Thread: Lyrics

There is a couple of lines in "War"s lyrics I don't understand. I do understand what they mean (I guess ), but I don't get the logic behind these phrases. Is that some cultural reference I don't know, or they seem as weird to you (native speakers) as they do to me?

Here's the song in question:

Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?

I seen you 'round for a long long time
I really 'membered you when you drink my wine

I seen you walkin' down in Chinatown
I called you but you could not look around

I bring my money to the welfare line
I see you standing in it every time

The color of your skin don't matter to me
As long as we can live in harmony

I'd kinda like to be the President
so I can show you how your money's spent

Sometimes I don't speak too bright
but yet I know what I'm talking about

I know you're working for the CIA
they wouldn't have you in the Mafia

Why can't we be friends?
Why can't we be friends?

Originally Posted by gRomoZeka

Sometimes I don't speak too bright
but yet I know what I'm talking about

По-моему, это и есть ответ на вопрос.

A mixture between need for rhyme and find two opposite organizations? CIA vs. mafia?

I think it's suggesting that the CIA is worse than or equivalent to the mafia, not the opposite.

Originally Posted by gRomoZeka

I know you're working for the CIA
they wouldn't have you in the Mafia
?

That to me suggests 'you' wernt good enough to be in the Mafia, but the CIA is less fussy so hired 'you'.

Mafia and CIA don't even rhyme anyway.

honestly, that depends how you say/sing it. What some people do to get rhyme...

Thanks, guys. I think, Ezri nailed it.

honestly, that depends how you say/sing it. What some people do to get rhyme...

Are you saying you can rhyme it?