled out the automatic,

Pointed at her head and he said the gun was full o' lead,

he told the cops

(Back off or honey here's dead),

Deep in his heart he knew he was wrong,

so he let the lady go and he starts to run on,

Sirens sounded, he seemed astounded,

before long the lil' boy got surrounded,

He dropped the gun, so went the glory,

and this is the way I have to end this story,

He was only seventeen, in a madman's dream,

the cops shot the kid, I still hear him scream,

This ain't funny so don't ya dare laugh,

just another case about the wrong path,

Straight 'n narrow or yo' soul gets CAST.

Good Night.

Girl:oh boy, that uncle Ricky is really weird

I don't know, what does he mean straight 'n' narrow or your soul gets cast?

I don't know, I think he'll be crackin' it up for us,... Good night