It’s Like That by Run-D.M.C. Lyrics Meaning – Unwrapping the Unspoken Truths of Hip-Hop Culture
Lyrics
People coming, people going, people born to die
Don’t ask me, because I don’t know why
But it’s like that, and that’s the way it is
People in the world try to make ends meet
You try to ride car, train, bus, or feet
I said you got to work hard to want to compete
It’s like that, and that’s the way it is
Huh!
Money is the key to end all your woes
Your ups, your downs, your highs and your lows
Won’t you tell me last time that love bought you clothes?
It’s like that, and that’s the way it is
Bills fly higher every day
We receive much lower pay
I’d rather stay young, go out and play
It’s like that, and that’s the way it is
Huh!
War’s going on across the sea
Street soldiers killing the elderly
Whatever happened to unity?
It is like that and that’s the way it is
Disillusion is the word
That’s used by me when I’m not heard
I just go through life with my glasses blurred
It’s like that, and that’s the way it is
Huh!
You can see a lot in this lifespan
Like a bum eating out of a garbage can
You notice one time he was your man
It’s like that (what?) and that’s the way it is
You should’ve gone to school, you could’ve learned a trade
But you laid in the bed where the bums have laid
Now all the time you’re crying that you’re underpaid
It’s like that (what?) and that’s the way it is
Huh!
One thing I know is that life is short
So listen up, homeboy, give this a thought
The next time someone’s teaching why don’t you get taught?
It’s like that (what?) and that’s the way it is
If you really think about it times aren’t that bad
The one that flexes with successes will make you glad
Stop playing, start praying, you won’t be sad
It’s like that (what?) and that’s the way it is
Huh!
When you feel you fail sometimes it hurts
For a meaning in life is why you search
Take the bus or the train, drive to school or the church
It’s like that, and that’s the way it is
Here’s another point in life you should not miss
Do not be a fool who’s prejudice
Because we’re all written down on the same list
It’s like that (what?) and that’s the way it is
Huh
You know it’s like that, and that’s the way it is
Because it’s like that, and that’s the way it is
You know it’s like that, and that’s the way it is
Because it’s like that, and that’s the way it is
You know it’s like that, and that’s the way it is
Because it’s like that, and that’s the way it is
You know it’s like that, and that’s the way it is
Because it’s like that, and that’s the way it is
It’s Like That,’ the truth-telling track by trailblazing hip-hop group Run-D.M.C., reverberates through the echo chamber of time since its release in the early 80s. As a sonic snapshot confronting the socio-economic, racial, and personal issues of its era, the song has morphed into an enduring anthem of the streets, intertwining messages that still resonate deeply within the modern societal framework.
Run-D.M.C. wasn’t just about laying down beats and rhymes; they were orators for the oppressed, commentators on the chaos, and preachers uplifting the potential within each individual. ‘It’s Like That’ unpacks layers of meaning across its stanzas, serving as a gritty reflection of reality accompanied by the groove that would define a genre.
Decoding the Despair: A Dive into Societal Struggles
The track’s opening lines paint a dim portrait of urban life, with unemployment ravaging communities and existential questions going unanswered. The matter-of-fact delivery of ‘It’s like that, and that’s the way it is,’ encapsulates a resignation to these hardships while simultaneously calling out systemic failures. It’s as if Run-D.M.C. is laying bare the unvarnished truth of the American Dream gone awry.
This isn’t just about painting a bleak picture but stressing the normality of these conditions for many. The mundane manner in which these issues are referenced points to a calloused familiarity. It’s a gritty recognition that for those on the fringes, this isn’t an anomaly; it’s just another day.
The Daily Grind: Sweat and Survival in Lyric Form
The lyrics documenting the hustle to make ends meet remain a universal narrative. Tales of hard work and the relentless pursuit of stability resonate with listeners, embodying the spirit of the hustle culture prevalent in today’s landscape. Run-D.M.C. pulls no punches in acknowledging the fatigue wrapped in the fight for economic survival.
But there’s an underlying optimism in this verse. Despite acknowledging the grind, the call to ‘work hard to want to compete’ is a testament to the relentless spirit of human endeavor. It is an acknowledgement of struggles but also a rallying cry for persistence.
Materialism and the Search for Value in Vanities
The group’s musings on the trappings of wealth (‘Money is the key to end all your woes…Won’t you tell me last time that love bought you clothes?’) is a bold questioning of materialism. This isn’t just a critique; it’s a poetic probe into what truly constitutes worth in a society caught up in consumerism.
By juxtaposing money against love, a fundamental question arises: What is the price of true happiness? Can material success ever substitute for the warmth of genuine connections and affection? It’s a lyrical ledger balancing the tangible against the intangible.
Unearthing the Hidden Meaning: Beyond the Beats
‘It’s Like That’ harbors a core of hidden meanings, veiled in plain sight beneath the rhymes. The constant repetition of the phrase ‘It’s like that, and that’s the way it is’ isn’t resignation; it is resistance. It’s a baseline for observation, a recognition of the status quo as the first step toward change.
Each verse peels back another layer of modern life – the plight of the homeless, the tragedy of forgotten veterans (‘Like a bum eating out of a garbage can, You notice one time he was your man’), and the stark reminder to make the most of life’s brevity. The song is a call to action, to education, and to spiritual and moral reawakening.
Memorable Lines That Defined a Generation
Some lyrics land like punches, and Run-D.M.C. delivered blows that shook the foundations of hip-hop. Lines like ‘For a meaning in life is why you search, Take the bus or the train, drive to school or the church’ is a succinct encapsulation of their message. Seek purpose through learning and faith; find a higher calling amongst the daily commute.
But perhaps the most piercing and uniting message comes towards the song’s end, ‘Do not be a fool who’s prejudice, Because we’re all written down on the same list.’ With these words, Run-D.M.C. indelibly etches the message of equality into the bedrock of hip-hop culture, reminding us all that beyond the divides, we share a common human blueprint.
