The Show Goes On by Lupe Fiasco Lyrics Meaning – Unveiling Resilience in the Face of Adversity
Lyrics
Alright, already the show goes on
All night, till the morning we dream so long
Anybody ever wonder, when they would see the sun up
Just remember when you come up
The show goes on!
Alright, already the show goes on
All night, till the morning we dream so long
Anybody ever wonder, when they would see the sun up
Just remember when you come up
The show goes on!
Have you ever had the feeling
That you was being had
Don’t that shit that make you mad
They treat you like a slave
With chains all on your soul
And put whips up on your back
They be lying through they teeth
Hope you slip up off your path
I don’t switch up I just laugh
Put my kicks up on they desk
Unaffected by they threats
Than get busy on they ass
See that’s how that Chi-Town made me
That’s how my daddy raised me
That glittering may not be gold
Don’t let nobody play me
If you are my homeboy
You never have to pay me
Go on and put your hands up
When times are hard you stand up
L-U-P the man, ’cause a brand that the fans trust
So even if they ban us
They’ll never slow my plans up!
Alright, already the show goes on
All night, till the morning we dream so long
Anybody ever wonder
When they would see the sun up
Just remember when you come up
The show goes on!
Alright, already the show goes on
All night, till the morning we dream so long
Anybody ever wonder
When they would see the sun up
Just remember when you come up
The show goes on!
One in the air for the people that ain’t here
Two in the air for the father that’s there
Three in the air for the kids in the ghetto
Four for the kids who don’t wanna be there
None for the niggas trying to hold them back
Five in the air for the teacher not scared
to tell those kids that’s living in the ghetto
That the niggas holdin’ back that the world is theirs!
Yeah yeah, the world is yours
I was once that little boy
Terrified of the world
Now I’m on a world tour
I will give up everything
Even start a world war
For these ghettos girls and boys I’m rapping round’ the world for!
Africa to New York
Haiti then I detour
Oakland out to Auckland
Gaza Strip to Detroit
Say hip-hop only destroy
Tell em’ look at me, boy!
I hope your son don’t have a gun and never be a D-boy
Alright, already the show goes on
All night, till the morning we dream so long
Anybody ever wonder
When they would see the sun up
Just remember when you come up
The show goes on!
Alright, already the show goes on
All night, till the morning we dream so long
Anybody ever wonder
When they would see the sun up
Just remember when you come up
The show goes on!
So no matter what you been through
No matter what you into
No matter what you see
when you look outside your window
Brown grass or green grass
Picket fence or barbed wire
Never ever put them down
You just lift your arms higher
Raise ’em ’til your arms tired
Let em’ know you’re there
That you struggling and survivin’
That you gonna persevere yeah
Ain’t no body leavin’
No body goin’ home
Even if they turn the lights out the show is goin’ on!
Alright, already the show goes on
All night, till the morning we dream so long
Anybody ever wonder
When they would see the sun up
Just remember when you come up
The show goes on!
Alright, already the show goes on
All night, till the morning we dream so long
Anybody ever wonder
When they would see the sun up
Just remember when you come up
The show goes on!
When ‘The Show Goes On’ echoed through the airwaves upon its release, Lupe Fiasco wasn’t merely dropping another chart-topping track; he was crafting an anthem of endurance and defiance. This song is more than a compilation of catchy beats and a chorus that embeds itself into the psyche. It is a narrative — a manifesto of sorts, where every bar is laden with the weight of struggle and the promise of perseverance.
Diving deeper into its lyrics reveals layers of social commentary, personal history, and a call to arms for anyone who’s faced hardship. Fiasco’s ‘The Show Goes On’ transcends simple entertainment, hitting the heart of listeners with a powerful message. Let’s dissect this modern hymn and explore the intricacies hidden beneath its melodious surface.
A Song of Sisyphus: The Eternal Struggle Embodied
Fiasco plays the role of a modern-day Sisyphus, challenging the incessant uphill battle many face in life. The refrain ‘Alright, already the show goes on’ isn’t just a lyrical hook – it’s a mantra for the weary. With each repetition, Fiasco is both acknowledging the audience’s fatigue and encouraging their spirit to withstand. The constant motion ‘all night, till the morning’ suggests that our efforts, dreams, and struggles don’t cease when faced with the cloak of night; instead, they push through to the dawn of new possibilities.
This perpetual cycle described by Fiasco instills a sense of camaraderie within the listener, a feeling that their struggle is universal, their dreams valid, and their persistence warranted. Even as darkness envelopes and challenges seem insurmountable, we are reminded that the cycle of effort and potential victory is ever-present. The repetitiveness of the song’s structure itself serves as a testament to the relentless nature of human pursuit.
Rebellion in Rhyme: The Hidden Message of ‘The Show Goes On’
Lupe Fiasco’s lyrics do not shy away from shining a light on the chains that bind the soul, the societal pressures, and the often misrepresented reality of life in the fray. By proclaiming that ‘They be lying through their teeth / Hope you slip up off your path,’ Fiasco is calling out the deceivers, the powers that strive to keep the underdog in check through manipulation and fear.
However, it’s in his refusal to succumb where the hidden message lies. Fiasco’s laughter in the face of threats, his casual dismissal of their attempts to deter him, represents an inner freedom that refuses to be quelled. The message is clear: one’s path, purpose, and determination should not be at the mercy of another’s deceit or intimidation.
Collective Ascension: A Chorus of Unity and Empowerment
Fiasco’s call to ‘Go on and put your hands up / When times are hard you stand up’ is not merely about individual perseverance; it’s an invocation to collective strength. In creating an image of raised hands, a universally understood gesture of surrender or plea, Fiasco transforms it into a symbol of solidarity and resistance.
Simultaneously, this line carries a double meaning. In concert, a crowd of raised hands indicates a collective enjoyment and unity in song, thus transcending experiences of struggle into a moment of shared joy and empowerment. It’s a powerful imagery that evokes a sense of community and the assurance that nobody stands alone in the face of hardship.
Lyrical Cartography: Mapping the Global Struggle Through Verse
With a geographical tour from ‘Africa to New York / Haiti then I detour / Oakland out to Auckland / Gaza Strip to Detroit,’ Fiasco paints a picture of a universal struggle that connects communities across the globe. This string of locations isn’t arbitrary; each place holds stories of resilience and resistance, whether it be from political unrest, societal issues, or natural disasters.
These lines serve as a reminder that while our experiences may be localized, the essence of our challenges and our dreams of overcoming them are shared across continents. Lupe Fiasco becomes a musical envoy, bridging divides with a reminder that he raps ‘for these ghettos girls and boys I’m rapping round’ the world for.’ This sense of global citizenship is not only a mainstream rap motif but a profound call for empathy and understanding across cultural lines.
Encore for the Echoes of Endurance in Memorable Lines
Some of the most impactful moments in music are those that linger long after the song has ended. ‘The Show Goes On’ has many such lines, but perhaps none more poignant than the finale, ‘Even if they turn the lights out the show is goin’ on!’ This is not just the conclusion of a song; it’s a declaration that the human spirit, much like the show, will press forward, lights on or off.
Through this promise, Fiasco cements the ethos of ‘The Show Goes On’ — a pledge that for every person grappling with their small slice of the world, their efforts are not in vain. The light of perseverance shines internally, and that can never be extinguished. This last memorable line echoes in the mind as an empowering whisper, a relentless chant that no matter what, we will continue to sing our song, we will weather the storm, and yes, the show will go on.
