☝️ Key Points
- The song lyrics address the challenges faced by young people from disadvantaged neighborhoods.
- They describe the daily struggles and resistance they endure to survive.
- The lyrics criticize the lack of support from society and the limited resources that the youth have to compete with.
- It presents the perspective of a girl who has to work as a stripper to make ends meet.
- The song lyrics call for solidarity and support, emphasizing that ghetto youth must survive against all odds.
Interpretation
The song lyrics 'Ghetto Youth' by
Vybz Kartel are about the challenges faced by young people from disadvantaged neighborhoods. The artist refers to these young people as 'Ghetto Youth' and talks about their daily struggles and the resistance they put up to survive.
The lyrics begin by stating that society does not support the ghetto youth and that the young people themselves are the victims. Nevertheless, they must continue and maintain faith in themselves. The artist describes his own experience of growing up in the ghetto, experiencing hungry days and nights, and having no educational opportunities.
He notes that the ghetto youth face the same challenges every day and that it is a matter of survival. The government does not give them a chance, and the young people compete with each other for limited resources. The artist observes how the community brings hard-earned money to the church but does not see any real change.
The lyrics also show the perspective of a girl who grows up without a father and whose mother is unable to pay the school fees. She becomes a stripper to make ends meet. The artist asks society why they ignore the tears of the young people and how the ghetto has become a cancer.
The chorus emphasizes that the ghetto youth must survive despite everything. No matter what people say, they must hold on to their faith and keep going.
The lyrics end with a mention of other countries where young people face similar challenges to those in Jamaica. The artist expresses solidarity with black soldiers and once again emphasizes that the ghetto youth must survive, no matter what happens.
Overall, the song lyrics highlight the burdens faced by the ghetto youth and call for solidarity and support. They urge society to acknowledge the problems of these young people and give them a chance to succeed.