Nobody left in the airport lounge
They cleaned the ashtrays
TV's just wound down
I've got to wait till morning
I've got to last the night
I've only got one book
To see me through my flight
But when I get to Paris
We'll paint all our portraits
In brush-strokes of yellow
And christen the canvas
The left bank is crying
For colour to crown it
Like the roof of a palace
We'll drink in the amber
When I get to Paris
You were the best of Montmartre Street life
You signed the tablecloth
Art has its price
It's so hard to hold on
To the ghost of your breed
It takes ambition
To call the colours you need
I've got to wait till morning
I've got to last the night
I've only got one book
On se rappelle les chansons.
Un soir d'hiver, un frais visage,
La sc?ne ? marchands de marrons,
Une chambre au cinqui?me ?tage,
Les caf?s cr?mes du matin,
Montparnasse, le Caf? du D?me,
Les faubourgs, le Quartier latin,
Les Tuileries et la Place Vend?me.
Paris, c'?tait la gaiet?, Paris,
C'?tait la douceur aussi.
C'?tait notre tendresse.
Paris, tes gamins, tes artisans,
Tes camelots et tes agents
Et tes matins de printemps,
Paris, l'odeur de ton pav? d'oies,
De tes marronniers, du bois,
Je pense ? toi sans cesse.
Paris, je m'ennuie de toi, mon vieux.
On se retrouvera tous les deux,
Mon grand Paris.
?videmment, il y a parfois
Les heures un peu difficiles
Mais tout s'arrange bien, ma foi.
Avec Paris, c'est si facile.
Pour moi, Paris, c'est les beaux jours
Les airs l?gers, graves ou tendres.
Pour moi, Paris, c'est mes amours
Et mon c?ur ne peut se reprendre.
Paris, tu es ma gaiet?, Paris.
Tu es ma douceur aussi.
Tu es toute ma tendresse.
Paris, tes gamins, tes artisans,
Tes camelots et tes agents
Et tes matins de printemps,
Paris, l'odeur de ton pav? d'oies,
De tes marronniers, du bois.
Je pense ? toi sans cesse.
Paris, je m'ennuie de toi, mon vieux.
On se retrouvera tous les deux,
(J. Lyon/B. Rush)
She left on the morning train
She never spoke of returning
So blasé she just walked away
Oh, but this fire is still burning
Paris you're a drug, you won't let go
There is no use in denial
You're in my brain, you're in my veins
You've got my mind running wild
Goodbye to Paris
Goodbye to the past
We live in shadows that our dreams have cast
Memory and desire can only bring pain
Until I'm with you again
Goodbye to Paris
Goodbye to the past
We live in shadows that our dreams have cast
Memory and desire can only bring pain
Until I'm with you again
Till I'm back in your arms one more time
The train pulled into paris like a rocket to the moon
The station's like a circus every face is a cartoon
Everybody's stoned on pride and drunk on cheap champagne
Tonight this joie de vivre sure don't live up to its name
And now all that i can say
Is i'd give this world to you
Every rock and every stone every masterpiece in rome
And if you asked me to
I'd steel the mona lisa, tear it up in little pieces
And lay them at your feet
For all the world to see
But tonight i can't give you paris
Aristocrats are everywhere
And the air's as thick as thieves
She'd like nothing better than to steal the breathe from me
The tower's lights ain't shinin' as it hangs its head in shame
At the sight of american blood on the streets of st. germain
Washin' up into the seine
And i'd give this world to you
I'd steal the crown and kingdom from the queen of england
And if you asked me to
I'd take this city in my hands, break it down in grains of sand
And lay them at your feet
For all the world to see
(Intro)
Baby say goodnight
Text me when you get home safely
Like you always did
When we was first dating
(Verse)
You sitting in your office dreaming of a different life
You say you wanna make me smile and see my wild side
If we don't leave town now
We're never gonna get out of here alive
I'm walking home from school my thoughts are drifting
into space
Why don't we leave tonight and take off to a different
place
Don't tell my daddy why gotta get on that plane and
just fly
(Chorus)
Take me to paris
Let's go there and never look back
Paris, we can be crazy like that
You're such a naughty boy
Why you taking that polaroid
Put on a show you'll enjoy
Take me to paris
(Verse)
I wanna be that fantasy that you got on your mind
Flying across the sea to somewhere that they'll never
find
We should go out while we young
Cause one day we will wondering why
Our time in paris
Take me to Yves Saint Laurent
Paris, make out in a dark restaurant
Will dance until we die
Wanna go out every night
Promise we won't say goodbye
(Chorus)
Take me to paris
Let's go there and never look back
Paris, we can be crazy like that
You're such a naughty boy
Why you taking that polaroid
Put on a show you'll enjoy
Take me to paris
(Verse)
Walking through the streets at dawn
We dance by empty carousels
Singing about the sacre coure
And climbing up the tour eiffel
Under the stars
We are, we are dreaming
(Chorus)
You're such a naughty boy
Why you taking that polaroid
Put on a show you'll enjoy
Take me to paris
Take me to movies and salons
It's paris, make out in a dark restaurant
Will dance until we die
Wanna go out every night
Promise we won't say goodbye
(Outro)
Baby say goodnight
Text me when you get home safely
Like you always did
It was seven in the morning when the spark
began to give. the bath was spilling over, my
self pity spilling with it, so i, i fled the country
to start it all again and found myself in paris in
the cemetery rain.
dear anne came to me and took me by the arm
showed me old disasters embedded in the palm
warned me of a lady with the sun behind her head.
with a a granite neck, a singer who can never sing
again. but you, my love:
you must come, come to joy, turn your head to the sun
its down to you, you can shine, you can shake all the
sorrow from your palm.. its down to you if you dare
to come to joy.
what was it i ran from, what burnt away inside?
four hundred schoolboys and a lawyer at my side
always running with these legs going nowhere
a ghost in the system, and angel on the stairs...
but oh! this time....
i shall turn, turn my head to the sun..
they are marching out of me.. one by one
walking free. oh! theyre going out of....
oh! i can feel it moving, this time i'm really moving.
are you ready to come, come to joy well its really down to
you if you dare to enjoy... its down to you... hold the key
Coming back from paris on the train,
I really didnt care if the journey took all day,
Trying to turn the pages of my magazine,
Ill try to keep a hold all your hand,
And ordering a coffee that i wouldn't ever drink,
Just to keep you and paris on my mind,
I didnt know it would be the last time,
The last time,
I saw you,
At waterloo we went our separate ways,
When i got in my cab i didnt turn and wave,
Didnt go to work just went to bed,
Trying to keep you and paris on my mind
I didnt know it would be the last time,
The last time,
I saw you,
I phoned your office this afternoon,
Hey said they hadn't heard anything from you,
Its been seven days without a word,
I have to keep you and paris on my mind,
I didnt know it would be the last time,
The last time,
I saw you,
Going back to paris on the train,
Raining and here without you,
Its not the same,
I have to do this journey one more time,
Just to keep you and paris on my mind
I didnt know it would be the last time,
The last time,
I saw you,
The last time,
I saw you,
The last time,
I saw you,
The last time,
Chicosci Paris Lyrics
Could I be so affected?
Will I stay on your mind?
Why am I so infected?
The way that we shine
Speak now or forever fall to pieces
I took you so fast
The way we are is just a movie sequence
I took you so
I can't ever deny that this
This gift you won't hide
This scene that we were in together
The story of our lives
Broken, lover
Tears flow, endless rivers
One love, one heart
Still we won't sever
Speak now or forever fall into pieces
I took you so fast
The way we are is just a movie sequence
I took you so fast
Speak now or forever fall into pieces
I took you so fast
The way we are is just a movie sequence
I took you so fast
Could I be so affected?
Will I stay on your mind?
Why am I so infected?
The way that we shine
Twisting, turning
As we move further
My own prayer
We will both emerge
Speak now or forever fall to pieces
I took you so fast
The way we are is just a movie sequence
I took you so fast
You and I step into the light
I'm so graced
That I have this
You and I step into the light
I'm so graced
When you land in Paris and they wave you right through
Though your passport picture, doesn't look much like you
They don't look at your luggage, they don't look at your face
'Cause you pose no danger and you're such a disgrace
You go out walking down the Champs D'Elysees
And your spirits are sinking, it can happen that way
When you do your best Bogart and they don't seem to care
They walk right down the sidewalk like you ain't even there
Lookin' in the wrong direction
Seein' it from the inside out
The way you couldn't wait for Christmas
The way you used to twist and shout
It must be the jet lag, you hope it'll pass
You check your reflection in the store front glass
Kinda gray at the temples, kinda goes with the hat
Kinda round in the middle but it ain't even that
It's nothing you can see, it's nothing you can smell
But you pose no danger and man they can tell
Lookin' in the wrong direction
Seein' it from the inside out
The way you couldn't wait for Christmas
The way you used to twist and shout
You see it in the mirror in the morning
You feel it in the middle of the night
Sleeping with your eyes wide open
Ezra was an old man. He lived by the sea.
Watching himself getting older, with no family.
Cassie was a pretty one, a bar tender by trade.
She had a daughter with big green eyes. She called her Jade.
They met each other in the park while Jade was on a swing.
On a bench underneath a tree, they talked about everything.
And she said, "Sometimes I get so scared, and I don't know why."
She reached for the old man's hand and she began to cry.
And he said,
"It ain't no crime, it ain't no crime.
Everybody gets a little bit lonely sometimes.
It ain't no crime, it ain't no crime.
Everybody gets a little bit lonely sometimes."
The he said, "I was gonna be a painter, gonna paint my masterpiece.
I spent my whole life dreamin'. Now they're my only memories.
And I was gonna live in Paris, France. Now my body's fallin' apart.
I could be a Pable Picasso if delusion were an art."
And she said, "That sounds lovely. Paris, France.
Just sayin' those words kinda makes me wanna dance.
Do you wanna dance?"
It ain't no crime, it ain't no crime.
Everybody gets a little bit lonely sometimes.
It ain't no crime, it ain't no crime.
Everybody gets a little bit lonely sometimes.
They'd meet there every Sunday in the park at noon.
Ezra would get there early to buy Jade a red balloon.
And Cassie'd tell him all about her awful luck with men.
She'd say, "Wish I could meet a guy like you but they'll never make you
again."
And Jade would fall asleep in Ezra's lap there in the park
while Cassie's still be talkin' a long time after dark.
It ain't no crime, it ain't no crime.
Everybody gets a little bit lonely sometimes.
It ain't no crime, it ain't no crime.
Everybody gets a little bit lonely sometimes.
One Sunday afternoon, no Ezra, no red balloon.
Just a friend of his who said, "Ezra passed away
and he wanted me to bring this letter to you today."
Well, it was two tickets to Paris.
And a note that read, "Thank you for the dance.
My dearest Cassie, you were my Paris, France."
It ain't no crime, it ain't no crime.
Easily I approach, the microphone, in this land of jokes
Can't leave it alone, cause ya know, I could see right though
Corrupt plans and these bullshit scams and untruths
We livin' in a maze, different days and times
The world is a stage, most truth is a lie
In this propaganda matrix, the sheep just die
For these murderous conservatives with corporate ties
Deny knowledge of the truth, ignorin' the poor
They just human ammunition for these capital wars
Just human ammunition and collateral d
That's why millions of us holla risin' up in the streets
And when ya see me understand I'm representin' a voice
The majority would feel if ever given a choice
I don't need this seedy media they only annoy
Cause the only ones that wanna scrap ain't never deployed
Who do the fightin' for these rich white folks, and they wars
No it ain't Drew Carey, Dennis Miller or stars
Fox News, Mike Savage, Bruce Willis or Rush
Won't be MSNBC, CNN or a Bush
Never Toby Keith, Hannity, O'Reilly or Clint
Ain't ClearChannel - know they ain't supportin' dissent
Ain't Blair, Kid Rock, or Tom Cruise or vows
Of James Woods, Rob Lowe, Tom Selleck or Powell
Not Arnold Schwarzenegger, he ain't gonna shoot, or
Ted Nuget cause in war the targets got weapons too
Ain't Cheney, Rumsfeld, Halliburton or Ridge
Or Ann Coulter, or Joseph Lieberman or the rich
Or any bitch up in congress, they just make laws
When it comes to fightin' - we the ones that end up in gauze
So when you say "support that murderer," I have no applause
Back in the day 1986
Me and Mad Mike puttin' records in the mix
Doin' party after party, high schools and jam
Back before the glock was king and brothas spoke like men
Makin' demo after demo tryin' to come up quick
It's funny how niggas treat you when you ain't got shit
But now I kept on cause pops told me
Never to let anybody in the way where I try to get
It was me and D.R. freakin' with the funk
Jerry in the jail, I had a system in the trunk
And it was on, Friday night the party's jumpin'
Summertime hits had the speakers straight bumpin'
And believe me even though we had no loot
Everybody knew that we was finst' to come up soon
I still remember them days
They was crazy but now they gone
It aint nothin' like it used to be before
Back in the days...
1990 fresh out of college
Public and the media settin' niggas up with knowledge
And I love it cause without them there would be no me
Took a trip down to Oakland
Heard the minister speak, felt deep
And shortly I was in
On while forever down for my people 'til the day that I die
That's when "Devil Made Me Do It," it was made
I still remember the days, still remember the rage
And I was into everyday building, trying to be much more
Took a trip down to Cuba, met Assata Shakur
Had dinner with Fidel, talked about old times
And now America's steady tryin' to destroy minds
And when I got back it seemed much clearer to me
And when my cousin went to war he was only 19
I still remember them days
They was crazy but now they gone
It aint nothin' like it used to be before
Back in the days...
1992 when I'm sour inside
Cause a couple homies passed away before their time
And even though I'm movin' unity
Schoolin' better than most and it aint the same
Cause I still feel pain and I'm tryin' to coup
And everyday's gettin' clearer to me
Cause if it aint guns and drugs, it's the pigs and HIV
And now I'm lookin' for a way to try to fight it back
But you see it's votin' time and now you wanna ban rap
Thought I was fucked playin' by your rules
"Sleeping With the Enemy" was album number two
Let's take a look around
And see which one of you all
Gotta balls to put me out
Here's a middle finger off for all you
Tripped for a minute but before too long
A young brotha said: "Fuck it!" and a label was born
I still remember them days
They was crazy but now they gone
It aint nothin' like it used to be but yo
Now it's 94 and I'm servin' album number three
How many fake wanna-be Gees do I see?
Now we're back to days of the nigga and the bitch
No deposit, no return, it's a trip, I check my grip
And realize that it's all in your mind
Mothafuck you and that fake gangsta shit
I stays righterous and serv'em with the dope
Should a truth get a clue?
Monkey see, monkey do
This is a test
Too many sounds irritate my earholes
Like Planet Rock beats from L.A. hoes
The same old thing same ol' shit I'm tired
Was once on the payroll about to be fired
Black radio shame, pop rap's to blame
Program your playlist to sound the same
With a disco tempo, cliche intro
Wack rap tracks for commercial shows
Mindless music for the masses has to
Take time away from the real rap master
So I stay cool for community airplay
While ratings slip for the shit that you play
This is a test a lesson to be observed
No wack rhymes are heard I keep on raising the curve
Back and forth I never stick 'em soft I just run it
Punks'll shun it, gangs keep their girlies on it
Paris is the dog, much doper than morphine
Sick with the style so you can say you've seen
The radical magical man, master of master-plan
So smooth from beginning to end
This is a test, back it up when I'm in the place
And all hail to the dog with the righteous bass
The boss I come across rough on your radiowave
Terror on two track whenever I'm played
Punks keep steppin' that's the reason why I
Come through sicker than a L.A. driveby by
Droppin' bombs in songs y'all keep singin' along
So smooth it couldn't never go wrong
This is a test
Yo dig when you buy a rap record do you buy it for dance moves
Or do you buy rap cause the lyrics are smooth
'Cause if you wanna dance you should stick with the other one
And leave the dog alone till the dancin' is done
But then when you're ready for the brother who leads
And feeds all rap lovers with rhymes like these
I dish a little taste of the bass of Scarface
And paste a rhyme space to chase the weak-kneed
'Cause I don't play, well my name ain't, A A T C, a NWA
I'm Paris, the Asiatic lord of light
With the power to fight and write rhymes to stay
'Cause I'm hotter than lava when I be up on a microphone
By now you should know it the poet doper than most
By dispensing of ignorance how I'm keeping the wack down
You enter to the realm of the Scarface sound
This is a warning, another cut to move on
Another beat that's so strong
Hold on and I get wicked in this song
Stir up shit as the wit gets wisdom
P-Dog comin' up, I'm staying low
Pro-black and it ain't no joke
Comin' straight from the mod that broke shit last time
Now I'm back with a brand new sick rhyme
So black check time and tempo
Revolution ain't never been simple
Following the path from Allah for know just
Build your brain and we'll soon make progress
Paid your dues, don't snooze or lose
That came with the master plan that got you
So know who's opposed to the dominant dark skin
Food for thought as a law for the brother man
P-Dog with a gift from heaven
Tempo 116.7
Keeps you locked in time with the program
When I get wild I pile on dope jams
They spit on your flag and government
?Cause help the black was a concept never meant
Nigger please, food stamps and free cheese
Can't be the cure for a sick disease
Just the way the devil had planned it
Rape then pillage everyone on the planet
Then give 'em fake gods at odds with Allah
Love thy enemy and all that hooplah
Hear close to the words I wrote
Crack, cocaine are genocide on black folks
Cool when I write mine, never coulda missed this
Damn right when you think seditious
And I move swiftly, you can't get with me
The triple six moved quick but missed me
When I came off involved in conscience
So don't ask why next time I start this
Now let's get wild, allow me to freestyle
I build and fill your mind up with know-how
Common sense, a defense to next time
A pig tried to step to this, listen
Never let someone work on ya
They don't belong 'til they set you from
Ya can't be intrigued by the leads a pig lead
Unless you don't give a fuck to be free
Keep stompin' on, keep stompin'
Attitude but I ain't from Compton
I can't be fucked around or muffed around
I can't be held down, check the sound
And keep in tuned on point on target
The revolution won't be thwarted
A set back, ?cause my man it's plain to see
Lost in a white supremacy
So let the rhythm roll on while I kick this
Brothers gonna work it out, with a quickness
And now you know just why a panther went crazy
Here we go here we go it's another one of them thangs
Niggaz better recognize that I'm wise and I'm fin
to make it known that I'm still, the one to call
each and every one of y'all out, let's see who's real
and who's fake when it come to the funk
I'ma bring it to y'all live and direct, and straight bumpin
I knew you was a bitch from the first take
No eye contact with the handshake
Couldn't relates to where I'm comin from, when I came through
with the truth, broken down on the first two
When I first asked the question if you was down
How many punk ass niggaz do I gotta clown?
With they ass to the sky, gettin stuck by
the devil in drag, let's see who play the fag
Will you wannabe G's please have a seat
Here we go again, nigga please!
Yeah it's all a part of growin up is what my momma told me
How many trick ass niggaz wanna try and mow me?
I guess I gotta be the one to buck
Put your house nigga ass in the dirt and won't give a (fuck)
Like I said, you're better off dead that you would be
if you try to do me, I'm looney, so sue me
Next time I rain on your world with the truth
A solider ain't nothin to fool with
"You can't see what I can see!" You.. can't see what I can see
"You can't see what I can see!" But you don't ever
"You can't see what I can see!" You can't see what I can see!
"You can't see what I can see!" Whoahaoaha-ahhhh!
One two three, it's the G-U-E
double-R, I, double-L, A, yellin mayday
Weeble with a street sweeper lookin for the beast
Had me thinkin that I'm less than a man and incomplete
Yo, and ever since I first started rhymin
You motherfu*kers wanna keep me down but I'm still climbin
You know I stay real to the end
Still fifteen deep on two freaks, I go tell a friend
I look around and all I see is these trick ass copycats
with they played out beats and they fake raps
And now I can't call it, it seem
everybody wanna be a dopehead or an alcoholic
So what you wanna do? Nigga do you wanna be
a strong black man or another fool?
Cause I'm comin full grown, and bitch
you can take that wannabe G (shit) back home
Understand that it's on, like I told ya
Foolin with a street soldier
"You can't see what I can see!" But you don't ever
Who's that nigga with the big black gat
that's lookin for the payback (lookin for the payback)
Still comin real it's the motherfuckin bomb
P-Dog in the city that's (shitty) like Vietnam
But them mark ass niggaz want it soft
without ever understanding the plan to keep us fallin off
But you better recognize that it's war
Better recognize, black folk runnin out of time
But if you man enough jump nigga (jump nigga)
P-Dog got the pump in the trunk nigga
Better realize that it's much more to life
than (fuckin), two new shoes, and hisidin
It's like tryin to put a size twelve foot
in a size eight shoe, it just won't do
So act like you knew, and let a real nigga come through
From a street soldier to you, now
"You can't see what I can see!" Hey, you can't see what I can see!
"You can't see what I can see!" But you don't ever
"You can't see what I can see!" Oooh, you can't see what I can see!
"You can't see what I can see!" Oooh! Noaoaahhoooh!
"You can't see what I can see!" [x4]
[singer]
Music will make things, turn alright
and I will dance til the broad daylight
Check the flow, let it build in me
Cause I know your heartbeat and I'm here to freak
Alright! ... Alright! ... Alright!
