☝️ Key Points
- The song 'Changes' addresses themes such as racism, inequality, and social injustice from the perspective of the artist 2Pac.
- 2Pac discusses his experiences with poverty and racism, for example with the line 'I'm tired of bein' poor, and even worse I'm black'.
- The song lyrics also condemn police violence against Black people and systemic discrimination.
- Drug abuse and violence in his community are portrayed as products of systemic racism and social injustice.
- Its chorus expresses both resignation and hope for change, and it calls on listeners to fight against racism and injustice.
- Finally, the song criticizes the 'war on drugs', portraying it as a means to harass marginalized communities instead of addressing their real issues.
Interpretation
The song 'Changes' by
2Pac is a profound reflection on racism, inequality, and social injustice in modern society. The artist addresses his personal struggles growing up in poverty and the challenges he faces as a Black man in America.
He emphasizes 'I'm tired of bein' poor, and even worse I'm black', which points to the systematic discrimination he experiences. In the lines 'Cops give a damn about a negro, Pull the trigger, kill a nigga, he's a hero', he condemns police violence against Black people and racism in law enforcement.
He also addresses the issues of drug abuse and violence in his community, which he sees as products of systemic racism and social injustice: 'First, ship 'em dope and let 'em deal the brothers, Give 'em guns, step back, watch 'em kill each other'.
The chorus 'That's just the way it is, Things will never be the same' expresses a mix of resignation and hope for change. 2Pac urges his audience to make changes and to treat each other better: 'We gotta start makin' changes, Learn to see me as a brother instead of two distant strangers'.
In the last part of the song, he calls for changes on both a personal and societal level: 'We gotta make a change, It's time for us as a people to start makin' some changes'. He criticizes the 'war on drugs' and emphasizes that this war serves more to harass marginalized communities than to address real issues: 'Instead of war on poverty, they got a war on drugs, So the police can bother me'.
Overall, 'Changes' is a call to action, to overcome racism and injustice, and to create a more just society.