FIGHT by BROCKHAMPTON Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Layers of Social Consciousness
Lyrics
My father learned how to solve problems with guns
And when I grew up I learned what racism was
And what teaching it does
And like my teachers would say
“Little black boys have a place in the world”
Like hanging from trees
Or dead in the street like I seen on TV
All them boys they killed, they looked just like me
Not like Brandon or Chandler, but Malik and Kareem
I was born with a target, and it stuck to my skin
And I learned in social studies I was one of them men
Who were locked in the chains, but not locked in the pen
But I’m bigger than that, I’m the beginning and end
I’m the sun and the moon
I’m the light and the dark
I am life in the tomb
I’m the pharaoh and slave
Gentrifying my spirit
It’s like a knife in the womb
Refuse to act like a parrot
Or to dance like a monkey
See your stance is apparent
That’s why I’m here for the money
Don’t care to cater to Mary
Y’all fetishizing my spirit
I see your culture’s dependent
On what you didn’t inherent
Won’t let my world be attempted
I’m staying distant
Who gonna be the reason why I get high
Who gonna be the reason why I turn over
Who gonna be the gunner that I don’t trust
Who gonna be the gunner that get they ass whooped
Who gonna be the reason why I get high
Who gonna be the reason why I turn over
Who gonna be the gunner that I don’t trust
Who gonna be the gunner that get they ass whooped
Who gonna be the reason why I get high
Who gonna be the reason why I turn over
Who gonna be the gunner that I don’t trust
Who gonna be the gunner that get they ass whooped
Who gonna be the reason why I get high
Who gonna be the reason why I turn over
Who gonna be the gunner that I don’t trust
Who gonna be the gunner that get they ass whooped
Bum, bum, beat ’em, I would never wanna be ’em
If I catch ’em slipping they gon’ have to meet the eagle
Bum, bum, beat ’em, treat these niggas how I see ’em
I don’t need you either, send you right back where I seen ya
Bum, bum, beat ’em, I would never wanna be ’em
If I catch ’em slipping they gon’ have to meet the eagle
Bum, bum, beat ’em, treat these niggas how I see ’em
I don’t need you either, send you right back where I seen ya
In the game, in the game, in the game, in the game (bloodsucka!)
In the game, in the game, in the game, in the game (bloodsucka!)
Running thangs, running, run, running, run, running thangs (bloodsucka!)
Running thangs, running, run, running, run, running thangs
In the game, in the game, in the game, in the, in the
In the game, in the game, in the game, running thangs
Running thangs, running, run, running, run, running, run
Running thangs, running, run, running, run, running thangs, running thangs
In the searing track ‘FIGHT’ from their second studio album ‘Saturation II,’ BROCKHAMPTON delves into the complexities of racial identity, societal expectations, and the intergenerational trauma that haunts communities of color. Unlike typical rap braggadocio, ‘FIGHT’ crafts a poignant narrative woven with the voices of ancestral struggle and contemporary resistance.
The song is a piercing reflection on the experiences of being Black in America, confronting the audience with the uncomfortable truths of an unequal society. Amidst pulsating beats and raw energy, BROCKHAMPTON confronts racism’s insidious nature, turning their art into a form of sociopolitical discourse. Below, we dissect ‘FIGHT’ into thematic segments, piecing together the hidden meaning and societal commentary ingrained within its verses.
Breaking Down the Impact of Ancestral Voices
By invoking the imagery of black boys ‘hanging from trees’ and ‘dead in the street,’ BROCKHAMPTON’s ‘FIGHT’ pulls the listener into the depths of America’s dark history of lynching and modern police brutality. These haunting lines are an outcry against the system that continues to fail young black men, positioning them as inheritors of a legacy of violence.
‘FIGHT’ not only looks back to the chains and the pen but also speaks to the present, gesturing towards an awakening. The lyrics, ‘I’m the beginning and end,’ signify a reclaiming of agency, suggesting that despite the history of oppression, there’s a resilient spirit that persists in the face of adversity, one that foresees an era of liberation and self-determination.
The Poignant Paradox: Embracing Duality in ‘FIGHT’
Caught between the celestial dichotomy ‘I’m the sun and the moon,’ the song illuminates the duality of existence as a person of color. The lyrics are an acknowledgment of their multifaceted identity – the light and the dark, life and death, freedom and subjugation. The acknowledgment serves as a means of empowerment, highlighting the inherent power and potential within the individuals of the community.
Through the imagery of ‘the pharaoh and slave,’ ‘FIGHT’ draws a line through history, connecting the grandeur of ancient civilizations with the degradation and dehumanization experienced by their descendants. This line is a call to remember the roots of black history, which was rich with culture and sovereignty long before it was overshadowed by oppression.
Resisting Cultural Appropriation and Tokenism
In an era where cultural appropriation is rampant and people of color often find their culture commodified, ‘FIGHT’ strikes back. As the songwriters refuse ‘to act like a parrot’ or ‘to dance like a monkey,’ they are rejecting the stereotypes and exploitation thrust upon them by the entertainment industry and society at large.
These lyrics critique the act of fetishizing black culture without respecting or understanding its origins and significance. When BROCKHAMPTON vocalizes the sentiment of ‘y’all fetishizing my spirit,’ they articulate a boundary against the superficial appreciation that ignores the very real struggles and experiences of black individuals.
A Ride through the Cycles of Violence and Retaliation
The repetitive questioning of ‘Who gonna be the reason why I get high?’ speaks to the cycle of trauma and escapism prevalent in marginalized communities. The phrase ‘Who gonna be the gunner that I don’t trust’ echoes the distrust that builds within communities constantly plagued by violence, either from external forces or within their ranks.
The fact that the song goes back to these lines several times underlines the inescapable loop of suspicion and hostility that breeds in an environment where trust is consistently betrayed. The sense of defiance in ‘Who gonna be the gunner that get they ass whooped’ speaks to a boiling point, a moment where the oppressed fight back, suggesting the possibility of change through direct confrontation.
Memorable Lines that Voice Collective Anguish and Defiance
‘Gentrifying my spirit, It’s like a knife in the womb,’ perhaps one of the most powerful lines in ‘FIGHT,’ captures the insidious nature of cultural erasure and the personal turmoil it causes. It speaks to the deep-seated pain of watching one’s heritage and very essence being repurposed for others’ benefits while the community itself continues to suffer.
BROCKHAMPTON does not just paint a picture of pain, however. The song serves as a rallying cry for resilience in the repeated chant ‘Running thangs, running, run, running, run, running thangs,’ suggesting that despite the trials and tribulations of systemic oppression, the spirit of the community remains unyielding, empowered, and ever-prescient in the struggle for justice and equality.