Alright
[computer voice]
Aowww, this sounds familiar
Let me stick my nose in the mix
and see who do I smell, this time
I'm sick of all the shit in '94 so now I'm capping
Fucking with them devils every time I starts to rapping
Listen to the man 'cause the man is coming right
P Dog is in the house until them brothers see the light
But now understand I ain't concern with the bullshit
'Cause I know the truth I see their motherfucking hootprint
Got niggaz tripping off the violence and the 40 ounce
So I call my homies get my strap and go take forty out
That's the way I'm coming so you better tell a friend
Bitch, I ain't your boy, so respect me as a man
And niggaz understand that I'm down for whatever
We gotta make it better brothers gotta stick together
Pay attention to the
P-Dog
One time for your mind, Scarface and I thought you knew
Pay attention to the P-Dog
Death with the record, death with the record
Death with the record, death with the record
Now house niggaz on the left wanna talk shit
Motherfucking devils on the right wanna dump a clip
Ever since I broke the grip of shame back in '89
I see tricks tripping all the time like I did a crime
Got me on the news 'cause they wanna hide the truth
But notice that I'm a soldier and I'm coming at the youth
Black guerrilla standing for my folks and I'm proud
This one's going out to the brothers locked down
Now as long as we keep playing by your rules
I'm leaving shit stains on your flag till I'm through time
After time I bring them motherfucking facts
I'm coming pro-black, understand where I'm at
Take a listen to the
P-Dog
One time for your mind, Scarface and I thought you knew
Pay attention to the P-Dog
Death with the record, death with the record
Death with the record, death with the record
Never fucking with no dank, cut no drink
You can keep that shit for the next niggaz
Slanging with a weak rap, busta-ass bandwagon niggaz
Wanna be the new gangsta of the week on the street
But ain't got a clue, damn, it's a trip
How them devil-ass labels put everything they got in that shit
But they never push anything real for the good of the community
It should be plain to see, fucking over you and me
So I stay true to the game 'cause it's on, praise to Allah
Running real for the cause, never underestimate my enemies
But trip on how they operate 'cause they wanna see me slip
As long as I'm living, I keep giving you the facts
Bumping when I'm smuggling in the message in the rap
So pay attention now 'cause I'm about to catch a case
Them motherfucking snakes wanna nigga in his place
But I keep on saying P-Dog
One time for your mind, Scarface and I thought you knew
Take a listen to the P-Dog
Death with the record, death with the record
Death with the record, death with the record
Death with the record, death with the record
Once again my friend I try
To help improve another brother's life
By coming through with the righteous groove
Tells right from wrong, makes people move
Not, idiot crossover songs
That appeal to all and make you sing along, no
This one is for the chosen few
Who want to build and uplift my people too, so
Listen to the words I speak
'Cause the words are truth and truth's what I teach
By talkin' bout the things that I see
When talkin' bout this color called ebony
This ebony
Not sellin' drugs, I'm above a thug
Killin' off his own, tryin' to make a buck, naw
That ain't the way it's done today
Gotta come together and gotta educate
Gotta, uplift, lift up your head
Stand strong and proud, don't end up dead
Take time to make that move
Be sure to be straight and you'll improve
Live long, be strong, and you'll see
That better is a life lived long and carefree
Just stay on a righteous path
You'll see the truth and won't have to ask why
I don't make the rhymes that say
How ignorant brothers act nowadays
I just talk about the things that I see
When talkin' bout this color called ebony
This ebony
Now break
Smooth
Now I want y'all to listen, see what you're missin'
What lacks in the competition is
Strong words, of pride and unity
I'm glad that y'all in tune to me
I'm here to let y'all know
And helps my folks about the words they throw
By talkin' bout the things that I see
When talkin' 'bout this color called ebony
This ebony
12:15 layin real low at night
Creep in a jeep hit the corner tight
Bout to go clip they wigs
But gotta keep a niggy clean
One time [blam] this is so they momma cry
Yall shoulda eased up when I told you last time
But now I gotta do it the hard way
P A Y back day
Then we see em the black and white on sixth street
Cut a left in the lot of Mickey Ds
And pulled up to the window
Ssshhh! Big Mel creeped on him real slow
He could see when he looked at me
That a brother wasnt thinkin bout shit but the payback
Rollin with a panther, trained well
No need for the holler, and FUCK jail
Packin two gats in the ride
But the black still had, the element of suprise
Now Im aimin straight for the dome
Cause Im thinkin about my homeys mom alone
Cryin cause her babys dead man
This pigs gonna kiss the lead man
As an example so all the blue coats know
You get poached when you fuck with black folk
Said it til my voice was hoarse
I aint down with excessive force
But of course I wasnt heard so Im silent now
Black folk cant be non-violent now
Id rather just lay you down, spray you down
Til justice come around
Cause without it therell be no peace
The only motherfuckin pig that I eat is police
Do it like Jay said, throw in work
Stand feet, retreat in guerilla spurts
And see that the caps are peeled like potatoes
Cause this is a war and pigs hate us
If ya dont think so ask Nina G
Cause she was raped two times by OPD
By a motherfucking pig named Riley
So when I pitch I dont flinch or smile, see
I just lay low for the night to come
Rounded up the click, I straight dropped the bomb
And got with K-Cloud for the blowaway
Ran far, rented a car, took off the plates
And come back through to the place where
everybody knew that they was gonna show they face at
Stepped up, crept up, as I held my breath
And then I squeezed, coffee, donuts, and...
[blam blam blam, blam, blam]
[Officer down, we need backup, theres an office down here
oh shit!]
...death
Ven, acércate, ven y abrázame
Vuelve a sonreír, a recordar parís
A ser mi angustia
Déjame pasar una tarde más
Dime dónde has ido
Donde esperas en silencio, amigo
Quiero estar contigo y regalarte mi cariño
Darte un beso y ver tus ojos
Disfrutando con los míos hasta siempre
Adiós mi corazón
Ven, te quiero hablar, vuelve a caminar
Vamos a jugar al juego en el que yo era tu princesa
Ven, hazlo por mí
Vuelve siempre a mí
Dime dónde has ido
Donde esperas en silencio, amigo
Quiero estar contigo y regalarte mi cariño
Darte un beso y ver tus ojos
Disfrutando con los míos hasta siempre
Adiós mi corazón
No hay un lugar que me haga olvidar
El tiempo que pasé andando por tus calles junto a ti
Ven quiero saber porque te fuiste sin mí
Siempre tuve algo que contarte
Dime dónde has ido
Donde esperas en silencio, amigo
Quiero estar contigo y regalarte mi cariño
Darte un beso y ver tus ojos
Disfrutando con los míos hasta siempre
Adiós mi corazón
No hay nada que me haga olvidar
El tiempo que has pasado ya y no volverá
No hay nada más
[Intro]
And you don't hear none of those stations, for hip-hop and R&B; playin him
Ask why, in fact, where are those stations today?
Somebody better ask somebody that
The people that's most affected, by this war
are the so-called hip-hop generation
[recruiter]
The Army is the best kept secret in the whole world
That every soldier gets his or her own private room
You can forget that old brown boot image of the Army
It's a job like anything else, you'd love it, all the soldiers do
[Paris]
I remember how it started, remember the time
I was watchin Rap City bout a quarter to nine
Commercial said the military givin money for school
Caught the bus up to my campus, they were signin recruits
And met this dude named Diablo, was some kind of vet
He explained the situation told me what to expect, he said
'Now we'll help you pay for college and train you for work'
Said I could take computer classes and could quit if I want
But best of all was the fact I'd, have my own shit
I'd have my own space and have my own place to keep it
On top of that I'd travel, and visit the world
Hell Diablo said the women overseas was the pearl
Didn't even call my girl, let's get it on fo' sho'
Signed my name, took some tests, and I was outta the do'
A true soldier for America, ready to go
On the road a vacation'll be good for the soul
[Chorus]
Don't matter what they sayin now
They lyin what they say fo' sho'
They don't play when it come to war
They get down, they get down, they get down
[Paris]
I showed up at basic training, but what a mistake
Cause this motherfucker yellin at me all in my face
In this dirty-ass latrine, 50 men in a room
Runnin laps up in the mud at 4 o'clock in the mornin
I'm scrubbin toilets doin laundry, and feelin the pain
If I didn't know no better, I'd think 'boy' was my name
Same bullshit line so many bit 'fore me
Got a nigga twisted up in this illusion of freedom
Fuck this shit, I'm out tomorrow, made up my mind
Everything Diablo said I'm findin out was a lie
That's when my unit got the call, the Commander in Chief
wanna ground troop assignments keepin peace in the East
What a relief, I'm thinkin finally somethin new
Shipped us off and 20 hours later we was en route
Touched down around 11, the desert was brutal
Then the ground split and caught us by surprise from the shootin
[explosions, sounds of war and death]
[Chorus x2]
[Paris]
It was all surreal, seen 'em blow the spine out his back
In the minefield, we was reelin from the attack
Seen the M.O.'s hand upon the receiver, still attached
with an alarm on it, set off the beacon, then I mashed
Who the first truck, blood and guts splash in my face
Cuttin kids down, couldn'ta been no older than eight
What the fuck is goin on, who we fightin and why?
Killin kids, killin killers, who the fuck is supplyin
I'm cryin out for protection, but none of it came
So I dumped in all directions 'til the heater was drained
But that night vision shit, wasn't helpin us win
Caught a round of friendly fire but it wasn't so friendly
We simply got lucky, headed back to the base
Seen a soldier rape a woman, shot her dead in the face
Guts stuck to my clothes, body parts galore
If this a peacekeepin mission I ain't ready for war
And now I'm back home bitter, and sick and contagious
And I'm knowin we some bullies, that's why everyone hate us
Still broke than a motherfucker, niggaz is starvin
And that job trainin shit is only good for the Army
I guess I shoulda been a C.O., and kept up a file
Shoulda listened when my homies said we murder for oil
Now I'm fuckin with this wheelchair, ain't nuttin the same
And I'm knowin confrontation's mo' than video games
Yeah, this is another story of famous dogs
Where the dog that don't keep it real is a bitch
These are rappin' dogs, soldier dogs
Harmonic dogs
House dogs, street dogs
Dogs of the world unite..
[Paris]
Bye, bye shitty luck, skinny ducats
High side, many bucks, titty fuckin'
Smash on these Corleones, snatchin' fetti
Westside niggas roam, but y'all ain't ready
Every city, every borough, every town
Every ghetto comin' through, we touchin' down
When I spit they all scatter, battle cry
Worldwide, it don't matter - who wanna ride?
Return of the street pros, kill our foes
Expose what you need to know, Guerrilla flows
Still on that same shit, same time
Still from that same clique, same side
Real niggas ain't impressed by the stories they bring
When it's all said and done y'all remember my name
Fuck a Corleone, nigga, we grown, now what you sayin'?
It's all about the chedda but beware what you claimin'
[Kam]
Y'all niggas really wanna see us dead, huh? We too militant
Always on that pro-black crackajack killin' shit
I picked up a few cuts, scrapes and raw abrasions
Collectin' my cheese and checkin' these caucasians
'Cause when you killin' niggas on a record then you goin' places
But talk about killin' these crackas, you racist, that's why
Crackas and flies, I do despise
The more I see these crackas, the more I like flies
Look into my eyes before I pull this trigger, I don't know what's worse
A black cracka or a white nigga, who should I do first?
I write a verse an' have 'em runnin' scared, turnin' red, protestin'
I just be blastin', don't be askin' no questions, holmes
'Till the smoke clear, 'cause folks here know
The difference between a G and some Hollywierdo
What you in fear fo'? Your life or your money?
All these coward-ass fake thugs, a/k/a/ Bugs Bunnies
[Break]
Livin' and strivin' and diggin' the skin he's in [x8]
[Paris]
So I fiend for the days when the funk was king
'Fore these pop sluts shitted on my video screen
'Fore these Bow Wow Wow Yippee Yos and hoes
Before niggas street clothes turned to platinum and gold
Before videos made 'em all fantasy macks
'Fore blingin' we was singin' what it mean to be black
Now these bitchy bitchy boy bands causin' a fuss
And every nigga rappin' thinkin' thuggin' is us
I'm bustin' pro-black, comin' with rough raps, I catch these
Hollywood shuffles by they motherfuckin' ruffles
And rough 'em up, see, and fuck them tricks
'Comin' phony, all them cowards know is blingin' and Kris
But this poolside fantasy lovin'-ass wannabe
Record label Superfly nigga, eat shit and die
State-of-mind mentality is blind to me
See I'd die 'fore I live on my knees, believe..
[Break]
You know it ain't no love, no love for these
You know it ain't no love, no love for these
You know it ain't no love, no love for these
Yo a sissy cop in the hood
Shakin' a brother down, thinkin' he ain't no good
What's your name, what you standin' here for?
Thought I told ya not to come around no more
Man I wasn't doin' nuttin' why ya fuckin' with me?
Shut up punk don't question authority
Up against the wall hands in the air
Just wants the punk to fear
Right about then mo' suckaz came around
Put the young brother into the ground
Hollerin', talkin' that ignorant bullshit
Grabbin' his arm, tryin' to break his wrist
A goddamn shame and he's only thirteen
Five to one is a pussy's dream
But yo man I ain't goin' out like that
Young G to the house and get the gat
Then boom, boom, boom now shit is equalized
Will when you suckaz realize?
Black people simply ain't havin' that
About this scratch, I blast, pass the mask, we mash
Careenin' though these back streets, gats gleam in my lap
A shame it came to this, aimin' 'cause them niggas don't listen
The sweat is glistenin', I grimace, 'bout to service these sentences
On the trigger, I know them niggas, soon as we start
And get the clip to spittin', counterfeits'll shit in they drawers
Don't really want none, but somethin' got them niggas mistaken
Thinkin' that music make 'em safe, I cross 'em out with a K
Now renegades, disperse, attitudes get worse
You'll see these niggas on the news if I burst and get 'em first
Servin' all these nut swallowin' followers in they mouth
Spittin' clips in they Impalas, Inshallah and we out
What we about, is justice and freedom, fuck the rest
Black women more than asses and breast
I test any nigga disagreein', pee on wannaGs, remember me?
P-Dog, motherfucka I'm raw, follow my lead
Now fuck 'em if they famous, we ventilate they craniums
Entertainers know they places, if they fake then we aimin
I pray and blaze, comin' fully raised, obey
I'm on that Che, make these niggas behave, now what you sayin'?
You Know My Name (P-Dog)
Motherfucka we raw, who claimin' Mob Boss without no balls, them niggas soft
You Know My Name (P-Dog)
I'm blitzin' niggas with hits, they counterfeits but they still talk shit without a clip
You Know My Name (P-Dog)
We see them bustas and rush 'em with no discussion, let the battle cry sound, we puts it down
You Know My Name (P-Dog)
Ain't nothin' funny at all, I'd rather blast, put these niggas in casts, fuck all ay'all
Since we servin' I'm puttin' brothers on alert
Put the first nigga trippin' in dirt, don't leave 'em hurt
Way too heinous, we show 'em our demeanor is meanest
Who wanna see us when I pop? The soldier shit don't stop, fuck any cop
You know how we do, so glad to meet you
If you haven't heard, I'm raisin' the curb, hopin' you see through
These plastic-ass Nittis, Corleones and Locs
Leave these niggas lookin' shitty, Noriegas is jokes
Now call your folks, and let 'em know
Paris wreckin' any nigga imitatin' these crackas upon they records
See me check 'em, these bitches rather switch then fight
While niggas civil rights dwindle Kristal is what they into
But I refrain, they petty as change, complain
Niggas playahatin' but ain't knowin' the game
I shame cowards like a scarlet letter, I'm much better
Leave these niggas chasin' chedda impaired, I think they scared
Step into my lair, careers crushed, while my 2-strike niggas test nuts
I'm thumbin' through my Murderdog, niggas all look like clones
Same clothes, same fake-ass pose, you know my motherfuckin' name
(P-Dog)
Motherfucka we raw, who claimin' Mob Boss without no balls, them niggas soft
You Know My Name (P-Dog)
I'm blitzin' niggas with hits, they counterfeits but they still talk shit without a clip
You Know My Name (P-Dog)
We see them bustas and rush 'em with no discussion, let the battle cry sound, we puts it down
You Know My Name (P-Dog)
Ain't nothin' funny at all, I'd rather blast, put these niggas in casts, fuck all ay'all
Again I start this but I'll add a new twist
So the masses can't resist
The message brought by a Panther strictly
To relieve the disease of the sickly
So long your mind's been trapped
Slave, 'cause you're shamed to be black
Ignorant of the purpose of the plan
To keep the black man down under
So I'll address y'all this time
Make a statement that's on my mind
Brothers scared of revolution should be
Thinkin' of the way that we could be
Miss blue eyes, how'd you do that?
Tried to put him in but the skin is still black
Thinkin' of a way to escape the darkness
See the weave and indeed I start this off
Black is black is black is black off
Black is black is black is black
S E D I T I O N
In the mood of the move I'm showin'
See the way the clinches have been torn
Cold spittin' facts to the miracle Earth born
So what's your next move, black?
Go to school or maybe join a frat
Still you seem lost, the mind is brainwashed
It can't be good 'cause your mind's the cost
So flip on your Young MC
Or Jazzy Jeff or whatever the case be
Mindless music for the masses makes ya
Think less of the one that hates ya
Then trained to respect the game
And you turn your back on a black with the same claim
Oh, blessed but you guess they mean less
Because another brother can't afford to dress
The way you do but who said you're all that?
Made a little money, now your skin ain't black?
C'mon I don't think your shit don't stink
You can't run from the one whose primal instinct
Is to fought the words I taught ya
Thought you moved quick but I just caught ya
Now you try to say that you don't remember me
I'm P-Dog from the B.P. posse
Or a mob, that's known as Scarface
Pro-black and some think pro-hate
But in fact it's a call for unity
Heed the plea of weak we're soon to be
Move, start this
Black is black is black is black
Enter the dark side
Black is black is black is black
Yeah, funky
Dance
Now who did you think that you were steppin' to
Once your job came through
Don't get big, 'cause I caught your accent
Shoulda been real but you wanted mass appeal
Next time you might think of this
Might remember why I'm above this
But for now, my brother, I'll say
June 6th in the time of 6 o'clock
Hot summer night in the city of hard knocks
Two black brothers took a walk in the South side
Could've been any brother lookin' for a dope ride
Seein' a white girl wasn't in the plan
But the plan had plans of it's own for a brother man
A bad case of the right place at the right time
Makes you just ask, why?
I guess, you suppose you know what a nigga do
To a female that was meant for you
Jealous 'cause your girlfriend screwin' a black man
So you bust caps on an innocent by stand
But I guess, we all look the same
A goddamn shame, you don't know my name
Must-a just been two blacks so the payback
Fit the ID for someone like me
But you see, I don't think like you do
I come much sicker with the retribute
Rollin' twenty-five deep, troop down in a parkin' lot
Ready movin' steady when I bust your spot, huh
You dumb motherfuckers just don't know me
You don't control me, so leave me lonely
Step and be prone to a cap to the dome
I don't quit, I'll start tearin' up shit
This is a Scarface set and no snakes allowed
Keep the pace ready set brothers rollin' out
Packin' a MAC-10, strapped and capped in
[Verse 1]
Reminiscin' back when I was only a child
Back in the days of livin' carefree lifestyles
As long as we wasn't caught, bein' bad was cool
and we were never at a loss for something to get into
Children in the neighbourhood, down at the park
Sunny days when we played at the old schoolyard
where kickin' it live was a familiar scene
Kenny M. and Big Gene know what I mean
But nowadays it seems life just ain't the same
Everybody's involved in the game or a gang
and when we die, it seem like nobody cares
It ain't no love in they cold-hearted stares
Thinkin' of payback, of makin' a hit
Now Cowboys and Indians become real-life shit
and life means nothin' when the heart is cold
It ain't the same as the days of old.
Yeah...it ain't the same as the days of old.
[Verse 2]
It's a unity thing, much love for my people here
But what good is love if the people don't really care?
The triggers are cold at the O.K. Corral
but it ain't O.K. when my people live foul
Another sad case of the black-on-black
It's a fact, some of our people don't know how to act
Can't go to the club, can't to the store
Can't chill with your girl, can't go to the show
Can't do anything without some fool actin' up
You start to believe that black folk are savage but
before you do, allow me to say
that in the old days we didn't act that way, see
Kings and Queens were the names of the righteous
but the sons of slaves are insane and we might just
self-destruct and erupt without a chance to grow
This ain't the days of old.
Damn...this ain't the days of old.
I don't know...c'mon.
[Sound bite of George Bush]
There is no match for a united America...a determined America...an
angry America...our outrage against the ploy unites us, brings us
together behind this one plan of action - an assault on every front.
Better wake up...
[Verse 3]
So I say, what will it take before we change up?
Some more of us dead, or more of us locked up?
Or maybe even more of us will blame the white man
before we understand now the problem's not him
What I'm tellin' ya is actual fact
I'm ain't pro-human cuz all humans ain't pro-black
Remember in your mind that there still exists
a plan to bring down a black fist
See the struggle is uphill, life's at a standstill
Jack popped Jill now he don't act real
And every livin' moment got her singin' the blues
Her sole provider can't afford the baby's shoes
That's the cycle so many of us go through
America's black holocaust continues
and I just hope we wake up soon before we fold
I miss the days of old.
Damn...I miss the days of old.
Verse 1:
Now what would you do if I blast
All up in your shit mother fuck the whole staff
Niggas non flow nine millimeter ?shit than slug?
I'm seeing bloody bodies on the motherfucking rug
6 O'clock be the time if it's on let it be
You see it in my eyes ?riding boo hella deep sea?
But you ain't gone do me like you did the lenchmob
I'm decorated in this game I played too motherfucking long
Now I ain't gotta name nobody name
All I'm knowing is the whole fucking roster is complaining
Talking 'bout these white boys trying to do promotions
And white bitches trying to get fuck by these soldiers
Fucking wit that slang like you down but now hold on
Seen that ass enough to get your devil ass stoled on
Fucking wit the wrong nigga, playing wit my cash
I'm known for putting devils on they motherfucking back
Blast through the front door, what the fuck, I'm 'posed to talk
Fuck court, I'll be a dead nigga 'fore you walk
Blaow, now the nine had no motherfuckng mercy
So who the sexy nigga, bitch, record label murder
Chorus: (girl sings in background)
Now we feel free to start some shit
Motherfucker shoulda quit
Out for each and every dime, seem like every time
I turn around, some jacky motherfucker trying to take what's mine
Got the whole fucking clique
Now we fit to start some shit
Got these niggas out the zoo for the job
Bow down or motherfucker you can die when we start robbing
Verse 2:
So many times I've seen these niggas fucked up out they chips
'Cause they didn't know the game, only making 10 percent
Dealing wit these fucking jews, now you losing everytime
How many platinum niggas standing in the county line
Make you want to get your brick and snatch his ass up out the car
Baby renegotiate, fucking wit them scars
Now you asking who I'm talking 'bout, homie you could pick
This whole industry got niggas' shit on whitey dick
And now, since I'm a soldier known to speak my fucking mind
I'ma put you up on game everytime I start to rhyme
Fuck that devil, get your own man, learn about some shit
Or be another broke nigga telling what he did
And now I think you know that I really gives a fuck
???? 'cause I'm God that the devil try his luck
Last man standing up for the truth, say you heard it
These players getting played homie, record label murder
Chorus
[Verse 1:]
Now what would you do if I blast
All up in your shit, mother fuck the whole staff
Niggas non-flow, nine millimeter ?shit than slug?
I'm seeing bloody bodies on the motherfucking rug
6 O'clock be the time, if it's on, let it be
You see it in my eyes, ?riding boo, hella deep sea?
But you ain't gone do me like you did the lenchmob
I'm decorated in this game, I played too motherfucking long
Now, I ain't gotta name nobody name
All I'm knowing is the whole fucking roster is complaining
Talking 'bout these white boys trying to do promotions
And white bitches trying to get fuck by these soldiers
Fucking wit that slang like you down but now hold on
Seen that ass enough to get your devil ass stoled on
Fucking wit the wrong nigga, playing wit my cash
I'm known for putting devils on they motherfucking back
Blast through the front door, what the fuck, I'm 'posed to talk
Fuck court, I'll be a dead nigga 'fore you walk
Blaow, now the nine had no motherfuckng mercy
So who the sexy nigga, bitch, record label murder
[Chorus: girl sings in background]
Now we feel free to start some shit
Motherfucker shoulda quit
Out for each and every dime, seem like every time
I turn around, some jacky motherfucker trying to take what's mine
Got the whole fucking clique
Now we fit to start some shit
Got these niggas out the zoo for the job
Bow down or motherfucker you can die when we start robbing
[Verse 2:]
So many times I've seen these niggas fucked up out they chips
'Cause they didn't know the game, only making 10 percent
Dealing wit these fucking jews, now you losing everytime
How many platinum niggas standing in the county line
Make you want to get your brick and snatch his ass up out the car
Baby renegotiate, fucking wit them scars
Now you asking who I'm talking 'bout, homie you could pick
This whole industry got niggas' shit on whitey dick
And now, since I'm a soldier known to speak my fucking mind
I'ma put you up on game everytime I start to rhyme
Fuck that devil, get your own man, learn about some shit
Or be another broke nigga telling what he did
And now I think you know that I really gives a fuck
???? 'cause I'm God that the devil try his luck
Last man standing up for the truth, say you heard it
These players getting played homie, record label murder
I'm sick of all the shit in 94 so now I'm capping
Fucking with them devils everytime I starts to rapping
Listen to the man cause the man is coming right
P-Dog is in the house until them brothers see the light
But now understand I aint concern with the bullshit
Cause I know the truth, I see their mothafucking hootprint
Got niggaz tripping of the violence and the 40 ounce
So I call my homies get my strap and go take forty out
That's the way I'm coming so you better tell a friend
Bitch, I aint your boy so respect me as a man
And niggaz understand that I'm down for whatever
We gotta make it better brothers gotta stick together...
Pay attention to the...
P-Dog
"One time for your mind: Scarface and I thought you knew..."
Pay attention to the...
P-Dog
Death with the record...Death with the record...[x2]
Now house niggaz on the left wanna talk shit
Mothafucking devils on the right wanna dump a clip
Ever since I broke the grip of shame back in 89
I see tricks tripping all the time like I did a crime
Got me on the news cause they wanna hide the truth
But notice that I'm a soldier and I'm coming at the youth
Black guerrilla standing for my folks and I'm proud
This one's going out to the brothers locked down
Now as long as we keep playing by your rules
I'm leaving shit stains on your flag till I'm trought time
After time I bring them mothafucking facts
I'm coming pro-black, understand where I'm at
Take a listen to the...
P-Dog
"One time for your mind: Scarface and I thought you knew..."
Pay attention to the...
P-Dog
Death with the record...Death with the record...[x2]
Never fucking with no dank, cut no drink
You can keep that shit for the next niggaz
Slanging with a weak rap, busta-ass bandwagon niggaz
Wanna be the new gangsta of the week on the street
But aint got a clue, damn, it's a trip
How them devil-ass labels put everything they got in that shit
But they never push anything real for the good of the community
It should be plain to see, fucking over you and me
So I stay true to the game cause it's on, praise to Allah
Running real for the cause, never underestimate my enemies
But trip on how they operate cause they wanna see me slip
As long as I'm living I keep giving you the facts
Bumping when I'm smuggling in the message in the rap
So pay attention now cause I'm about to catch a case
Them mothafucking snakes wanna nigga in his place
But I keep on saying...
P-Dog
"One time for your mind: Scarface and I thought you knew..."
Take a listen to the...
P-Dog
[Paris]
Rougher than a rusty razor, he'll amaze ya
Mixin dope tricks that stick like Frasier
Cue the wheels of spin then begins to blend
Scarface in the house again
Bambi DJ'sll pray when he plays
Won't hit or skip I might phase
Suckers still suck and duckin uppercuts
Strike three MC's are blazed
Born to beat back the blows of feedback
A sissy strivin still sounds so wack
Can't compare or come close to purity
Mad's the man, MC's agree
The bully bruisin misusin turnstyles
Keeps the mix on beat for me while
I spit and cold bust the keynote
Mad's on a roll with the sickest show now
[Mad Mike scratches]
Yeah.. smooth..
"Ya don't stop!" - "C'mon"
"Black is back" .. "keep on singin"
"Fight the power!" .. "keep on singin"
"Do the right thing" .. "keep on singin"
"Word to the mother!" .. "keep on singin"]
["Rock.." - scratched repeatedly]
"Girl I'll house you.." [x4]
"You in my hut now"
[Mad Mike scratches]
"DJ".. "Mad!".. "Huh, what?".. "Tear shit up"
"DJ".. "Mad!".. "Say what?".. "Cuttin like a blade"
"DJ".. "Mad!".. "So.. so.. so sick"
"DJ".. "Mad!".. "Sicker than AIDS"
"Break it on down.." [x3]
["Hit me!" - scratched repeatedly]
[Paris]
By now you know Mad's made to mutilate
Crush and devestate, move and educate
weak wack watered-down welfare DJ's..
.. tryin to get what he plays
Call me Paris, sex check the Rolex
We came to stomp and chomp bones of broke necks
So smooth with the movement rhythm tracks
I'm not worried that you'll be back, just..
listen.. let him play..
[Mad Mike scratches]
Mad!.. shit.. yeah.. Mad..
Freedom, Freedom, Freedom, Freedom
This is how we ride and roll - soldier fo life fo' sho
Freedom, Freedom, Freedom, Freedom
This is how we ride and roll - soldier fo life fo' sho [x2]
[Paris]
We come back to the days of - grenades up
Black fist raised up - we stay rough
Come this way cause - the game fucked
Can't stay away from - the main stuff
still bust when we ride, still game
still bust any time, fuck fame
still rhyme under pressure, still bangin'
still prime, niggas wetcha, still aimin'
Still put a fist in - the system
Still kill a killa cop, we still win
Still be the one to expose the beast (when it's)
Still un-American to be for peace (yeah)
Revenge is a dish best served with steel
If it's on then, lets get it on for real
Can't shut us up - cut us down - never regret
Fuck Bush, I'ma say it loud - raisin' a fist - we holla
[Chorus]
Freedom, Freedom, Freedom, Freedom
This is how we ride and roll - soldier fo life fo' sho
Freedom, Freedom, Freedom, Freedom
This is how we ride and roll - soldier fo life fo' sho
[M1 - Dead Prez]
RBG'd up, yeah, ready to get freed up
Bangin' on the system, ready to turn the heat up
Malcolm X cocktail, ready to burn the streets up
Holla if ya hear me big homie, it's time to eat somthin'
Picture me rollin', me Paris and Chuck D'd up
Dickies and white tee'd up, throwin' them O.G.s love
Listen up, rule number 1 is no snitchin'
Switch up and you gon' have to eat a clip up 'till you hiccup
[Stic - Dead Prez]
My reality is poverty, police brutality
How I came into this revolutionary mentality
Comin' up in my hood, it's an everyday thang
Niggas is hungry and starvin' that's why niggas bang
The O.G.s put me up on the jewels of the game
Ain't no wins in the street if you comin' up lame
That's why I walk how I walk and I claim what I claim
Red, Black to the Green with a gangsta lean
[Chorus]
Freedom, Freedom, Freedom, Freedom
This is how we ride and roll - soldier fo life fo' sho
Freedom, Freedom, Freedom, Freedom
This is how we ride and roll - soldier fo life fo' sho
[Paris]
Rebels at it come again
That's why we conspire so you never win
Keep it calmer when we ride so you never seein'
Niggas aim between the eyes so you never mend
Field niggas in the front be the first to bust
GuerrillaFunk.com who you gon' trust?
With all this talk about the war they forgettin' us
Broke schools and abuse made the noose a must
Holla black - fuck a pig and these killers wars
Around the world every border it's the same story
Anywhere that it's color it ain't never peace
Africa, South America and Middle East
Move in packs bust back at these killa foes
Reach first make the heat spurts so he know
No blood for the rich - they been exposed
Now it's power to the people everywhere I go - and everybody's sayin..
[Chorus]
Freedom, Freedom, Freedom, Freedom
Yeah, my live niggas standin' in here, Yeah, my live niggas standin' over there
Freedom, Freedom, Freedom, Freedom
Yeah, yeah..
One time, one time..
Goin out, goin out..
To all the sisters.. this one's for y'all..
[Paris]
Thinkin of you, and how the perception came to pass
Of a Queen bein just a piece of ass
So I ask you how that sound
That's for the sisters I missed the last time 'round
Because I can't forget what you been through
I can't forget the hardships and what you do
So I'm payin you the ultimate respect
Because I love you and that's what you should get
And it's a shame that it comes as a surprise
From the man in the land of do or die
That the word could ever reach and educate
It ain't nuttin' but a style to set it straight
And I'm raised right so ladies still first
But smooth with the groove for the fools that doubt ya worth
Still thinkin of a master plan
to protect and respect cause the fact is I love the black woman
[jazz interlude]
[Paris]
And anyway, I remember there was a time
When I would see you and try and go for mines
Push up in the guts for a month or two
Leave a stamp, break camp, y'all know the rules
And if somethin went wrong it was yo' fault
The time was cut short and so were the phone calls
And someone would ax if I know you
Come up in my face and I would be like, "What - who?"
But then I seen that the game was ignorant
The time had come for me to break away from that
Don't you know there ain't no future in hurtin our own
It's bad enough that the trust and love are gone
So I strive for, one to provide for
And hold and take and elevate and guide for
So many people wanna destroy
But I cain't, and I won't, stop ever bein true to black woman
[LONG jazz interlude]
[Paris]
Now brothers, one last note to help us
Keep check of some are livin life reckless
Runnin with women who don't have respect for self
And too foul to wanna get help, huh
And sista you don't need a man
who cheats and mistreats and beats you bad
It's better to have nuttin than somethin at all
And end up like a case bein worse than a close call
So listen to the message in the song
It ain't nuttin but a way to make us strong
Quit bein so quick to chase the juice
And diss us tryin to taste another's fruit
In the land of Ameri-K-K-Ka
I gotta hold my own and stay down wit'cha
Cause everybody wants to wreck
But I'ma love ya and show respect, I need ya black woman
The Perpetating
Balling Ass Nigga On Your Block
With Slave Money
From The Record Company I'm Popping
Now I'm On My Way
To The Neighborhood Liquir Store
To Help Sell More
Of That Bullshit To My Folks
Reaching For A Can
As A Man With No Conscious
But I'm Making Money
So Nigga You Can Watch
This Mack-Bubble
Cause I'm In Trouble
When I Pop The Top
Even Though I Know
I'm Selling Out My Song
Just To Make A Nut
So Nigga Buy It
And Fuck What You Heard
Cause All Of That Black Power Bullshit
Is For The Birds
Yeah, I Know It's Poison
What I'm Selling Out
But Yo
Hail to the man with the righteous groove
So sick that it makes you move
Closer to the speaker, never weaker
Lines on time and I rhyme Malika
Lot of knowledge on the microphone when I speak
Rabbit MC's I love to eat
Shockin' with the rhyme, gettin' sicker with time
I'm comin' way too real and I'm blowin' your mind
I'm tearin' shit up, I won't let up, you need to get up
And out and on the floor, 'cause I'm fed up
With rhymes and words that's weak that's wack, absurd
Pollutin' the airwaves, too often heard
I come through with the rhymes, so true blue with the rhymes
I eat you with the rhymes and on and on and in time
I'm movin' with the smooth the groove that some consider dangerous
And you're playin' this, I ain't new to this
Yeah, it's a Scarface Groove
Paris is the name and I'm here to get sick
I mean I'm stronger than a tiger and I'm down with the click
While makin' sure my song is deffer with an 808 kick
And now you know it, I'm a poet and I'm harder than a brick
I makin' over 3 G's a day and you say
That Mad's cuttin' like a blade over sucker DJ
Start shinin' all the time that I'ma standin' on stage
It's a Scarface mob and we're sicker than aids
What I wrote, is no joke, there's no hope
It's too dope, you're gettin, broke by a cutthroat
While bein' killed is the price you're billed
There's no time to rhyme and no time to build
Steadily the melody plays and steadily bass
Is in the place, is in your face, with grace
Sensation and finishin' the suckers with my sentencin'
You get excited as the rhyme begins, you're goin'
Smooth with the Scarface Groove
This the Scarface Groove, y'all
It's the Scarface Groove
Startin' to sweat, I know it's hard to breathe
Rhymes are on time so you better believe
The style, sick of the style, 'cause the style is wild
I couldn't never be mild
And now I'll begin to advance in a b-boy stance
The underground sound makes you clap your hands
It's the B-A-Y, do or die
Born to freestyle, born to rise
And now I'll keep on rockin' the beat on
No one comin' up short capiche on the mic
You're scared, runnin' from the man you fear
P-Dog is sick boy, you better beware
The man X-Rated, rated X the man
Is comin' through with the jams that keep you clappin' your hands
While I'm movin' nonstop and the party is smooth
One hundred below ice cold, it's a Scarface Groove
Yeah, it's a Scarface Groove
It's a Scarface Groove, y'all
Y'knahmsayin'? It's a Scarface Groove
I'll play the 9 and you play the target
Debutin' I'll do it for sure by comin' through
And never stoppin' hip-hop, I just drop, MC's are ruined
Now I'm teachin' when I'm talkin' so that you'll get taught
Makin' sense so intense is the record you bought
I'm stronger, strokin' 'em longer
Stickin' them, dope MC's go under
Keepin' 'em down with the Scarface sound
Swimmin' 9 millimeter laps, MC'sll drown
Keep talkin' that bullshit, you might get housed
Smacked in your mouth, P's turnin' it out
Money stackin' and mackin' is what I'm talkin' about
I'm never playin' or bullshittin'
The rhyme'll go colder than ice, but get hotter than coals
Big soul on a roll and only twenty years old
Keep it goin' non-stop and the party is sore
And I'm movin', smooth again, Scarface is on
Yeah, Scarface is on
Scarface is on
What would you do if you
Knew all of the things we knew
Would you stand up for truth
Or would you turn away too
And then what if you saw
All of the things that's wrong
Would you stand tall and strong
Or would you turn and walk away
I see a message from the government, like every day
I watch it, and listen, and call 'em all suckas'
They warnin' me about Osama or whatever
Picture me buyin' this scam I said "never"
You in tune to a Hard Truth soldier spittin'
I stay committed gives a fuck to die or lose commission
It's all a part of fightin' devil state mind control
And all about the battle for your body, mind and soul
And now I'm hopin' you don't close ya mind - so they shape ya
Don't forget they made us slaves, gave us AIDS and raped us
Another Bush season mean another war for profit
All in secret so the public never think to stop it
The Illuminati triple six all connected
Stolen votes they control the race and take elections
It's the Skull and Bones Freemason kill committee
See the Dragon gettin' shittier in every city
[CHORUS]
Now ask yourself who's the people with the most to gain (Bush)
'fore 911 motherfuckas couldn't stand his name (Bush)
Now even niggas wavin' flags like they lost they mind
Everybody got opinions but don't know the time
'Cause Amerikkka's been took - it's plain to see
The oldest trick in the book is make an enemy
A phony evil so the government can do its dirt
And take away ya freedom lock and load, beat and search
Ain't nothin' changed but more colored people locked in prison
These pigs still beat us, but it seem we forgettin'
But I remember 'fore September how these devils do it
Fuck Giuliani ask Diallo how he doin'
We in the streets holla 'jail to the thief' follow
Fuck wavin' flags bring these dragons to they knees
Oil blood money makes these killers ride cold
Suspicious suicides people dyin' never told
It's all a part of playin' God so ya think we need 'em
While 'Bin Ashcroft' take away ya rights to freedom
Bear witness to the sickness of these dictators
Hope you understand the time brother cause it's major
[CHORUS]
So now you askin why my records always come the same
Keep it real, ain't no fillers, motherfucka blingin'
Mine eyes seen the gory of the coming of the beast
So every story every word I'm sayin' 'Fuck Peace'
See you could witness the Illuminati body count
Don't be surprised these is devils that I'm talkin' bout
You think a couple thousand lives mean shit to killers?
Nigga I swear to God we the ones - ain't no villans [sic]
Or any other word they think to demonize a country
Ain't no terror threat unless approval ratings slumpin'
So I'ma say it for the record we the ones that planned it
Ain't no other country took a part or had they hand in
It's all a way to keep ya scared so you think you need'em
Praisin' Bush while that killer take away ya freedom
How many of us got discovered but ignore the symptoms?
Niggaz talkin' loud but ain't nobody sayin' shit'
And with the 4th Amendment gone eyes are on the 1st
That's why I'm spittin' cyanide each and every verse
I see the Carlyle group and Harris Bank Accounts
I see 'em plead the 5th each and every session now
And while Reichstag burns I see the public buy it
I see the profilin see the media's compliance
War is good for business see the vicious make a savior
Yeah! Another funky song for your mind in the nine-two
and the nine-three, P-Dog in the motherfuckin house!
Bout to get it started
Bout to get it started, live and direct from the underground
Still sayin what I wanna say, and I ain't gon' never change
[Verse One]
Oh what a shame, the way that we're dyin up
Killin ourselves with no help from the other one
Only thought, was how the hell to get your money on
Livin in fear cause you're livin in a war zone
So much funk, jump off from a wrong look
Make a wrong move one time and your life's took
Just the way it is when you're livin in the city
The way we dyin off is a motherfuckin pity
Extra, extra, read all about it
Another one dead, he seen a bullet and he caught it
How many gotta fall off victim to the game
or being a ho, to the cocaine thang
Makin a rush up, to keep 'em comin back again
You oughta know by now it ain't no love for African
People stay enslaved to the ways of America I'm scarin ya
But I ain't goin out like that, so think about it now
[Chorus]
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.." - "Young brothers just don't realize"
[Paris] Yeah, think about it
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.." - "Young brothers just don't realize"
[Paris] Think about it
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.." - "Young brothers just don't realize"
[Paris] Uhh, think about it
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.." - "Young brothers just don't realize"
[Verse Two]
People keep comin up, askin the news
They wanna know, why I do what I do
It's really kinda simple, so don't be amazed
It ain't no secret it's the way I was raised
Got much props from my pops cause he never stops
bein a father to his child, he cared a lot
Raised me up, and told me like this:
You better stand up for yours or be dissed
Be a man, and do for yourself
Better love your own befo' anyone else
It ain't nothin in the big city but a small thang
to see a brother straight fall victim to the game
Somethin that I roll with straight from the start
in a city where a fool and his money soon part
where brothers might die over anything at all
I can't call it but I know you better watch your step
and think about it now
[Interlude]
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.." - "Ay nigga what you need?"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.." - "I got five ten, what?"
"Yeah five ten fifteen twenty. I heard they got fifty."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.." - "Ay nigga what? Ay nigga where you from?"
"Get that motherfucker! Get that ol' nigga!"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.." - [gun shots] [police siren]
"Move man! Move!"
"Freeze motherfucker freeze! Get your god damn hands in the air!"
"Oh shit. Oh shit! Oh shit. Oh shit. Oh Shit."
"The jury, having found you guilty, twenty-five years."
[jail cell door slams shut]
[Verse Three]
And now there's one last thing, I think we need to talk about
It might save your life and you die if you do without
Pokin in the puddin mean you better wrap tight
Tragic to Magic my soap in your eye
And now you better straighten up, and straighten up fast
Relyin on the guts and the luck of the last
Cause the fool was in with the skins shoulda never been
in with the skins no cap for the lap get waxed
Now, who growin up next?
Ready for the sex better check with the latex
So many trapped and set for the funk
who take they life for a joke so I say wait a minute
Genocide from the suicide of dippin inside
Everybody die when the legs spread ride
Gave to the sons of the slave and it's man-made
AIDS and you're off to your grave, think about it now
[Chorus]
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.." - "Young brothers just don't realize"
[Paris] Uhh, think about it
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.." - "Young brothers just don't realize"
[Paris] Yeah.. think about it
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.." - "Young brothers just don't realize"
[Paris] One time for your mind, think about it
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.." - "Young brothers just don't realize"
[Paris] Uh, yeah..
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.." - "Young brothers just don't realize"
[Paris] P-Dog
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.." - "Young brothers just don't realize"
[Paris] For the nine-two, and the nine-three
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.." - "Young brothers just don't realize"
[Paris] Think about it
[Verse 1: Paris]
You in tune to the most dangerous on file
Niggas finna mash on - bitch get wild
With these field nigga serenades, we break wide
In the land of the weak home of the slave we rise
To protect - they servin' us with sticks and shots
But who protect us from these murderous cops
Whose heroes, you could keep your flags I'm out, I'll
Wrap a chain around the precinct and burn shit down
Fuck the police, I'm thinkin' how to feed my seed
Bumpin DPs bailin' down the block on D's
It's the same shit every day
Seem the more a nigga build they wanna take away
Like a slave when you can't eat you can't sleep
Can't seem to find peace, only thing the street see is police and poverty
Bitch don't start with me - I can't fade
The bullshit noise that the radio play
Where the world wanna be like and talk like and act like and rap like
The black life is all gats and crack pipes
I spit right - nigga whut? My shits tight
Is you a snitch, nigga or bitch? Ya choose sides
When we roam, we beat back attack of the clones
What kinda shit cha'll niggas is on? We hit home
And spill so the people could feel this real talk
From the bay and everything in between to New York - Holla
What we gotta do is tear shit up [x8]
[Verse 2: Paris]
This is the way we bomb when we come around
Still keep it on the map for the underground
Fuck the system, I'ma holla with a black fist
It's hard truth, where my soldiers? We still blitz
And who's who with these gangstas, see a vet
Young niggas or the government? Take a guess
See we blessed with the speech that could reach oppressed communities
World wide so we don't waste time we stress freedom
And serve 'em wit the style (what)
Motherfuck smilin' (what)
Who wanna ride (what)
Rally up the crowd (what)
Full hollow tips (what)
Cyanide squibs (what)
Power to the people
With rocks, banana clips see us
Strugglefor the streets motherfuck the bling
Nowadays radio make it harder to bring
Real shit to the people - it's deeper than me
They intice with the conflict ice and blow trees
Corporatized by the vile - they smile and fill
Black bodies in the pen it's the men they kill
3 strikes, whose life? Not my life yours
Put the men into prison turn women to whores
Ignore cries of the people - but time is up
Stay tuned for the sequel - we buildin' to bust
I'm goin' AWOL - Fuck all laws I wanna attack
This bullshit, hold 'em accountable for they acts - feel me
What we gotta do is tear shit up [x8]
[Verse 3: Dead Prez]
Militant and political Guevera M-1
I wipe the smile off you many mouths, meld like a gun
And I remember '99 goin' on tour with Big Pun
Gettin' this fast rap cash from them six-week runs
See I done learned from them generals with wild entourages
Fuckin' like rabbits but don't wanna be fathers
Fuckin' up they hotel room, stay on some star shit
Know your role, play you position, rule 4
You know you can't fade it, it's gang truce-related
We bang for change, hittin', no game, you can't hate it
I wanna slap Bush and his mammy
For how he did the Haitians in Miami that's my fam
Coupe tet Boule kay, so please die cracka die
That's for 22 generations of genocide
You see that's why we get high, just to get by
See we sit and wait until it's dark outside and then we ride
On our enemies, you can depend on me
If you a pig then you can't be no friend of me
See it's been 33 years since Fred been gone
He was murdered on the same day Jay-Z was born, for real
12-4-69, same year, when they take one from us
Then another appears
We gon' take this time to commemmorate
NRD - National Revolutionary Day, say it -
Yeah...still ridin'...we still ridin'...P-Dog
Nigga we without flaws you comin' without balls
Still down for the cause...P-Dog...now who really raw?...Bitch
Boom Boom in the night - so now we fight
Caps peel, piggies squeal - who wrong or right?
Street soldier kill em slow - homicidal
We dogs in a sea of bitches - ain't crack a smile
Soundin' off the battle cry - we draw the line
Fuck around and crack his spine - for all his crimes
Bitch devil still ain't learned - just like his pops
Wanna make these bullets burn - with twenty shots
Propogators of the peace - we never ceased
But never listened to our pleas - so now he bleeds
Like Oaklahoma city Timmy - It won't be pretty
Catch him in a subcomittee - and have no pity
Look at all the people we got - with Sonic Jihad
Last Cell never see us - now what you thouht?
Swervin to these dj mixes - we ridin' sixes
AMG with chrome centers - twenty inches
East coast west coast - we stay composed
Love us everywhere we goes - the people know
Holdin' down the shit we buildin' - Guerrilla Funk
Even though the milk is spillin' - I'm in your trunk holla
[Chorus: w/ Capelton]
Ridin' dirty through they downtown feelin no love around town
Now some be tryin' to clown but how many can hold they ground now
Labels be abusive confusin with what they choosin'
And these stations mistakenly contemplatin' us losin'
We bruisin' all these faulty ass critics - and these emcees
That coward ass rap shitted - they wannabes
Labels never made the culture - you got it twisted
So recognize these fuckin' vultures - and where they fit in
[Chorus: w/ Capelton]
Now tell me how many devils prone - to do me wrong
Try to fit they mittens on - my provalone
The radio'll never play it - we never heard
They only love us killin niggas, and slangin birds
Guerrillafunk.com - we keep it bomb
Give the people what they want - with every song
With raw shit we keep it mannish - don't get it twisted
And motherfuck these cowards plans - we keep upliftin'
[Paris]
Come, I'm P-Dog, with the shit
that stick, now I'm fin' to get scandalous
Huh, and tell y'all about a brain disease
A act up it's a shame disease
Nigga please, you still don't act right up
Wait a minute, let me get my facts right
When I say that we all don't act the same
Just a handful wanna salt the game
So I gotta roll deep
Check your grip and don't smile, hard as concrete
Damn shame but it's like that
Cause some got hardheads like bricks that don't crack
Raised up on TV
Fast food and fast times, do or die G
Without nuttin to lose but a war
And here life don't mean SHIT to die for
[scratched Chuck D: "Every brother ain't a brother"]
[Paris] C'mon, yeah
["Every brother ain't a brother"]
[Paris] B'le dat!
["Every brother ain't a brother"]
[Paris] Sellin your soul, don't sell your soul man, yo
["Every brother ain't a brother"]
["You got my back and I got yours"]
[Paris]
The reporter looked just like me or you
But that don't mean the man was cool
He understood when I said that it was death to intergrate
Cause intergrate means assimilate (word!)
But the media, hate the youth
Love to spread lies and distort the truth
They say the pen is stronger than the sword
but the sword'll give any house nigga his just reward!
So let the beat just roll on, huh
While the weak get told on
I'm P-Dog, tellin you the actual fact
is just cause the skin is black don't mean shit!
It ain't about us comin up
To them, it's about us gunnin up
It's a shame but no strain on the brain to see
It's plain, some, are sleeping with the enemy
C'mon!
Yeah
Yeah!
[Paris]
Boom, another knocked out, what's it all about
Gotta give a shout to the few that's never sellin out
P-Dog, I never slipe or slide, I never float along
As long as in control I know I'm born to be a martyr
Huh, and I'ma keep on rappin with
The facts, that I keep on smashin shit
No props cause it doesn't really matter bout the color of the cop
And now I hate police so I won't stop
See the punk bitch get mad, huh
I ain't the one for a toe tag
You best believe when you see me on the street
I be a motherfucker ready for the static with a glock automatic!
So let me tell you why I hate pigs
The black gestapo, ultimate house nigga
Simply because a brother wantin to be with a plan
that wanna kill off and cage the black man
Ain't never runnin from the U.S.A.
Punk, land of the weak, freak, home of the slave
And I ain't goin to Clarence cause the appearance is clear to me
So the concept is this, basically
The whole black nation has to be put together as a black army
And we gon' walk on this nation
We gon' walk on this racist power structure
And we gon' say to the whole damn government
Stick 'em up motherfucker, this is a hold up
We come for what's ours
Yo black it's time to set stage and guidelines
Ten point program, freeze the genocide
Round the posse to protect the people and
Regulate and keep straight the man
Clear the way for P-Dog the militant
Made to steer and care for the indigent
Power to the people is a serious concept
Panthers prowl when I say to step
Pigs today'll end up like frey
Like Hutton I'm never lettin' 'em get in my way, word
Soul on ice, what I won't be played like
Pigs and house nigs are set in my sight
Cock the gat, for P the pro-black
On to harm and alarmed at the format
News goin' out to a racist cop
The first mother steps up, gets shot
This is panther power
Panther power for the hour
Panther power for the hour
Panther power for the hour
Panther power, you can feel it, get pumped
Panther power for the hour
Panther power for the hour
Panther power for the hour
Panther power, you can feel it, get pumped
Now hear the growl, I'm proud to be black
Built to step up and not to step back
Too full grown to allow a gay move
Step to the dog and I show and prove
Ten point program jams that flow and
Pigs end belly up, stopped in motion
Who's more brutal than a panther unleashed?
Paris, made to keep the peace
Some duck style when I come inside
Bougies'll pray, I get played and fried
But I'm too smart to start with the cold feet
No-Doz shows, the P don't sleep
Comin' to the place all in your cave when
Panther Power protects the citizen
Come on, step for the movement
DJ Mad, hit 'em with that panther power
Panther power for the hour
Panther power for the hour
Panther power for the hour
Panther power
Panther power for the hour
Panther power for the hour
Panther power for the hour
Panther power, you can feel it, get pumped
Now, who that thought they could stop
The crown chief leader of the movement? [Incomprehensible]
When I say build, I mean come correct black
'Cause I see straight and I don't play tag
Step to this and end up like Axl
Devils all and P-Dog attacks ya
Panther power keeps punks from runnin' up
Play the front and you might get stomped
Witness this, the original man
Made of earth, cream of the motherland
Black and strong and not down to half step
Piece is kept, police are ripped
P don't plea, it's a new direction
Strength and unity, peace, protection
One for Huey and the movement won't die
And the strong survive, the panther power
Panther power for the hour
Panther power for the hour
Panther power for the hour
Panther power, you can feel it, get pumped
Panther power for the hour
Panther power for the hour
Panther power for the hour
As I flow into the rhyme much smoother
I keep the pace and add bass for you to
Be able to experience the strength of God
On your tape with a break that I make to part
The weak-kneed hippie MC's and wannabes
From the Dog, so they can't see me
I'm movin' swifter with the gift to lift ya
I don't step light, I don't talk shit
You suckers are all in, to try is suicide
I roll with the flow 'cause I'm qualified
To keep the peace and teach y'all to get along
Build my rep and step to the song
From jazz to hip-hop the dog'll never stop
Get busy to the melodies that I concoct
When the raps are spit the grits stack like bricks
And you're please to receive P's hip-hop fix
On the jazz tip
Smoother and smoother
And you don't stop
It's a mellow madness in the summer time
Females outside, enjoyin' the sunshine
Kickin' it live with the knob on ten
Good food and the mood is the peace my friend
Much brotherhood because it's understood
That everyone in the sun is about the good
Lifestyle and while some came to shine
Don't matter 'cause the other brothers know the time
I'm the P, D O G and I'm swift
Son of Shabazz, shooter of the gift
To keep y'all steppin' to the beat in real time
Mad on the mix complimentin' the rhyme
With oh so smooth cuts flowin' like mercury
Keeps you suckers knowin' that you'll never be servin' me
I don't sleep and I do not sing
I drop math in your path 'cause I have to bring
You on a jazz tip, yeah
So smooth in the summer time
DJ Mad Mike y'all
Smooth
Birth is given to the knowledge when I recite
Smooth words that keep y'all hype
Not down with the meaningless babble that some spit
I'm paid to degrade that ignorant shit
With the so proud, so strong message of the [Incomprehensible]
Can't be dropped or stopped so don't come
With the intent to present an argument
I don't tolerate it, so don't act dumb
I'ma roll, over those who oppose
The speech when I teach y'all to reach your goal
Be strong and carry on and play the song
And listen to the lyrics and you'll never go wrong
A salaam alaikum, brothers I'ma take 'em
Straight through the path that I'm makin'
And co-exist in bliss peace and righteousness
So smooth on a jazzy tip like this
Yeah
And you don't stop
From the depths of hell, it was felt from all the fire and pain
As they rained on the brains of black men
Contraband as they planned by they never thought
They they would get caught, let alone by a black man
Take and rape, shape your brain and claim
That what's ours is his, so you fear the white race
And hate and never think about the fact we built it all
Got you thinking all the black can do is crawl
So you lose when you chose to be duped
Now crew from Bush and Duke play the flute
I shoot, cause I ain't never gave a FUCK about a skunk
But some brothers want to go out like a punk
Now they fade fade creams and contacts
Used to be black, start scheming and kinda acting
Ask the false facts, to back to genocide
It ain't no wonder the strong black man's died
Make way for a panther, right! [x8]
In the beginning there was confrontations in these streets
Cause these police beat us
We tired of runnin' fuck peace
Young brothers born to fail, skippin' bail, helluva start
Could it be them, bitches was hatin' 'cause our skin was too dark?
Handed down his sentence, he got no reason to live
A 25-to-life nigga never knowin' his kids
That's how they do it to us, it seem we caught in between
Another one, wastin' away for what he did in his teens
Life is hard, situation on these streets is critical
Everybody chasin' dough, if them ain't your folks, then here we go
If we ridin', then let's ride, do-or-die, homicide
But tell me the reason for lost lives
Could it be we all caught up in a scandalous system?
Fallin' through the cracks, blinded by the lies we given
Seen these G's on these streets bleed freely but why?
It seem too many of us born to die
But life goes on, and on situation in time
How many lost souls molded by a criminal mind?
From the Bay in California to the streets of the east
Can't be no justice without no peace, believe
Life Goes On
No matter what they say or do, I ain't never givin' up on you
I won't doubt ya baby, won't doubt ya baby
And no matter I'ma keep it true, and together we gon' make it through
I'm about ya baby, ain't livin' without ya baby
A ruthless cycle of thugs, coppers, drugs, heliocopters, blood, spitting choppers, slugs
Who could stop to love this lifestyle juveniles embracin'?
I'm lacin' adolescents with lessons no one could beat the cases
I'm chasin', my competitors, no need for a spot
Conversation keep these cowards off my stick when I bust
Forget Versache-watchy Cartier playas, I'm still the same
But I can't condone the phony 'cause I'm prone to be me
Now what you sayin' huh? Life Goes on
From the Atlantic to the Bay, what? Life Goes on
To all my people gettin' paid, huh? Life Goes on
Never forgettin' where you came from, Life Goes on, fa' sho
Now keep on strivin' and survivin' don't let life get down on you
Forget these haters that betray mistakin' kindness for a fool
Keep your head up, don't get fed up, keep on doin' what you do
For all true players in this game of life you got to know the rules, true
But Life Goes On
No matter what they say or do, I ain't never givin' up on you
I won't doubt ya baby, won't doubt ya baby
And no matter I'ma keep it true, and together we gon' make it through
I'm about ya baby, ain't livin' without ya baby
No matter what they say or do, I ain't never givin' up on you
I won't doubt ya baby, won't doubt ya baby
And no matter I'ma keep it true, and together we gon' make it through
I'm about ya baby, ain't livin' without ya baby
Don't stop, don't stop movin' on up 8x
Now that's one too many times more than three had to die 45's got to spittin
6:30 was the time, 7 years gone by, 8 of us done been deceased
9 times outta 10 somebody bleedin' in these streets
Tell me what's the reason? Trial date's the 10th
These juveniles in wild life smile upon your death
Went from kids to killas, fun lovin' to felonies could it be
We self-destructin' in this rush for the cheese?
Everybody in this world gone crazy
See money and murder be the measure of a man everyday
Separate from the fake, break bustas for how they livin
'Cause some takin' better care of their cars then of their kids
And it still seem we caught up in a scandalous system
Fallin' through the cracks, blinded by the lies we given
Seen these G's on these streets bleed freely but why?
It seem too many of us born to die
But Life Goes On
No matter what they say or do, I ain't never givin' up on you
I won't doubt ya baby, won't doubt ya baby
And no matter I'ma keep it true, and together we gon' make it through
I'm about ya baby, ain't livin' without ya baby
No matter what they say or do, I ain't never givin' up on you
I won't doubt ya baby, won't doubt ya baby
And no matter I'ma keep it true, and together we gon' make it through
I'm about ya baby, ain't livin' without ya baby
[Intro]
It's my hood, I been livin here for 17 years
Boy I done got jumped, my car done got shot up
I done got shot at, I been to jail, 3, fo' times
I want parents to simply wake up
To take responsibility for our own kids
It's time to take action!
It's time to wake up and stop sleepin!
[Paris]
Peace, what's happenin rookie?
It's been a while since I been gone, just tryin to fall in
Ain't nothin new, sheeit, I keep it mannish
It's different now than when I was out, let's examine
What's happenin junior? What's goin down?
How the women actin, heard you was crushin 'em in the town
Look good don't they? Hell yeah, shoulda saw
the ones last week at the mall, hella raw
And all tryin to come up, like video queens
So fine they make some of us do the stupidest things
But be careful though, get caught up, know what you doin
Fuck around and be a teenage pop, and life is ruined
How ya momma doin? She cool, is that right?
Seen your sister last week at the bank, lookin tight
Keep yo' eyes on her, cause niggaz, nowadays
always lookin for some new ones to train, so many ways
And I'm amazed, but not amused as such
We all brothers but some of us gettin caught in the clutch
Another, day go by another, day's the same
Another, day of strife I say a, prayer for change
But I cain't complain, and if I did so what?
The best we can do is try to find the truth and come up
I'm still bangin on these tracks, still keep hope for us
Yeah I'm back, still rough on wax, and still bust
[Chorus: singer]
E'rybody gotta do their own thang
See the whole world goin insane
Hope to see sun, it'll be rain
We lay low, lay low, lay low
E'rybody tryin to maintain
Brothers gonna work out in the aeeend
'Til we get peace it'll be pain
And they know, they know, they know
[Paris]
What's on your mind? What, your homey died?
Over what, some bullshit? Is that right?
I known him since back in the days, we was tight
Used to date his older sister back in late '85
I just wonder why, the shit don't make no sense
How many gotta die befo' these niggaz convinced?
Death is final every day for my people I'm prayin
Seems so many lose our futures fuckin 'round in the game
A motherfuckin shame, another life is ruined
Know you wanna ride but gunnin for them niggaz is useless
See we all confused, damn, but everything is a test
Don't let ego and emotions be the reason you slip
Cause though your boys might fall, fall for doin wrong
Friends drop like drawers, nobody mobbin like the law
And we don't need no more in the pen or at war
It's open season every brother on the street is a target, believe
[Chorus]
[Paris]
Now even though I'm anti-pop, I still rise
And though it seem it ain't gon' stop, I still rise
above this bullshit hip-hop, I still rise
Supply, wise words, disguised in rhyme verse
I curse, what these niggaz is sayin, ain't nuttin real
Just fairy tales of pimpin these sisters and makin mail
I see 'em pose, see the bitchy roles they play
See these videos they shitty, see the way we portrayed
See these sellin out acts just sellin our rap
Believe wannabe macks with powerhouse tracks
Redefined black manhood, defied Allah
We rise up, fuck this bullshit, survival or die
See them thuggin niggaz muggin with that criminal pout
See 'em frown in every photo, see that shit in they mouth
See 'em tattered lookin battered chasin pussy and weed
Makin hookers out of queens every video feed
I see these labels sit back, push this shit like crack
Now every record every act, got you thinkin it's black
to act a fool chasin pussy like it's hard to get
I see these crackers think it's cool, bein niggaz for chips
I split jiggaboo chins, analyze these trends
If it's down to me and them I'm sendin flowers to kin
Ain't nuttin easy in this world, struggle makes the man
Don't let these motherfuckers do you understand the plan, believe
Yeah
Welcome
You are now in tune to the real
Hard truth - Soldiers
In about 2 seconds a soldier will began to speak
Welcome into Cali where we strong like that
We struggle with the struggle and it's on like that
We guard the gate, separate these boys from men
In the cities where too many take your life for granted
Stone cold with the message, it's on and crackin'
Niggas trifilin' ya quick lose ya life from scrappin'
Happens all the time see us dyin' playin' for keeps
Many fallin' to the callin' of these murderous streets
And the world keep spinnin' ...no stoppin' the rain
Seem everytime we happy come the trouble and pain
Even marks playin' heartless - who the hell could know
In a twist he resisted now he stiff in the cold
And we still ain't got no love for no po-lice
How many killin' niggas murder in these City Streets
Fuck a Pig and these busta ass nigga beats
It's Black Power on the map, blow the back out your coward-ass rap
Who could match when we spit bricks
See 'em scatter when I call blitz
Nigga scratch 'em out the mix
No matter what you been through
We still comin' with that
bomb bomb biddy in the city when we bring truth
And that's how we do it when we (bomb like that)
And that's how we do it when we (come like that)
And that's the way we do it cause we (strong like that)
See I'mma blast the Devil, the rythmn is the rebel
(we roll like that) (we cold like that)
And that's how we do it when we (walk like that)
And that's how we do it when we (talk like that)
And that's the way we do it when we (come like that)
See I'mma blast the Devil, the rythmn is the rebel
(we bomb like that) (we strong like that)
Still wanna cap those - coward ass rap hoes
Niggas can't match flows - Even when I rap slow
Still got the pill - when I spill over beats
And still comin' real never yield sayin' fuck peace
I bitch slap fairy tales of straps
What the hell happened to rap? It just collapsed
Perhaps it's ways of the paper chase clones
Niggas far gone from the sellin' of the soul
But I'm grown so check the essay, we deep as eses
blaze, make these haters behave, we on that Che
Guevera seen the fear in they eyes, we world - wide
Swat these phony niggas like flies, who wanna ride
And vibe off my serenade, terror made
Jiggy niggas raise afraid, we finna raid
And blaze when we come around, The black fist
Amazed how we turn it out - it's like this sayin
And that's how we do it when we (bomb like that)
And that's how we do it when we (come like that)
And that's the way we do it cause we (strong like that)
See I'mma blast the Devil, the rythmn is the rebel
(we roll like that) (we cold like that)
And that's how we do it when we (walk like that)
And that's how we do it when we (talk like that)
And that's the way we do it when we (come like that)
See I'mma blast the Devil, the rythmn is the rebel
(we bomb like that) (we strong like that)
Got my attitude from adolescence - nothin' changed
Gotta say my prayers count my blessin's - what a shame
In this game of life nothin' promised - another day
Got me packin' heat avoidin' drama - who to blame
When we all guilty doin' dirt
In the community too many of us in up hurt
No love for life in this complicated paradox
How many of us gotta die for the madness stop
I look around and all I see is these influences
the hard times in the eyes of the ghetto ruined
so hard to do it when you looked upon as second class
Another chapter for Amerikkka's ill-gotten past - you never last
If you don't hold your head high - keep strivin'
Brothers gonna get by - we keep risin'
Even though they want us dyin' - we still thrive and
Believe Imma keep fightin' - we street soldiers for life
And that's how we do it when we (bomb like that)
And that's how we do it when we (come like that)
And that's the way we do it cause we (strong like that)
See I'mma blast the Devil, the rythmn is the rebel
(we roll like that) (we cold like that)
And that's how we do it when we (walk like that)
And that's how we do it when we (talk like that)
And that's the way we do it when we (come like that)
See I'mma blast the Devil, the rythmn is the rebel
(we bomb like that) (we strong like that)
Yeah, Get ya mob on
Get ya mob on
Street soldiers
hard truth
[dialogue from the movie "They Live"]
What's wrong with havin it good for a change?
Now they're gonna let us have it good if we just help 'em.
They're gonna leave us alone, let us make some money.
You can have a little taste of that good life too.
Now I know you want it - hell everybody does.
You'd do it to your own kind.
What's the threat? We all sell out every day.
Might as well be on the winning team!
[footsteps, three gunshots]
[Paris]
Aww yeah
One for the crabs, cutthroats that blast and backstab
Quick to sell you short for a motherfuckin dollar
This one's for y'all
Here come a funky ditty from the one that make ya move
Doin the work in soldier field 'til ain't none left to do
Kickin the knowledge for the people just like me and you
And I'ma keep on runnin until the shit is through
This one is for the sissy niggaz livin in the house
Y'all know the kind of ones that jump when massa call 'em out
They kinda tricky can't be trusted cause they run they mouth
And when some shit start up it's always them that ain't around
This is a warnin for the few I knew like Ed and Vern
You might get cheated when you meet 'em but I hope y'all learn
That every motherfucker don't know how to wait his turn
And every brother ain't a brother and you might get burned
A little knowledge from a scholar so you know the part
My name is Paris and I kicks it to ya from the heart
Thought I forgot ya but I caught ya punk I thought ya knew
House niggas bleed too, shit ain't through
[Ice Cube] "Damn.. oh yeah! It ain't over mother.."
"KFLB newstime 4:36. (part two, part two..)
In the top story of the hour, the largest single law enforcement
(part two, part two..) operation in California history is
currently underway. (part two, part two..) The police in five
Southern counties are engaged in a massive battle.."
(part two, part two..)
[Paris]
P-Dog, back to break 'em off somethin
And never frontin when the rhyme keep comin
Not lotto but I'm in it to win it and never lose
Never singin but swingin and bringin nothin but bad news
And I'm madder than a motherFUCKER
Won't slip and the record won't skip, better get hip
Fin' to pop, but I ain't pop
How many cops gotta drop when the gat wreck shop
P-Dog comin up on another level
No hope for the black folk, FUCK a devil
It ain't nuttin but a skanless-ass trap
to keep motherfuckers broke and smokin crack!
So I'm grippin on the clip and finsta move
Another nigga on the trigger with nuttin to lose
You better duck when the gat buck bitch
cause the funk is on and Young Mark gimme some of that!
[scratching] Yeah - pass the match!
[scratching] Pass the match!
[scratching] Yeah..
Ain't nuttin changed, still anti-pig
Still anti-drug dealer and anti-house nigga
from bein broke in slavery
And if the skin is brown they only want you to stay down
I see the community need work
Black power mean mo' than a t-shirt!
All I'm tryin to do is be sure
that the young black youth stay true to the format
And see the plan to kill the man
and understand, it ain't shit for life to end
Look at the Oaktown murder rate
We need mo' than a panel to set it straight
The next time somebody asks why
a motherfucker sit still while the black keep dyin?
I'ma do a (?)alley U(?) and make you see you cain't
bullshit around with the people's fate!
And that's why we hate ourself
Sleepin with the enemy you're bound to catch hell
They ain't never been down with our side
So fuck Schlitz, Olde E and St. Ide's
You better hear the word when I warn ya
Now it seem like the whole WORLD's Arizona
One for Rodney and Latasha and Tawana boy ya better check ya list
for guerrillas in the mist!
[interlude]
Alright y'all, get ready for roll call
We got the gats, we got the masks, we got the gloves
The van's packed, and motherfuckers is ready to roll!
Uh-uh, wait a minute motherfucker
You better go on with that ol' trick shit
Cause in the 90's, niggaz ain't havin it
So you best just learn to deal and get the FUCK out!
[Paris]
White supremacy ain't never been a friend of me
You better check it when I wreck it cause it's gettin deep
And get ready for the funk when the pot boil
With a dry rag, kerosene, and motor oil
Now the Aryan is scary and I'm runnin up
Fat Tom better duck when he try his luck
cause I'ma see that he suck on a tech-9
or fifteen to his dome'll be fine!
Or maybe I'll just tar and feather ya
and castrate ya cause I hate a devil too
Rape your women up and then I'll rape your mind
Think about it it's an eye for an eye!
And now it's fittin that I'm spittin on America
A black man with a plan and I'm scarin ya
It ain't a threat but a promise out to each
In L.A., Forsythe, and Howard Beach!
Duck down when the clip from the tech POP
You cain't fuck with the sound when the needle drop
So don't speak when I plans to wreck the house
You can't win when the truth is spoken out
A real case of a brother you love to hate
Can't be roughed up or hushed or set STRAIGHT!
You better know me on the Mike McGee tip
Fin' ta roll to the party, still in demand
Troopin thicker than a ball team, packin the van
I was movin as a unit every brother stayin strapped
But still we got enough sense to never bust 'em too fast
And now I'm runnin a roll call, startin with D
Big Doc and Yon, K-Cloud and E
Young (?) Rich-O's, and my man A.B.
I can't forget Big Gene, still keepin the peace
Rollin stone still rollin on our way to the club
Every spot that we step into showin nuttin but love
Never payin to play and never waitin in line
but never lookin to start shit, but just a good time
And as we step into the place, you know the party is FAT
Females wall to wall, got us all back to back
Rollin thicker than butter, y'know the crew never lose
And some fools is jealous, cause the women is choose
I see hard stares and the glares from the young bucks
The stank of the dank could make a elephant knees buck
I'm makin my way to the bar for some juice
when the move was interrupted by two twins
and they friends sportin body suits
They said whattup, I said whattup, and they broke it down
They said they want to do the oochie coochie and spread it 'round
I stepped back, and had to think a minute cause damn G
If you'da seen what I was seein you woulda felt weak
But I thought fast, yo black I had to pass
I hate it when I see my sister movin too fast
I know you need some knowledge of self for your young ass
Cause hoein only get your kids AIDS or crabs
But then, the funk start jumpin on the other side
Some brothers in the corner start to havin a fist fight
Gats pop, blacks drop, the party became a riot
And all because some niggaz didn't know how to act right
The fact is that it wasn't rap to blame
It's a shame that just a few can mess it up for the whole scene
But I said it once, and I'ma say it again
We better learn to love each other 'fore we all drop dead
It's like that y'all, it's like that y'all
I'm tryin to wake the black with mack raps y'all
It's alright y'all, so don't fight y'all
I'm tryin to keep us from killin up every night y'all
and just live..
Take it back to the days when we raised us up
'Fore coward-ass rap made the game corrupt
P-Dog in the cut back to bring the pain
Puttin' wood on they ass can't stand the rain
And bring heat over beats, and scratch the itch
In a no spin-zone fuck a scanadalous bitch
It's the return of the Bush Killa back to bust
Just us for the justice, In God We Trust
I rush truth to the youth - and shine the light
Take the red pill, open up ya eyes to life
In this land of these crack fiends sheep and moles
See us overthrow the hold of this devil control
And roll deep - (keep it underground for the streets)
I'm the last cell - (hit em outta bounds, retreat)
We like ants in this war dance, if one falls
Ten more's in his place to advance the cause, it's all
Raw shit
HELL YEAH
It's the raw shit
HELL YEAH
Do you want the raw shit?
HELL YEAH
Everybody Sayin'
That's the Bomb -(what?) That's the Bomb
Gotta have the raw shit
HELL YEAH
Comin' with the raw shit
HELL YEAH
Do you need the raw shit?
HELL YEAH
Everybody Sayin'
That's the Bomb -(come on) That's the Bomb
I bust a shot and these pigs all dash like renta cops
These punk ass devils'll never stop
Fuck 'em all, I draw, they fall
Bitch, I was raw, ballin' back in the days of “yes y'alls”
Gotta make a fuss, nigga bust an' ride
See it in my eyes, speak truth or die
Amerikkka's the motherfuckin' beast and I'm
Still the same, nigga snatchin' sheets for mine
Back on the map, and we fade to black
Fuck rap, see us pickin' off pigs with straps
And bust on they compound, take control
Of the precinct, leave 'em all stank an' cold
It's no justice no motherfuckin' peace, say it
No justice no motherfuckin' peace, believe
Long as niggas gettin' beat by these pigs we shoot
Outta coupes - fuck peace and the boys in blue, we do the
Raw shit
HELL YEAH
It's the raw shit
HELL YEAH
Do you want the raw shit?
HELL YEAH
Everybody Sayin'
That's the Bomb -(what?) That's the Bomb
Gotta have the raw shit
HELL YEAH
Comin' with the raw shit
HELL YEAH
Do you need the raw shit?
HELL YEAH
Everybody Sayin'
That's the Bomb -(come on) That's the Bomb
To protect and to serve is a myth to us
They protect they shit and serve sticks to us
Fuck a waterhose nigga, those days is thru
All a pig's gotta do nowadays is shoot
But who police the police when they
Beat brothers to the ground like - everyday
What I'm sayin', what if niggas start shootin' 'em back?
Spit caps outta gats 'till the beast collapse?
With an eye for an eye, ain't no time to play
With an eye for an eye - it's the Amerikkkan way
Do it big see the jig split wigs of foes
Bust shots at these pigs - nigga dig the flow and
Hear us all say “power to the people” combined
Hold court in the streets 'till these pigs comply
Niggas got no choice but to ride or die
Put this beast on it's back - genocide's the plight, we bring the
Raw shit
HELL YEAH
It's the raw shit
HELL YEAH
Do you want the raw shit?
HELL YEAH
Everybody Sayin'
That's the Bomb -(what?) That's the Bomb
Gotta have the raw shit
HELL YEAH
Comin' with the raw shit
HELL YEAH
Do you need the raw shit?
HELL YEAH
Everybody Sayin'
That's the Bomb -(come on) That's the Bomb
They don't mind you givin' the latest rap
They don't mind your being hoes
They don't mind your being bitches
They don't mind you being whatever image that Viacom and BET can come up with
But what they don't want you to know..
Is that you're the ones that can redefine civilization if you take time to do it
It's a Guerrilla Funk-orchestrated counter-attack
Formulate and infiltrate 'em so the people react
See if I was wicked I would pick and stick to a plan
To rule the world and trick 'em, this is how it'd begin
See I'd have to find a way to keep the people enslaved
Behave, teach the babies it's my way or the grave
And start with the body, workin' labor for free
And give 'em fake religion so they worshippin' me
And see and when the free labor play out, I'd let it go
But only after I made enough to control
Then I'd tell 'em that the Afterlife is better than this
And that they should love their enemies when faced with contempt
I'd persist with some history that I would rewrite
In a school system where I'd keep the money too tight
I'd let 'em all know just where they belong in my world
Turn the boys into felons, makin' hookers of girls
Swirled up in my plan, build jails to keep
All my prisons full of niggas, have 'em workin' for free
See with ghetto-economics in check, I'd keep 'em broke
Teach 'em only to respect sports, music and dope
Control the content of lyrics, now only the sound
Of sex, dope and murder in a song is allowed
Tell 'em “Niggas ain't shit” every move that they make
And that black is dirty so they never try to be great
Can you relate? I'd laugh, watch 'em murder for scraps
Set it up so they'd die over crack I provide
Do it right, and I'd see they try to be like me
Try to be the biggest “G” up in these murderous streets
I'd teach, manhood means how many women ya fuck
How many babies you can make, responsibility ducked
Fuck a job, real men are pimps, that's what I'd teach
And if bitches wanna trip, then them bitches get beat
I'd see it all through, never lose and pass a new law
Give 'em 3 strikes so the men are constantly gone
Yeah, if I was evil they would think I do no wrong
See it's lethal how I keep 'em in their place so long, believe
Chorus:
I got my eyes upon you, and all the things that you do
Some close they eyes but mine can see, all the evil surroundin' me
So what I'm 'posed ta do, when I can see right through?
Expose the lies and snatch the sheets, fight the evil surroundin' me
After all is said and done here and I could afford
I'd concentrate deeply on controllin' abroad
And think about a way to take control of they land
I'd create a virus made to murder people en masse
Last time was Tuskegee, but now it's for real
House Bill 15090 would just kill
With germs that would murder with sperm and blood drips
And kill 'em all worser than burned, they'd die quick
See to understand, you could witness the plan
Through the green-monkey sham they would think it began
And while we argue over the cost, they'd all die
With generations all being lost with no fight
I'd continue with the pain, make it oh-so plain
I'd manipulate the market for my capital gain
Keep the people all broke and confused and underclass
Give my homies all executive bonuses through the crash
And if the heat get too hot, I'd plant a bomb
Or wreck a plane, just like Hitler back in the day
And scare all the people, they'd forget about me
They'd forget about elections and the way that we cheated
See me blame it on a foreigner and non-white men
Celebrate my gestapo with a positive spin
Then manipulate the media - it's U.S. first
Get the stupid-ass public to agree with my words
Then I'd make the play, takin' all their freedoms away
Incarcerate anybody that'll get in my way
Make 'em censor any media that challenge the mold
Give 'em bullshitty shows just like Anna Nicole's
Control the message in the music - it's gangsta fo' sho
Give 'em diamonds, never tell 'em 'bout the conflict zones
Never tell 'em 'bout the murder in Sierra Leone
Never tell 'em how the diamonds make 'em murder their own
It's all too easy, if I was evil that's how I'd rock it
Make sure that my propaganda won't ever stop it
Got 120 channels, but it's nothin' to watch
I'm sayin' to you
That you will in a few minutes, hear from the man
Who is takin' the place of real black leadership
Who will answer the call for true freedom
Justice and equality in America
Well now, do you understand?"
Brethren heed the call of enlightenment of truth
Asiatic discipline's frightenin'
Some who act dumb embraced by decadence
The weak in the wake of true black militants
Hear the call and all heed the savior
Praise Allah 'cause in his energy made ya
The cream, Asiatic earth-born man child
Freedom's comfort for some but meanwhile
Young brothers just don't realize
Cocaine's the plan, the devil derived
Produced and let loose to youth for profit
Fake so-called Negroes won't stop it
Witness lies fed straight to the brother man
Hopes are lost to the malevolent game plan
Annihilation of original citizens
Of this great planet Earth listen
P-Dog spits the dope words born
Batterram's rollin' task force swarm
Pigeons squawk with the talk of a new high
Controlled by the man whose plan is genocide
Intense is a sense of ignorance
When the wack, can't get with the pro-black
Program that's designed to educe thought
Rhymes ya bought keep Panthers taught
Punks stay put skinheads are flatfoot
Keys are played as I stay on route
Down the path of the righteous chosen
Word is born as the wack stay frozen
Locked in time, mindset is Babylon
P's the martyr while MC's babble on
Letter sixteen is me and some see
I freeze and snuff MC's like pipe dreams
Makin' a mark with the start of the movement
Tracks in fact weak wack can't do this
Tooth decay 'cause the fake been snoozin'
Lead the lost and the cost is you've been
Freed from lies by the wise new messenger
P A R I S is a blessin' ya
Can't underestimate or recreate
The sounds of Scarface, let the man break
There is no in-between, you are either free or you're a slave
There's no such thing as second-class citizenship
The only politics in this country that's relevant to black people
Today is the politics of revolution, none other
Which brings us to the next move
It's a simple case of show and tell or rather show and prove
Of made up gang moves and foolish fairy tales
Said by sissies to snatch the record sales
So when you see me just say I told ya
My rhymes'll hold ya and mold ya to soldiers
And train your brains with the pride and the insight
To do what's right, yo black, it's yo' life
Once upon a time called now we start this
A chosen one came forth from the darkness
To lead the lost for the cost of a beat tape
And make the blind see straight 'fore it's too late
I can't wait time's quickly runnin' out
Call to arms, revolution's in the house
Unforgettable the words of wisdom
Brought to life by the ten point system
One, freedom and power to determine our destiny
Two, full employment for the black community
Three, fight the capitalist with a raised fist'
P.U.I. black and stack awareness
Four, decent housing for the shelter of human beings
Five, education and truth for the black youth
Six, all black men exempt from military service
Hear my words and get nervous
Seven, a quick end to police brutality
Death of blacks at the hands of the P.D.
Eight, release of all black men
Who are held in prison guilty 'fore proven innocent
Nine, black juries when our brothers are tried in court
And in addition to all his we want
Ten, land bread and housing and education
[Paris]
Still in this bitch, ninety-eight is just another year
I murder money drama bitches, that fall in piers
Comin out the city where no pity be a way of life
When niggaz quick to bust a cap in you to earn they stripes
Ain't nothin changed in these West coast killin fields
I seen so many homies die that I ain't got no feeling
So I handles mine, pack a strap and keep on strivin
And quick to let these niggaz if it get down to violent
Cause these haters ain't no friends to me, they make it plain
But I refuse to be a victim of these ghetto games
Break away from all the stress, bullshit and aggravation
And now I'm quick to blast if you want a confrontation
But it seem like every time I turn around it's drama
Hella flowers, coffee drinkin, and cryin momma
Somethin tellin me this madness ain't gon' never stop
So I keep strivin fo' the top
[Chorus]
Now everything you think you seein might not be the truth
Understand these cowards fold when these niggaz shoot
Understand this rap shit is just another way
Just another lick where motherfuckers gettin paid
It really ain't the same as it was in the past
Back when shit was new, niggaz thought that it would last
Understand this rap game is just another front
Just another way for motherfuckers comin up, and it's like that
[Paris]
So what's the ticket out the ghetto for these young players
Slangin dope, playin ball or bein rhymesayers
They want the money fast, FUCK SCHOOL, that ain't what's happenin
So some of them niggaz got together and they started rappin
And it would be like who the tightest on the microphone
Makin demos in the basement of they momma's home
And 'fore you know it niggaz got theyself a record deal
And now they makin money, doin what they love for real
Limosines, fast cash, and autographs
Groupie hoes after every show be workin the staff
And magazines givin love cause they shit is best
Unless of course it's The Source and you from the West
Now momma's braggin cause they baby's on the television
And they livin every day, like it's Thanksgiving
But you know, what they say if it sound too good
to be true it probably is that's the music biz
[Chorus]
[Paris]
I'm 28 and I've been in the game since '86
World tours, cash money, and hella hits
Done seen these rap stars disappear like civil rights
And go from po' to rich to po' again, overnight
So many perils in this game if yo' team is faulty
That's why my lawyer keep these motherfuckin devils off me
And freak bitches be, quick to set you up by playin
that pussy game like, you the daddy or you rapin
See dumb niggaz get they money took, tryin to be
that motherfucker on the television out with Robin Leach
A couple of cars, hella clothes, and before you know it
That nigga to' back, hella broke with nuttin showin
So here's a little game from a homey that's still playin
The mo' shit you see a nigga with, the mo' he payin
In this rap life, nuttin what it seem to be
I hope you motherfuckers feel me, that's reality
12:15, layin real low at night
Creep in a jeep hit the corner tight
Bout to go clip they wigs
But gotta keep a niggy clean
One-time [blam] this is so they momma cry
Y'all shoulda eased up when I told you last time
But now I gotta do it the hard way
P-A-Y-back day
Then we see em, the black and white on sixth street
Cut a left in the lot of Mickey D's
And pulled up to the window
Ssshhh! Big Mel creeped on him real slow
He could see when he looked at me
That a brother wasn't thinkin bout shit but the payback
Rollin with a panther, trained well
No need for the holler, and FUCK jail
Packin two gats in the ride
But the black still had, the element of suprise
Now I'm aimin straight for the dome
Cause I'm thinkin about my homey's mom alone
Cryin cause her baby's dead man
This pig's gonna kiss the lead man
As an example so all the blue coats know
You get poached when you fuck with black folk
Said it til my voice was hoarse
I ain't down with excessive force
But of course I wasn't heard so I'm silent now
Black folk can't be non-violent now
I'd rather just lay you down, spray you down
Til justice come around
Cause without it there'll be no peace
The only motherfuckin pig that I eat is police
Do it like Jay said, throw in work
Stand feet, retreat in guerilla spurts
And see that the caps are peeled like potatoes
Cause this is a war and pigs hate us
If ya don't think so ask Nina G
Cause she was raped two times by OPD
By a motherfucking pig named Riley
So when I pitch I don't flinch or smile, see
I just lay low for the night to come
Rounded up the click, I straight dropped the bomb
And got with K-Cloud for the blowaway
Ran far, rented a car, took off the plates
And come back through to the place where
everybody knew that they was gonna show they face at
Stepped up, crept up, as I held my breath
And then I squeezed, coffee, donuts, and...
[blam blam blam, blam, blam]
[Officer down, we need backup, there's an office down here
oh shit!]
That shit hittin..
Ah yes yes y'all
(naw naw man, naw man that ain't it, that ain't it)
(do that other shit, that other shit)
[Paris]
Check it out ch'all, here we go again another one
from the man on the run I recollect and take a stand
P-Dog, kickin over breaks that make ya wanna move
It's like that when the black cat get in tune
And now you bustin smiles when styles I rip
So many of 'em you'll discover most speakers are split
It's kinda like a little lesson in stressin the facts
And still be kickin so know where you at, black
Listen up to the groove of the cut
Feel the funk when the bass hump, tryin to get a niggy nut
And feel it hittin when the speakers jigglin like Jello
With just enough of that good funky shit to keep it mellow
Never fadin or stayin on course
The only sellin out I'm doin is sellin out tours
Somethin for your ear, comin loud and clear
It's the voice you FEAR, if your shit ain't REAL
Keep it comin one time for your mind on the mic
It's the panther, kickin over breaks you dance to
And doin devils dirty lickin lyrics to break beats
I'm buildin so the children always know where they at, G
Check it out ch'all, check it out ch'all
Check it out ch'all, check it out ch'all
Check it out ch'all, check it out ch'all
Check it out ch'all, check it out
Check it out ch'all, here I come again with verse two
With the knowledge of myself I got another one from me to you
(?) tracks movin smoother than machinery
It's plain to see I'm fin' to be another brother catchin heat
I take a stand cause America ain't shit to me
And bringin knowledge of the way it is supposed to be
And knock you devils out the box like a mule kick
Comin up with the shit the tricky skunks can't FUCK with
Rap is rhythm and poetry I thought you knew it; but who would have
ever thought that we would use it the way we be usin it?
Spittin facts to my peers and your fear is showin
Cause now the black is knowin things you thought we shouldn't know and
gettin ready for a power move
Yes yes y'all, ready for the motherfuckin show and prove
So pack a lunch when the bunch roll, cause we're goin
for the gold but I never sold my soul for it
Check it out ch'all, check it out ch'all
Check it out ch'all, check it out ch'all
Check it out ch'all, check it out ch'all
Check it out ch'all, check it out
Now - whose freedom of speech if I can't reach each
There's no support when you're black and you're goin for yours
Yeah, that's alright
As long as niggaz killin niggaz makin money is NUTTIN for whites
That's the way they wanna play and now I know they fear it
Where the hell was little Ollie all them other years?
Blacks was dyin in the movies and in other records
I see the racist motherfucker never said nuttin
But that's the way it is when I run it
I make the funky tracks to keep my people up on it
Well known and prone to break a bone let's get it on
I'm showin you the facts on wax 'til your mind has grown;
huh, and still sayin what I wanna say
I won't slip still sayin what I wanna say
I won't slip still sayin what I wanna say
I'm P-Dog and I'm always gonna make it plain
Huh, so check it out ch'all, check it out
Check it out ch'all, check check check it out
Check it out ch'all, check check check it out
Check it out ch'all, check check check it out
[30 seconds of Bush news snippets]
"Ooooh look, it's the president! Hey Mr. President!"
"Okay, there he go. Easy, easy, don't lose sight, wait
Two, three and...NOW!"
[gunshots, screaming]
Here I go, an angry brother finna make his move (P Dog)
But can I buck him in the city so I never lose? (P Dog)
See I'm a get him the crowd with a couple heavies (P Dog)
And lay the barrel to the ground, hold the gat steady (P Dog)
And now I'm ready for my adversary, talk is cheap (P Dog)
I'm looking for a way to make a plan and keep it neat (P Dog)
And check it out and make around and pick a rooftop (P Dog)
And get a spot where the view's hot, set up shop (P Dog)
Cause all I wanna see is motherfucking brains hanging (P Dog)
Another level when it's me and Devils gangbanging (P Dog)
So don't be telling me to get the nine, violent spirit (P Dog)
Cause when I'm violent is the only time the devils hear it (P Dog)
Rat-tat-tat goes the gat to his devil's face (P Dog)
I hope he think about how he done us when he lay to waste (P Dog)
And get the feeling of the peeling from the other side
>From guns given to my people from my own kind (P Dog)
So get with Ollie cause I'm probably fin to make you mad (P Dog)
I'm steady waiting for the day I get to see his ass (P Dog)
And give him two from the barrel of a black guerrilla (P Dog)
And that's real from the motherfucking Bush Killa
[laughing] "I understand that time is running out"
Now who is able to make war with the beast?
It starts with "P"
Trumpets sound when I push the program
And set my sight on a serpent man
Swinging the sword of the righteous
Make devils drop and they just can't spite this
Genocide and the minds of men make
Brothers like me fill up with hate
I smell a skunk in the air
Cause your program still ain't fair
So who you wanna blame for the Hate That Hate Made?
When P let off and pigs get sprayed
Y'all wanna kill off the black man?
But I know your master plan
So we'll see who stops the black guerrilla
P Dog the Bush Killa
It's P Dog the Bush Killa
Tolerance is getting thinner
Cause Iraq never called me "nigger"
So what I wanna go off and fight a war for?
You best believe I got your draft card
So bad to hate somebody else
But much worse to hate yourself
Victim to the mentacide of the double-wide
Most black folks be made to die
Keeping 'em on and on
Keeping ya on and on
Now my brother down south said "Fuck the Police"
I'm saying "No Justice, No Peace"
So why'd you stick 'em like that?
Cause everybody want to get the black
But we'll see who stop the black guerrilla
P Dog the Bush Killa
"He's been shot!" "The president is dead"
Yeah, it's P Dog the Bush Killa
"Nodbody move, just stay where you are"
So where's he at?
I just might wait for his motherfucking ass on a rooftop next tour
Bucking stone cause I'm known to play for keeps
Lay low to the flow and keep it neat
And send his ass home belly up
Should've listened to the facts that the black's been telling ya
It's no suprise that a brother's got wise
Now rat-tat-tat-tat, it's an eye for an eye
Now I'm in it, got to die before we see
That motherfuckers don't give a damn for you or me
So wear a vest on your chest and the rest stand still
Paris is my name, I flows with ease
Cash checks, breaks necks and wrecks MC's
Who ain't down with the sound of the Panther Movement
Intense is a serious answer
The mic goes into labor you freeze up
Enveloped by the style that sounds so rough
Rehearsal weak verses potent as cyanide
A million and a half shot keepin' you high
But I don't sell 'cause what you're sellin' is never sold
Or dealed by the real mack brothers of old
Naw, I just devise a wise new formula
To keep you in tune without sellin' my soul
In 1930, it all began
With a movement comprised of intelligent black men
Led by Allah in the form of Farad
But later by the last true prophet of God
Elijah Muhammad, a dominant black leader
Of 'The Lost/Found Asiatic Pack'
And later by Malcolm, whose point was straight
Stressin' a black nationalistic state
Of self-sufficiency on a mission
He stressed thrift and pride and good sense
Killed in cold blood but the shit ain't done with
Switch to Oak town, '66
See Huey Newton and Cleveland Seal
Sons of Malcolm with intent to kill
And end the brutality inflicted on us by cops
Best believe, I won't stop
Teachin' science in step with Farrakhan
Drop a dope bomb, word to Islam
Keeps my brothers up on it 'cause I'm black
And now you know I'm brutal
Callin' all brothers to order, P-Dog'll slaughter
Stomp rip and choke those who thought a
Young black man wasn't capable of the intellect
Of gainin' respect without sellin' so check
I'm Paris, six feet two, deadly as ice
But twice as nice with, the power to fight boy
So, listen I'm tellin' y'all, the warnin' the Final Call
We're headin' for Armageddon, it's like that
The government's policy see is tactical genocide
How many must die, chasin' a chemical high?
How much killin' and murderin' mayhem more can we stand
Before we fold black man, so take a stand
Listen up drug dealer, whassup with that?
Hope I don't bust a cap, straight in your motherfuckin' ass
For pushin' poison to youth, I'm through with talkin', I'm steppin' up
With gat point blank at your motherfuckin' mug
I'm P R O, B L A C K
Stompin' and crushin' to mush, any lush, in my way
I'm educated and strong, always right and no wrong
With many bullets of a Bensonhurst, come on along
It's like that y'all and I won't quit
Keepin' y'all fresh on the movement tip
With F.O.I. at my side, we're never slippin' or nap
We always come sick-wid-it, bustin' serious caps
There's no, bullshit and yo look, this is the danger zone
You shouldn't have stepped to it, you shouldn't have come alone
You shouldn't have ever thought, the movement was soft
Don't you know P-Dog'll never stop
Enter into a new realm a new dimension
Pay close attention
And witness knowledge born on the microphone
For the people that I call my own
Remember back when good rap was just a cool dance hit
They even though it wasn't saying
Well, them days is gone I don't play that
Pick the punk and I'll say like wack
Stick with the sick style for the serious
Hip Hop lovers can't get enough of this
Black tracks on wax are so smooth
You can't get help but the thought to move
This is a call and a plea for unity
Black is back, uplift and be free
Keep pushin', our movement moves on
So strong, now
With a raised fist I resist
I don't burn, so don't you dare riff
Or step to me, I'm strong and black and proud
And for the bullshit, I ain't down
Life in the city's already rough enough
Without some young sucka runnin' up
You don't know me, so don't step
I roll to the right and then bust your lip
Paris is my name, I don't sleep
I drop science and keep the peace
Here to bust this for better justice
Another dope Scarface release
This is a serious style for the gifted
Pro-black radical rap's uplifting
Still growing, the power's so strong
You can't stop it, now
We declare our right on this Earth
To be a man, to be a human being
To be respected as a human being
To be given the rights of a human being
In this society, on this Earth in this day
Which we intend to bring into existence
By any means necessary
Alright, let's start some mo' shit
Straight up on the movement tip
With forces strong as Allah's my third eye
Black is back and P-Dog'll never die
Who said that you can't do this
Can't be wise or be for the movement
Games, I won't have so don't you play none
You'll see why when I'm gone
Skinheads end up dead 'cause I don't play
Brothers swarm under the form of Scarface
Round up, roll out, we'll roll em up like Rolo's
I stomp sixteen solo
Straight for the jugular, hope that I don't
Swarm and bust a cap by night so
You just keep your place 'cause I won't stop
It's a sunny day in Paris
But rainy where I am
Birds are flying across the sky
to show me there is more
Maybe I don't talk enough
Do you understand?
I can't change the way I am
It's easy for you
but maybe hard for me
Please help me now
I'm on my way now
I wish I had someone, maybe
to follow around
It was never my intention
to never get any attention at all
I don't ever talk enough
Do you understand?
I can't change the way I am
It's easy for you
but maybe hard for me
Please help me now
I'm on my way now
Do you understand?
I can't change the way I am
It's easy for you
but maybe hard for me
Please help me now
I'm on my way now
I tried to make everything nice tomorrow
I would rather be happy here today
I tried to make everything nice tomorrow
I gave you my love
And you took it
But I gave you my love
You said all you wanted
Just wanted to be free
But now you say, you want me back
It's a little too late for that
I gave you my love
I was so good to you
But, oh baby, who's crying now?
Paris is beautiful during the summertime, I hear
Here is so dull and grey after the April snow has cleared
I keep New York in mind, rain on the streets this time of year
I saw you in my mind, I conquer your forbidden land
See your treasure's inside the sea
Don't waste your time walking the sand
For your answer is under water
You won't miss the sun you got
The light you give, oh you give
Oh the moon lights the surface
It's a shadow land that serves a purpose
For you live, how you live
Send out your thought beams
Something to lead me on my way
I used to float in your ice stream to weigh up my beauty day by day
I know broken bones don't come close to the pain of hidden truth
I caught your dream in mine, I saw us walking hand in hand
See your treasure's inside the sea
Don't waste your time walking the sand
Oh your answer is under water
You won't miss the sun you got
The light you give, oh you give
Know the moon lights a surface
It's a shadow land that serves a purpose
For you live, how you live
Oh your answer is underwater
You won't miss the sun you got the light you give oh you give, you give, you give
Oh your moon lights my surface
It's a shadow land that serves a purpose
For you live, how you live, how you live
You've come so far, well done darling
We knew that you had it in you
You can do anything that you want, world is an oyster, dont dissapoint us
You can stand on your own two feet, you can lead me through the streets
Pave the way, so we can dream dreams, noone else can see what you made me see
Still climbing trees, tripping up over fallen leaves, but holding hands
No one else could ever understand what it's like between us
and thats betweens us, but I know
You'll never listen to me, no you'll never listen to me
No you'll never listen to me, no you'll never listen to me
You'll never listen to me, no you'll never listen to me
No you'll never listen to me, no you'll never listen to me
I dont know everything about you, would you like to spend time with me
Said you'd lend me anything, I think I'll have your company
Said you'd lend me anything, I think I'll have your company
You said you'd lend me anything, I think I'll have your company
You'll never listen to me, no you'll never listen to me
No you'll never listen to me, no you'll never listen to me
You'll never listen to me, no you'll never listen to me
You m' conquered
I am éprise
I opened
I offered myself
With you my lover
You, my courtier
Our Connections are dangerous
And my reason is plugged
Our Connections are dangerous
And my reason is plugged
I was wary
You m' defied
I am ploughed up
You m' lied
You m' betrayed
You m' have ravaged
You fled summers
Our Connections are dangerous
And my reason is plugged
But j' felt all the dangers
When your two hands were posed
But all my body said to you yes
This d' day; summer,
only in Paris
(Paris)
(Paris)
You m' liked
You m' liked
You m' wounded
You m' disavowed
Our Connections are dangerous
And my reason is plugged
Our Connections are dangerous
And my reason is plugged
But j' felt all the dangers
When your two hands were posed
But all my body said to you yes
This d' day; summer,
Written by Kevin Bacon
Strings written and arranged by Michael Bacon
";A guide book for the paranoid."; KB
I'm in Paris, won't be here long
But after all it's Paris, guess I'd better write a song
It's so wonderful, so magical, so romantic
Note to self to change that line, it's too pedantic
But it's Paris, I've come so far
I've made it all the way from the bed
To my guitar
You can call me doom and gloom
There ain't no way I'm stepping outside the hotel room
I'm a prisoner, I'm a prisoner
I'm terrified of what's outside beyond that door
I'm a prisoner, I'm a prisoner
A prisoner of 424
Brought a girl to Paris, she didn't like the food
She said the time change was killing her
The waiters were rude
But if she was here now, she'd make this all go away
She'd say baby let's pretend we're not in Paris for the day
I'm a prisoner, I'm a prisoner
I'm terrified of what's outside beyond that door
I'm a prisoner, I'm a prisoner
A prisoner in room 424
I should visit Saint-Germain des Pres
Take a walk, down the Champs Elysees
But this room is the only place to hide
From the gargoyles, waiting just outside
I'm in Paris, I see angels in the wall
I hear Arabians running in the hall
See I'm in this room and this room is who I am
And if you don't like that I don't' give
A good God Notre Dame
I'm a prisoner, I'm a prisoner
I'm terrified of what's outside beyond that door
I'm a prisoner, I'm a prisoner
A big strong guy like me, imagine that
I'm a prisoner, I'm a prisoner
A prisoner of quatre deux qua
So you´ve made some big decision
You seem to feel so cold
It may sound worse today
Go on and tell me something´s changing
You need to be alone
And take some time away
We all must survive
On what keeps us alive
Don´t go, take this too far
Stay here for some time
So, you´ve found yourself a partner
It seemed to take so long
A place to call your home
Still, you need so much to listen
To each and everyone
Their hearts except your own
We all must survive
On what keeps us alive
Don´t go, take this too far
Stay here for a while
Don´t go, leave this behind
Haven't we met
You're some kind of beautiful stranger
You could be good for me
I have a taste for danger
If I'm smart then I'll run away
But I'm not so I guess I'll stay
Heaven forbid
I take my chance on a beautiful stranger
I looked into your eyes
And my world came tumbling down
You're the devil in disguise
That's why I'm singing this song
To know you is to love you
You're everywhere I go
And everybody knows
To love you is to be part of you
I pay for you with tears
And swallow all my pride
Dah-dah-dah-de dah-de-dah-de dah dah dah-dah-dum
Beautiful stranger
Dah-dah-dah-de dah-de-dah-de dah dah dah-dah-dum
Beautiful stranger
If I'm smart then I'll run away
But I'm not so I guess I'll stay
Haven't you heard
I fell in love with a beautiful stranger
I looked into your face
My heart was dancing all over the place
I'd like to change your point-of-view
If I could just forget about you
To know you is to love you
You're everywhere I go
And everybody knows
I looked into your eyes
And my world came tumbling down
You're the devil in disguise
That's why I'm singing this song to you
To know you is to love you
You're everywhere I go
And everybody knows
I pay for you with tears
And swallow all my pride
Dah-dah-dah-de dah-de-dah-de dah dah dah-dah-dum
Beautiful stranger
Dah-dah-dah-de dah-de-dah-de dah dah dah-dah-dum
Beautiful stranger
Ven, acércate.
Ven y abrázame.
Vuelve a sonreír, a recordar París,
a ser mi angustia.
Déjame pasar una tarde más.
Dime dónde has ido,
donde esperas en silencio, amigo.
Quiero estar contigo y regalarte mi cariño,
darte un beso y ver tus ojos
disfrutando con los míos hasta siempre,
adiós mi corazón.
Ven, te quiero hablar.
Vuelve a caminar.
Vamos a jugar al juego en el que yo era tu princesa.
Ven, hazlo por mí.
Vuelve siempre a mí.
Dime dónde has ido,
donde esperas en silencio, amigo.
Quiero estar contigo y regalarte mi cariño,
darte un beso y ver tus ojos
disfrutando con los míos hasta siempre,
adiós mi corazón.
No hay un lugar que me haga olvidar
El tiempo que pasé andando por tus calles junto a ti
Ven quiero saber
Porque te fuiste sin mí
Siempre tuve algo que contarte.
Dime dónde has ido,
donde esperas en silencio, amigo.
Quiero estar contigo y regalarte mi cariño,
darte un beso y ver tus ojos
disfrutando con los míos hasta siempre,
adiós mi corazón.
No hay nada que me haga olvidar
el tiempo que has pasado ya y no volverá
no hay nada más
adios mi corazon
there's a place i know in paris
it's where i always long to be
i never feel alone in paris 'cause
someone's always waiting there for me
i know all the people
i've never seen before
soon i won't remember
how i came 'round here anymore
the boys keep on swinging jump and jive
and the girls keep on singing staying alive
and sounds keep on ringing and i will survive
'til closing time
i'll be fine
it always stays the same in paris
no matter if it's night or day
but i must kiss someone in paris
before they ever let me stay
i know all the voices
i never heard before
soon i won't remember
how i got out here anymore
chorus (repeat)
????? ????? ??? ?? ?? ???
??? ???? ??? ?????? ????
?????
?????? ?????? ???? ??????
??? ???? ???? ?? ??? ?? ?? ?? ??
?????
??????? ???? ?????
??????? ?????? ???????
?????? ???? ???
?????
??????? ???? ??? ?????
??????? ?? ?? ??? ??? ????? ????
?????
Loin de ma maison a Paris
???? ?? ???? ???????? ???
????? ??? ??? ??? ????? ????
??? ?????
??? ????? ?????? ???? ????
??? ??? ??????? ??????? ???? ???
?????
????? ???? ??? ???? ?? ?????
??? ?????? ???? ????? ???? ???
?????
??? ???? ???? ??? ???? ????
??? ???? ???? ??? ???? ????
??? ????
Loin de ma maison a Paris
?? ?? ?? ??? ?? ??
?? ??? ??? ??? ???? ???????
Oui je suis si heureuse
Alors pourquoi la nuit je pleure
???????
?????
??? ????? ???? ??????
???? ??? ????? ??? ?? ????
???..
????? ???? ???? ??? ?????
????? ????? ??? ?????
L'Allemand used to visit me in Paris, in Paris
I remember the men, I remember the houses in Paris
His station nearby, I was his afternoons
We didn't mind, shared everything, everything, in Paris
And he'd come in looking for comfort
Leave again looking to the left and the right
Did we see too much, say too little
Stepping over every dark thing?
Would it all be true tomorrow but, he loves me
Framing his face with my hands in the doorway
I try to decipher the friend from the foe in his eyes
A man's skin will be blown back with time and confusion
'Til it gathers by his ears
In the same human shallows like sand at the sea
Did he hear too much, say too little?
Could any year recover what we lost in these
With the hum of the war in the run of the day?
But I walk with my head held high and naked in the sun
Claiming these streets for myself
I walk with my head held high and naked in the sun
Claiming these streets for myself, again
I am the unchanging narrative, I don't resolve neatly
And I am the unchained melody, the current of the need to survive
And I go on looking for comfort
I can no longer see to the left or the right
But I walk with my head held high and naked in the sun
Claiming these streets for myself
I walk with my head held high and naked in the sun
Claiming these streets for myself
I walk with my head held high and naked in the sun
Claiming these streets for myself
I walk with my head held high and naked in the sun
We broke the rules, I'm glad we got out
Had to get out again, back in with the tea running light
Take this heart and make it all worth while
Don't be the last one, get out in time
Get out in time, get out in time
I won't say that I'm unhappy with you
I won't say that I don't know what to do
I won't say that I'm unhappy with you
Take this heart and make a dream come true
Take this heart and make a dream come true
Cheap hotels, we drink what we get served
This can't be anything like all that you've heard
Lets get married, put a fence round our house
Lets make some babies, leave for Paris tonight
Lets leave tonight, lets leave tonight
I won't say that I'm unhappy with you
I won't say that I don't know what to do
I won't say that I'm unhappy with you
Take this heart and make a dream come true
I took a plane to Paris to remind me what I've lost
And I spent the day in a sidewalk café writing
I wrote thirty postcards all to you and every one said
'Having a good time, wish you were here'
I was supposed to meet Maria, but we got our signal crossed
So I walked along the Rive Gauche multiplying
I bought raspberries and the Daily News
And something to take home to make you happy
I hope it works, it'll have to
And I dreamed last night
Of how the moonlight shines in your old room
And the fight that put me on this flight that brought me here
With no one to talk to
I took myself to the cinema and mostly closed my eyes
But every now and then I paid attention
And every now and then there was a word I understood
I got the joke and that's enough for today
And I dreamed last night
Of how the moonlight shines in your old room
And the fight that put me on this flight that brought me here
With no one to talk to
I took myself to the cinema and mostly closed my eyes
But every now and then I paid attention
And every now and then there was a word I understood
I got the joke and I wrote it down and put it
Paris |
||
Motto: Fluctuat nec mergitur (Latin: "It is tossed by the waves, but does not sink") |
||
Paris, with the Eiffel Tower in the foreground and the skyscrapers of La Défense in the background | ||
|
||
City flag | City coat of arms | |
Administration | ||
---|---|---|
Country | France | |
Region | Île-de-France | |
Department | Paris | |
Mayor | Bertrand Delanoë (PS) (2008–2014) |
|
Statistics | ||
Land area1 [1] | 105.4 km2 (40.7 sq mi) | |
Population2 | 2,211,297 (Jan. 2008[2]) | |
- Ranking | 1st in France | |
- Density | 20,980 /km2 (54,300 /sq mi) | |
Urban area | 2,845 km2 (1,098 sq mi) (2010) | |
- Population | 10,354,675[3] (Jan. 2008) | |
Metro area | 17,175 km2 (6,631 sq mi) (2010) | |
- Population | 12,089,098[4] (Jan. 2008) | |
Time zone | CET (UTC +1) | |
INSEE/Postal code | 75056/ 75001-75020, 75116 | |
Website | www.paris.fr | |
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | ||
2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once. |
Coordinates: 48°51′24″N 2°21′03″E / 48.8567°N 2.3508°E / 48.8567; 2.3508
Paris (i/ˈpærɨs/; French: [paʁi] ( listen)) is the capital and largest city of France. It is situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region (or Paris Region, French: Région parisienne). As of January 2008 the city of Paris, within its administrative limits (the 20 arrondissements) largely unchanged since 1860, has an estimated population of 2,211,297[2] and a metropolitan population of 12,089,098[4], and is one of the most populated metropolitan areas in Europe.[5] Paris was the largest city in the Western world for about 1,000 years, prior to the 19th century, and the largest in the entire world between the 16th and 19th centuries.[6][7][8]
Paris is today one of the world's leading business and cultural centres, and its influences in politics, education, entertainment, media, fashion, science, and the arts all contribute to its status as one of the world's major global cities.[9][10][11][12] It hosts the headquarters of many international organizations such as UNESCO, the OECD, the International Chamber of Commerce or the European Space Agency. Paris is considered one of the greenest[13] and most liveable[14] cities in Europe. It is also one of the most expensive.[15][16]
Paris and the Paris Region, with €552.1 billion (US$768.9 billion) in 2009, produce more than a quarter of the gross domestic product of France.[17] According to 2008 estimates, the Paris agglomeration is Europe's biggest[18] or second biggest[19] city economy and the sixth largest in the world.[20] The Paris region is the first in Europe in terms of research and development capability and expenditure[21] and through its 17 universities and 55 grandes écoles has the highest concentration of higher education students in the European Union.[21] With about 42 million tourists annually in the city and its suburbs,[21] Paris is the most visited city in the world. The city and its region contain 3,800 historical monuments and four UNESCO World Heritage Sites.[21]
Contents |
The name Paris derives from that of its earliest inhabitants, the Gaulish tribe known as the Parisii. The city was called Lutetia (more fully, Lutetia Parisiorum, "Lutetia of the Parisii"), during the Roman era of the 1st to the 6th century, but during the reign of Julian the Apostate (360–363), the city was renamed Paris.[22]
It is believed that the name of the Parisii tribe comes from the Celtic Gallic word parisio meaning "the working people" or "the craftsmen."[23]
Paris has many nicknames, but its most famous is "La Ville-Lumière" ("The City of Light"),[24] a name it owes first to its fame as a centre of education and ideas during the Age of Enlightenment, and later to its early adoption of street lighting.[25] Since the mid-19th century, Paris has been known as Paname[26] ([panam]) in the Parisian slang called argot ( Moi j'suis d'Paname, i.e. "I'm from Paname"). The singer Renaud repopularized the term amongst the young generation[26] with his 1976 album Amoureux de Paname ("In love with Paname").
Paris' inhabitants are known in English as "Parisians" and in French as Parisiens ([paʁizjɛ̃] ( listen)). Parisians are often pejoratively called Parigots ([paʁiɡo] ( listen)), a term first used in 1900[27] by those living outside the Paris region.
The earliest archaeological signs of permanent settlements in the Paris area date from around 4200 BC.[28] The Parisii, a sub-tribe of the Celtic Senones, inhabited the area near the river Seine from around 250 BC.[29][30] The Romans conquered the Paris basin in 52 BC,[28] with a permanent settlement by the end of the same century on the Left Bank Sainte Geneviève Hill and the Île de la Cité. The Gallo-Roman town was originally called Lutetia, or Lutetia Parisorum but later Gallicised to Lutèce. It expanded greatly over the following centuries, becoming a prosperous city with a forum, palaces, baths, temples, theatres, and an amphitheatre.[31]
The collapse of the Roman empire and the 5th-century Germanic invasions sent the city into a period of decline. By AD 400, Lutèce, largely abandoned by its inhabitants, was little more than a garrison town entrenched into a hastily fortified central island.[28] The city reclaimed its original appellation of "Paris" towards the end of the Roman occupation.
The Paris region was under full control of the Germanic Franks by the late 5th century. The Frankish king Clovis the Frank, the first king of the Merovingian dynasty, made the city his capital from 508. The late 8th century Carolingian dynasty displaced the Frankish capital to Aachen; this period coincided with the beginning of Viking invasions that had spread as far as Paris by the early 9th century.
Repeated invasions forced Parisians to build a fortress on the Île de la Cité. One of the most remarkable Viking raids was on 28 March 845, when Paris was sacked and held ransom, probably by Ragnar Lodbrok, who left only after receiving a large bounty paid by the crown. The weakness of the late Carolingian kings of France led to the gradual rise in power of the Counts of Paris; Odo, Count of Paris, was elected king of France by feudal lords, and the end of the Carolingian empire came in 987 when Hugh Capet, count of Paris, was elected king of France. Paris, under the Capetian kings, became a capital once more.
Paris's population was around 200,000[32] when the Black Death arrived in 1348, killing as many as 800 people a day; and 40,000 died from the plague in 1466.[33] During the 16th and 17th centuries, plague visited the city for almost one year out of three.[34] Paris lost its position as seat of the French realm during the occupation by the English-allied Burgundians during the Hundred Years' War, but regained its title when Charles VII of France reclaimed the city from English rule in 1436. Paris from then on became France's capital once again in title, but France's real centre of power would remain in the Loire Valley[35] until King Francis I returned France's crown residences to Paris in 1528.
During the French Wars of Religion, Paris was a stronghold of the Catholic party. In August 1572, under the reign of Charles IX, while many noble Protestants were in Paris on the occasion of the marriage of Henry of Navarre – the future Henry IV – to Margaret of Valois, sister of Charles IX, the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre occurred; begun on 24 August, it lasted several days and spread throughout the country.[36][37]
In 1590 Henry IV unsuccessfully laid siege to the city in the Siege of Paris. During the Fronde, Parisians rose in rebellion and the royal family fled the city (1648). King Louis XIV then moved the royal court permanently to Versailles, a lavish estate on the outskirts of Paris, in 1682. A century later, Paris was the centre stage for the French Revolution, with the Storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789 and the overthrow of the monarchy in September 1792.[38]
Paris was occupied by Russian and Allied armies upon Napoleon's defeat on the 31 March 1814; this was the first time in 400 years that the city had been conquered by a foreign power.[39] The ensuing Restoration period, or the return of the monarchy under Louis XVIII (1814–1824) and Charles X, ended with the July Revolution Parisian uprising of 1830. The new 'constitutional monarchy' under Louis-Philippe ended with the 1848 "February Revolution" that led to the creation of the Second Republic.
Throughout these events, cholera epidemics in 1832 and 1849 ravaged the population of Paris; the 1832 epidemic alone claimed 20,000 of the population of 650,000.[40]
The greatest development in Paris's history began with the Industrial Revolution creation of a network of railways that brought an unprecedented flow of migrants to the capital from the 1840s. The city's largest transformation came with the 1852 Second Empire under Napoleon III; his préfet, Baron Haussmann, levelled entire districts of Paris' narrow, winding medieval streets to create the network of wide avenues and neo-classical façades that still make up much of modern Paris; the reason for this transformation was twofold, as not only did the creation of wide boulevards beautify and sanitize the capital, it also facilitated the effectiveness of troops and artillery against any further uprisings and barricades for which Paris was so famous.[41]
The Second Empire ended in the Franco-Prussian War (1870–1871), and a besieged Paris under heavy bombardment surrendered on 28 January 1871. The discontent of Paris' populace with the new armistice-signing government seated in Versailles resulted in the creation of the Paris Commune government, supported by an army created in large part of members of the city's former National Guard who would both continue resistance against the Prussians and oppose the army of the "Versaillais" government. The Paris Commune ended with the Semaine Sanglante ("Bloody Week"), during which roughly 20,000 "Communards" were executed before the fighting ended on 28 May 1871.[42] The ease with which the Versaillais army overtook Paris owed much to Baron Haussmann's renovations.
France's late 19th-century Universal Expositions made Paris an increasingly important centre of technology, trade, and tourism.[43] Its most famous were the 1889 Exposition universelle to which Paris owes its "temporary" display of architectural engineering progess, the Eiffel Tower, a structure that remained the world's tallest building until 1930; the 1900 Universal Exposition saw the opening of the first Paris Métro line.
During World War I, Paris was at the forefront of the war effort, having been spared a German invasion by the French and British victory at the First Battle of the Marne in 1914. In 1918–1919, it was the scene of Allied victory parades and peace negotiations. In the inter-war period, Paris was famed for its cultural and artistic communities and its nightlife. The city became a gathering place of artists from around the world, from exiled Russian composer Stravinsky and Spanish painters Picasso and Dalí to American writer Hemingway.[44]
On 14 June 1940, five weeks after the start of the Battle of France, an undefended Paris fell to German occupation forces. The Germans marched past the Arc de Triomphe on the 140th anniversary of Napoleon's victory at the Battle of Marengo.[45] German forces remained in Paris until the city was liberated in August 1944 after a resistance uprising, two and a half months after the Normandy invasion.[46] Central Paris endured World War II practically unscathed, as there were no strategic targets for Allied bombers (train stations in central Paris are terminal stations; major factories were located in the suburbs). Also, German General von Choltitz did not destroy all Parisian monuments before any German retreat, as ordered by Adolf Hitler, who had visited the city in 1940.[47]
In the post-war era, Paris experienced its largest development since the end of the Belle Époque in 1914. The suburbs began to expand considerably, with the construction of large social estates known as cités and the beginning of the business district La Défense. A comprehensive express subway network, the RER, was built to complement the Métro and serve the distant suburbs, while a network of freeways was developed in the suburbs, centred on the Périphérique expressway encircling the city.[48][49][50]
Since the 1970s, many inner suburbs of Paris (especially the northern and eastern ones) have experienced deindustrialization, and the once-thriving cités have gradually become ghettos for immigrants and oases of unemployment.[51][52] At the same time, the city of Paris (within its Périphérique expressway) and the western and southern suburbs have successfully shifted their economic base from traditional manufacturing to high-value-added services and high-tech manufacturing, generating great wealth for their residents whose per capita income is among the highest in Europe.[53][54][55] The resulting widening social gap between these two areas has led to periodic unrest since the mid-1980s, such as the 2005 riots which were concentrated for the most part in the northeastern suburbs.[56]
Diana, Princess of Wales, died at the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris on 31 August 1997, after a car crash in the Pont de l'Alma tunnel.[57]
In order to alleviate social tensions in the inner suburbs and revitalise the metropolitan economy of Paris, several plans are currently underway. The office of Secretary of State for the Development of the Capital Region was created in March 2008 within the French government. Its office holder, Christian Blanc, is in charge of overseeing President Nicolas Sarkozy's plans for the creation of an integrated Grand Paris ("Greater Paris") metropolitan authority (see Administration section below), as well as the extension of the subway network to cope with the renewed growth of population in Paris and its suburbs, and various economic development projects to boost the metropolitan economy, such as the creation of a world-class technology and scientific cluster and university campus on the Saclay plateau in the southern suburbs.
In parallel, President Sarkozy also launched in 2008 an international urban and architectural competition for the future development of metropolitan Paris. Ten teams, which bring together architects, urban planners, geographers, and landscape architects, will offer their vision for building a Paris metropolis of the 21st century in the Kyoto Protocol era and will make a prospective diagnosis for Paris and its suburbs that will define future developments in Greater Paris for the next 40 years. The goal is not only to build an environmentally sustainable metropolis but also to integrate the inner suburbs with the central City of Paris through large-scale urban planning operations and iconic architectural projects.
Meanwhile, in an effort to boost the global economic image of metropolitan Paris, several skyscrapers (300 m (984 ft) and higher) have been approved since 2006 in the business district of La Défense, to the west of the city proper, and are scheduled to be completed by the early 2010s. Paris authorities also stated publicly that they are planning to authorise the construction of skyscrapers within the city proper by relaxing the cap on building height for the first time since the construction of the Tour Montparnasse in the early 1970s.
The election of Bertrand Delanoë made Paris the world's largest city with an openly LGBT mayor at the time.
Paris is located in the north-bending arc of the river Seine and includes two islands, the Île Saint-Louis and the larger Île de la Cité, which form the oldest part of the city. Overall, the city is relatively flat, and the lowest point is 35 m (115 ft) above sea level. Paris has several prominent hills, of which the highest is Montmartre at 130 m (427 ft).[58]
Excluding the outlying parks of Bois de Boulogne and Bois de Vincennes, Paris covers an oval measuring 86.928 km2 (34 sq mi) in area.[citation needed] The city's last major annexation of outlying territories in 1860 not only gave it its modern form but also created the twenty clockwise-spiralling arrondissements (municipal boroughs). From the 1860 area of 78 km2 (30 sq mi), the city limits were expanded marginally to 86.9 km2 (34 sq mi) in the 1920s. In 1929, the Bois de Boulogne and Bois de Vincennes forest parks were officially annexed to the city, bringing its area to the present 105.39 km2 (41 sq mi).[59]
Paris has the typical Western European oceanic climate which is affected by the North Atlantic Current. Over a year, Paris' climate can be described as mild and moderately wet.
Summer days are usually warm and pleasant with average temperatures hovering between 15 and 25 °C, and a fair amount of sunshine. Each year, however, there are a few days where the temperature rises above 32 °C (90 °F). Some years have even witnessed some long periods of harsh summer weather, such as the heat wave of 2003 where temperatures exceeded 30 °C (86 °F) for weeks, surged up to 40 °C (104 °F) on some days and seldom cooled down at night. More recently, the average temperature for July 2011 was +17.6 °C, with an average minimum temperature of 12.9 °C and an average maximum temperature of 23.7 °C.[60]
Spring and autumn have, on average, mild days and fresh nights, but are changing and unstable. Surprisingly warm or cool weather occurs frequently in both seasons.
In winter, sunshine is scarce; days are cold but generally above freezing with temperatures around 7 °C (45 °F). Light night frosts are however quite common, but the temperature will dip below −5 °C (23 °F) for only a few days a year. Snowfall is rare, but the city sometimes sees light snow or flurries with or without accumulation. Recently, notably in 2009, 2010 and 2011, intense cold waves brought repeated heavy snowfalls (15 cm (5.91 in) during one of December 2010's fourteen snowstorms) and temperatures plummeting to −10 °C (14 °F) and −20 °C (−4 °F) in the Paris suburbs.
Rain falls throughout the year, and although Paris is not a very rainy city, it is known for heavy sudden showers. Average annual precipitation is 652 mm (25.7 in) with light rainfall fairly distributed throughout the year. The highest recorded temperature is 40.4 °C (105 °F) on 28 July 1948, and the lowest is a −23.9 °C (−11 °F) on 10 December 1879.[61]
Climate data for Paris (1971–2000) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 16.1 (61.0) |
21.4 (70.5) |
25.7 (78.3) |
30.2 (86.4) |
34.8 (94.6) |
37.6 (99.7) |
40.4 (104.7) |
39.5 (103.1) |
36.2 (97.2) |
28.4 (83.1) |
21 (70) |
17.1 (62.8) |
40.4 (104.7) |
Average high °C (°F) | 6.9 (44.4) |
8.2 (46.8) |
11.8 (53.2) |
14.7 (58.5) |
19.0 (66.2) |
22.7 (72.9) |
25.2 (77.4) |
25.0 (77.0) |
20.8 (69.4) |
15.8 (60.4) |
10.4 (50.7) |
7.8 (46.0) |
15.5 (59.9) |
Average low °C (°F) | 2.5 (36.5) |
2.8 (37.0) |
5.1 (41.2) |
6.8 (44.2) |
10.5 (50.9) |
13.3 (55.9) |
15.5 (59.9) |
15.4 (59.7) |
12.5 (54.5) |
9.2 (48.6) |
5.3 (41.5) |
3.6 (38.5) |
8.5 (47.3) |
Record low °C (°F) | −14.6 (5.7) |
−14.7 (5.5) |
−9.1 (15.6) |
−3.5 (25.7) |
−0.1 (31.8) |
3.1 (37.6) |
6 (43) |
6.3 (43.3) |
1.8 (35.2) |
−3.1 (26.4) |
−14 (7) |
−23.9 (−11.0) |
−23.9 (−11.0) |
Precipitation mm (inches) | 53.7 (2.114) |
43.7 (1.72) |
48.5 (1.909) |
53 (2.09) |
65 (2.56) |
54.6 (2.15) |
63.1 (2.484) |
43 (1.69) |
54.7 (2.154) |
59.7 (2.35) |
51.9 (2.043) |
58.7 (2.311) |
649.6 (25.575) |
Avg. precipitation days | 10.2 | 9.3 | 10.4 | 9.4 | 10.3 | 8.6 | 8 | 6.9 | 8.5 | 9.5 | 9.7 | 10.7 | 111.5 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 55.8 | 86.8 | 130.2 | 174.0 | 201.5 | 219.0 | 238.7 | 220.1 | 171.0 | 127.1 | 75.0 | 49.6 | 1,630 |
Source: Meteo France[62] |
Much of contemporary Paris is the result of the vast mid-19th century urban remodelling. For centuries, the city had been a labyrinth of narrow streets and half-timber houses, but, beginning with Haussman's advent, entire quarters were leveled to make way for wide avenues lined with neo-classical stone buildings of bourgeoisie standing. Most of this 'new' Paris is the Paris we see today.
The building code has seen few changes since, and the Second Empire plans are in many cases still followed. The "alignement" law is still in place, which regulates building façades of new constructions according to a pre-defined street width. A building's height is limited according to the width of the streets it borders, and under the regulation, it is difficult to get an approval to build a taller building.
Many of Paris' important institutions are located outside the city limits. The financial (La Défense) business district; the main food wholesale market (Rungis); schools (École Polytechnique; ESSEC; INSEAD; HEC); research laboratories (in Saclay or Évry); the largest stadium (the Stade de France), and the government offices (Ministry of Transportation) are located in the city's suburbs.
Three of the most famous Parisian landmarks are the 12th-century cathedral Notre Dame de Paris on the Île de la Cité, the Napoleonic Arc de Triomphe and the 19th-century Eiffel Tower. The Eiffel Tower was a "temporary" construction by Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 Universal Exposition, but the tower was never dismantled and is now an enduring symbol of Paris. The Historical axis is a line of monuments, buildings, and thoroughfares that run in a roughly straight line from the city-centre westwards.
The line of monuments begins with the Louvre and continues through the Tuileries Gardens, the Champs-Élysées, and the Arc de Triomphe, centred in the Place de l'Étoile circus. From the 1960s, the line was prolonged even farther west to the La Défense business district dominated by a square-shaped triumphal Grande Arche of its own; this district hosts most of the tallest skyscrapers in the Paris urban area. The Invalides museum is the burial place for many great French soldiers, including Napoleon; and the Panthéon church is where many of France's illustrious men and women are buried.
The former Conciergerie prison held some prominent Ancien Régime members before their deaths during the French Revolution. Another symbol of the Revolution are the two Statues of Liberty located on the Île aux Cygnes on the Seine and in the Luxembourg Garden. A larger version of the statues was sent as a gift from France to America in 1886 and now stands in New York City's harbour.
The Palais Garnier, built in the later Second Empire period, houses the Paris Opéra and the Paris Opera Ballet, while the former palace of the Louvre now houses one of the most renowned museums in the world. The Sorbonne is the most famous part of the University of Paris and is based in the centre of the Latin Quarter. Apart from Notre Dame de Paris, there are several other ecclesiastical masterpieces, including the Gothic 13th-century Sainte-Chapelle palace chapel and the Église de la Madeleine.
Two of Paris' oldest and famous gardens are the Tuileries Garden, created in the 16th century for a palace on the banks of the Seine near the Louvre, and the Left bank Luxembourg Garden, another former private garden belonging to a château built for Marie de' Medici in 1612. The Jardin des Plantes, created by Louis XIII's doctor Guy de La Brosse for the cultivation of medicinal plants, was Paris' first public garden.
A few of Paris' other large gardens are Second Empire creations: The former suburban parks of Montsouris, Parc des Buttes Chaumont, and Parc Monceau (formerly known as the "folie de Chartres") are creations of Napoleon III's engineer Jean-Charles Alphand. Another project executed under the orders of Baron Haussmann was the re-sculpting of Paris' western Bois de Boulogne forest-parklands; the Bois de Vincennes, on the city's opposite eastern end, received a similar treatment in years following.
Newer additions to Paris' park landscape are the Parc de la Villette, built by the architect Bernard Tschumi on the location of Paris' former slaughterhouses; the Parc André Citroën, and gardens being laid to the periphery along the traces of its former circular "Petite Ceinture" railway line: Promenade Plantée.
Paris in its early history had only the Seine and Bièvre rivers for water. Later forms of irrigation were a 1st-century Roman aqueduct from southerly Wissous (later left to ruin); sources from the Right bank hills from the late 11th century; from the 15th century, an aqueduct built roughly along the path of the abandoned Wissous aqueduct; also, from 1809, the canal de l'Ourcq, providing Paris with water from less-polluted rivers to the northeast of the capital, and "God's Tears", a bi-annual rainstorm, which stopped in the early 20th century as a natural phenomenon. Paris would have its first constant and plentiful source of drinkable water only from the late 19th century.
From 1857, the civil engineer Eugène Belgrand, under Napoleon III's Préfet Haussmann, oversaw the construction of a series of new aqueducts that brought water from locations all around the city to several reservoirs built atop the Capital's highest points of elevation. From then on, the new reservoir system became Paris' principal source of drinking water, and the remains of the old system, pumped into lower levels of the same reservoirs, were from then on used for the cleaning of Paris' streets. This system is still a major part of Paris' modern water-supply network.
Paris has over 2,400 km (1,491 mi) of underground passageways[63] dedicated to the evacuation of Paris' liquid wastes. Most of these date from the late 19th century, a result of the combined plans of the Préfet Baron Haussmann and the civil engineer Eugène Belgrand to improve the then-very unsanitary conditions in the Capital. Maintained by a round-the-clock service since their construction, only a small percentage of Paris' sewer réseau has needed complete renovation.[citation needed]
In 1982, then mayor Jacques Chirac introduced the motorcycle-mounted Motocrotte to remove dog faeces from Paris streets.[64] The project was abandoned in 2002 for a new and better enforced local law which now fines dog owners up to 500 euros for not removing their dog faeces. It was estimated at the time of their removal, that the fleet of 70 Motocrottes were cleaning up only 20% of dog faeces on Parisian street – at an annual cost of £3million.[65]
Paris' main cemetery was located to its outskirts on its Left Bank from the beginning of its history[citation needed], but this changed with the rise of Catholicism and the construction of churches towards the city-centre, many of them having adjoining burial grounds for use by their parishes. Generations of a growing city population soon filled these cemeteries to overflowing, creating sometimes very unsanitary conditions.
Condemned from 1786, the contents of all Paris' parish cemeteries were transferred to a renovated section of Paris' then suburban stone mines outside the Left Bank "Porte d'Enfer" city gate (today 14th arrondissement's place Denfert-Rochereau). Part of this network of tunnels and remains can be visited today on the official tour of the Catacombs. After a tentative creation of several smaller suburban cemeteries, Napoleon Bonaparte provided a more definitive solution in the creation of three massive Parisian cemeteries outside the city tax wall called the Wall of the Farmers-General. Open from 1804, these were the cemeteries of Père Lachaise, Montmartre, Montparnasse, and later Passy.
When Paris annexed all communes to the inside of its much larger ring of suburban fortifications in 1860, its cemeteries were once again within its city walls. New suburban cemeteries were created in the early 20th century: The largest of these are the Cimetière Parisien de Saint-Ouen, the Cimetière Parisien de Bobigny-Pantin, the Cimetière Parisien d'Ivry, and the Cimetière Parisien de Bagneux.
The largest opera houses of Paris are the 19th century Opéra Garnier (historical Paris Opéra) and modern Opéra Bastille; the former tends towards the more classic ballets and operas, and the latter provides a mixed repertoire of classic and modern. In middle of 19th century, there were two other active and competing opera houses: Opéra-Comique (which still exists to this day) and Théâtre Lyrique (which in modern times changed its profile and name to Théâtre de la Ville).
Theatre traditionally has occupied a large place in Parisian culture. This still holds true today, and many of its most popular actors today are also stars of French television. Some of Paris' major theatres include Bobino, Théâtre Mogador, and the Théâtre de la Gaîté-Montparnasse. Some Parisian theatres have also doubled as concert halls. Many of France's greatest musical legends, such as Édith Piaf, Maurice Chevalier, Georges Brassens, and Charles Aznavour, found their fame in Parisian concert halls: Legendary yet still-showing examples of these are Le Lido, Bobino, l'Olympia and le Splendid.
The Élysées-Montmartre, much reduced from its original size, is a concert hall today. The New Morning is one of few Parisian clubs still holding jazz concerts, but the same also specialises in "indie" music. In more recent times, the Le Zénith hall in Paris, La Villette quarter and a "parc-omnisports" stadium in Bercy serve as large-scale rock concert halls.
Several yearly festivals take place in Paris, such as Rock en Seine. Parisians tend to share the same movie-going trends as many of the world's global cities, that is to say with a dominance of Hollywood-generated film entertainment. French cinema comes a close second, with major directors (réalisateurs) such as Claude Lelouch, François Truffaut, Jean-Luc Godard, Claude Chabrol, and Luc Besson, and the more slapstick/popular genre with director Claude Zidi as an example. European and Asian films are also widely shown and appreciated. A specialty of Paris is its very large network of small movie theatres. In a given week, the movie fan has the choice between around 300 old or new movies from all over the world.
Many of Paris' concert/dance halls were transformed into movie theatres when the media became popular beginning in the 1930s. Later, most of the largest cinemas were divided into multiple, smaller rooms: Paris' largest cinema today is by far le Grand Rex theatre with 2,800 seats, whereas other cinemas all have fewer than 1,000 seats. There is now a trend toward modern multiplexes that contain more than 10 or 20 screens.
Paris' culinary reputation has its base in the diverse origins of its inhabitants. In its beginnings, it owed much to the 19th-century organisation of a railway system that had Paris as a centre, making the capital a focal point for immigration from France's many different regions and gastronomical cultures. This reputation continues through today in a cultural diversity that has since spread to a worldwide level thanks to Paris' continued reputation for culinary finesse and further immigration from increasingly distant climes.
Hotels were another result of widespread travel and tourism, especially Paris' late-19th-century Expositions Universelles (World's Fairs). Of the most luxurious of these, the Hôtel Ritz appeared in the Place Vendôme in 1898, and the Hôtel de Crillon opened its doors on the north side of the Place de la Concorde, starting in 1909.
Paris, Banks of the Seine * | |
---|---|
Notre Dame de Paris on the Île de la Cité, on the River Seine |
|
Country | France |
Type | Cultural |
Criteria | i, ii, iv |
Reference | 600 |
Region ** | Europe and North America |
Inscription history | |
Inscription | 1991 (15th Session) |
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List ** Region as classified by UNESCO |
Since 1848, Paris has been a popular destination by rail network, with Paris at its centre. Among Paris' first mass attractions drawing international interest were the above-mentioned Expositions Universelles that were the origin of Paris' many monuments, namely the Eiffel Tower from 1889. These, in addition to the capital's Second Empire embellishments, did much to make the city itself the attraction it is today.
Paris receives around 28 million tourists per year[66] (42 in the whole Paris Region),[21] of which 17 million are foreign visitors.[67] Its museums and monuments are among its highest-esteemed attractions; tourism has motivated both the city and national governments to create new ones. The city's most prized museum, the Louvre, welcomes over 8 million visitors a year, being by far the world's most-visited art museum. The city's cathedrals are another main attraction: Notre Dame de Paris and the Basilique du Sacré-Coeur receive 12 million and eight million visitors, respectively. The Eiffel Tower, by far Paris' most famous monument, averages over six million visitors per year and more than 200 million since its construction. Disneyland Paris is a major tourist attraction for visitors to not only Paris but also the rest of Europe, with 14.5 million visitors in 2007.
The Louvre is one of the world's largest and most famous museums, housing many works of art, including the Mona Lisa (La Joconde) and the Venus de Milo statue. Works by Pablo Picasso and Auguste Rodin are found in Musée Picasso and Musée Rodin, respectively, while the artistic community of Montparnasse is chronicled at the Musée du Montparnasse. Starkly apparent with its service-pipe exterior, the Centre Georges Pompidou, also known as Beaubourg, houses the Musée National d'Art Moderne.
Art and artifacts from the Middle Ages and Impressionist eras are kept in Musée Cluny and Musée d'Orsay, respectively, the former with the prized tapestry cycle The Lady and the Unicorn. Paris' newest (and third-largest) museum, the Musée du quai Branly, opened its doors in June 2006 and houses art from Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas.
Many of Paris' once-popular local establishments have come to cater to the tastes and expectations of tourists, rather than local patrons. Le Lido, the Moulin Rouge cabaret-dancehall, for example, is a staged dinner theatre spectacle, a dance display that was once but one aspect of the cabaret's former atmosphere. All of the establishment's former social or cultural elements, such as its ballrooms and gardens, are gone today. Much of Paris' hotel, restaurant and night entertainment trades have become heavily dependent on tourism.
Paris' most popular sport clubs are the association football club Paris Saint-Germain FC, the basketball team Paris-Levallois Basket, and the rugby union club Stade Français. The 80,000-seat Stade de France, built for the 1998 FIFA World Cup, is located in Saint-Denis. It is used for football, rugby union and track and field athletics. It hosts annually French national rugby team's home matches of the Six Nations Championship, French national association football team for friendlies and major tournaments qualifiers, and several important matches of the Stade Français rugby team.
In addition to Paris Saint-Germain FC, the city has a number of other amateur football clubs: Paris FC, Red Star, RCF Paris and Stade Français Paris. The last is the football section of the omnisport club of the same name, most notable for its rugby team.
The Paris region currently boasts two teams in the top level of French rugby union, Top 14. Currently, the most prominent side is Stade Français, which is also the only one of the two to be based in the city proper. The other Top 14 team in the region is Racing Métro 92, currently based in the western suburb of Colombes. Racing Métro is the successor to Racing Club de France, which contested the first-ever French championship final against Stade Français in 1892.
Paris also hosted the 1900 and 1924 Olympic Games and was venue for the 1938 and 1998 FIFA World Cups and for the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
Although the starting point and the route of the famous Tour de France varies each year, the final stage always finishes in Paris, and, since 1975, the race has finished on the Champs-Elysées. Tennis is another popular sport in Paris and throughout France. The French Open, held every year on the red clay of the Roland Garros National Tennis Centre near the Bois de Boulogne, is one of the four Grand Slam events of the world professional tennis tour. The 2006 UEFA Champions League Final between Arsenal and FC Barcelona was played in the Stade de France. Paris hosted the 2007 Rugby World Cup final at Stade de France on 20 October 2007.
With a 2009 GDP of €552.1 billion[17] (US$768.9 billion), the Paris region has one of the highest GDPs in Europe, making it an engine of the global economy; were it a country, it would rank as the seventeenth-largest economy in the world, almost as large as the Dutch economy.[68] The Paris Region is France's premier centre of economic activity: While its population accounted for 18.8% of the total population of metropolitan France in 2009,[69] its GDP accounted for 29.5% of metropolitan France's GDP.[17] Activity in the Paris urban area, though diverse, does not have a leading specialised industry (such as Los Angeles with entertainment industries or London and New York with financial industries in addition to their other activities). Recently, the Paris economy has been shifting towards high-value-added service industries (finance, IT services, etc.) and high-tech manufacturing (electronics, optics, aerospace, etc.).
The Paris region's most intense economic activity through the central Hauts-de-Seine département and suburban La Défense business district places Paris' economic centre to the west of the city, in a triangle between the Opéra Garnier, La Défense (the largest dedicated business district in Europe.[70]), and the Val de Seine. Paris' administrative borders have little consequences on the limits of its economic activity: Although most workers commute from the suburbs to work in the city, many commute from the city to work in the suburbs. While the Paris economy is largely dominated by services, it remains an important manufacturing powerhouse of Europe, especially in industrial sectors such as automobiles, aeronautics, and electronics. Over recent decades, the local economy has moved towards high-value-added activities, in particular business services. The city is considered one of the best cities in the world for innovation.[71]. The Paris Region hosts the headquarters of 33 of the Fortune Global 500 companies.[72]
The 1999 census indicated that, of the 5,089,170 persons employed in the Paris urban area, 16.5% worked in business services; 13.0% in commerce (retail and wholesale trade); 12.3% in manufacturing; 10.0% in public administrations and defence; 8.7% in health services; 8.2% in transportation and communications; 6.6% in education, and the remaining 24.7% in many other economic sectors. In the manufacturing sector, the largest employers were the electronic and electrical industry (17.9% of the total manufacturing workforce in 1999) and the publishing and printing industry (14.0% of the total manufacturing workforce), with the remaining 68.1% of the manufacturing workforce distributed among many other industries. Tourism and tourist related services employ 6.2% of Paris' workforce, and 3.6% of all workers within the Paris Region.[73] Unemployment in the Paris "immigrant ghettos" ranges from 20 to 40%, according to varying sources.[74]
This unreferenced section requires citations to ensure verifiability. |
Health care and emergency medical service in the city of Paris and its suburbs are provided by the Assistance publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), a public hospital system that employs more than 90,000 people (practitioners and administratives) in 44 hospitals. It is the largest hospital system in Europe.
Paris Ouest (ie: Western Paris) is an expression referring to the wealthiest, most exclusive and prestigious residential area of France.
Located in the central and western part of Paris, it roughly follows Paris' Voie Royale (Royal Way) or Axe historique (historical axis): a line of monuments, buildings and thoroughfares that extends from the former royal Palace of the Louvre through the Tuileries, the Place de la Concorde, the Champs Élysées, the Place de l'Etoile and all the way to Neuilly-sur-Seine.
Paris Ouest has long been known as French high society's favorite place of residence, comparable to New York's Upper East Side, LA's Beverly Hills[75] or London's Mayfair and Belgravia, to such an extent that the phrase "Paris Ouest" has been associated with great wealth, elitism and social hegemony in French popular culture as well as in some masterpieces of French literature such as Balzac's La comédie humaine or Proust's In Search of Lost Time.
The cultural, social and economic influence[76] of the area has played a prominent role throughout French history and is still highly vivid in nowadays' French elite. Paris Ouest's standards of life were also highly influential in educating foreign elites, especially in Europe, Russia and Northern America (see Frick Collection). And so Paris Ouest should be seen as not only a geographic area but also a social attitude[77] symbolized by French high society's habits and way of life.
The "Rive Gauche" (Left Bank of the Seine) generally implies a sense of bohemianism and creativity as it was the Paris of artists, writers, philosophers and students. The counterpart of the Rive Gauche of Paris is the Rive Droite (Right Bank), a term used to refer to a level of elegance and sophistication not found in the more bohemian Left Bank.
|
||||
Île-de-France departments | ||||
Areas | Population 2008 census |
Area |
Density |
1999-2008 pop. growth |
City of Paris (department 75) |
2,211,297 | 105 km2 (41 sq mi) | 20,169 /km2 (52,240 /sq mi) | +0.45%/year |
Inner ring (Petite couronne) (Depts. 92, 93, 94) |
4,366,961 | 657 km2 (254 sq mi) | 6,647 /km2 (17,220 /sq mi) | +0.89%/year |
Outer ring (Grande couronne) (Depts. 77, 78, 91, 95) |
5,081,002 | 11,250 km2 (4,344 sq mi) | 452 /km2 (1,170 /sq mi) | +0.68%/year |
Île-de-France (entire region) |
11,659,260 | 12,012 km2 (4,638 sq mi) | 971 /km2 (2,510 /sq mi) | +0.71%/year |
Statistical Areas (INSEE 2008 census) | ||||
Areas | Population 2008 census |
Area | Density |
1999-2008 pop. growth |
Urban area (Paris agglomeration) |
10,354,675 | 2,845 km2 (1,098 sq mi) | 3,640 /km2 (9,400 /sq mi) | +0.70%/year |
Metro area (Paris metropolitan area) |
12,089,098 | 17,175 km2 (6,631 sq mi) | 704 /km2 (1,820 /sq mi) | +0.71%/year |
The population of the city of Paris was 2,125,246 at the 1999 census, lower than its historical peak of 2.9 million in 1921. The city's population loss mirrors the experience of most other core cities in the developed world that have not expanded their boundaries. The principal factors in the process are a significant decline in household size, and a dramatic migration of residents to the suburbs between 1962 and 1975.
Factors in the migration include de-industrialisation, high rent, the gentrification of many inner quarters, the transformation of living space into offices, and greater affluence among working families. The city's population loss was one of the most severe among international municipalities and the largest for any that had achieved more than 2,000,000 residents. These losses are generally seen as negative for the city; the city administration is trying to reverse them with some success, as the population estimate of July 2004 showed a population increase for the first time since 1954, reaching a total of 2,144,700 inhabitants.
Paris is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. Its density, excluding the outlying woodland parks of Boulogne and Vincennes, was 24,448 inhabitants per square kilometre (63,320/sq mi) in the 1999 official census, which could be compared only with some Asian megapoli. Even including the two woodland areas, its population density was 20,164 inhabitants per square kilometre (52,224.5/sq mi), the fifth-most-densely populated commune in France following Le Pré-Saint-Gervais, Vincennes, Levallois-Perret, and Saint-Mandé, all of which border the city proper.
The most sparsely populated quarters are the western and central office and administration-focussed arrondissements. The city's population is densest in the northern and eastern arrondissements; the 11th arrondissement had a density of 40,672 inhabitants per square kilometre (105,340/sq mi) in 1999, and some of the same arrondissement's eastern quarters had densities close to 100,000/km2 (260,000/sq mi) in the same year.
The city of Paris covers an area much smaller than the urban area of which it is the core. At present, Paris' real urbanisation, defined by the pôle urbain (urban area) statistical area, covers 2,845 km2 (1,098 sq mi),[78] or an area about 27 times larger than the city itself. The administration of Paris' urban growth is divided between itself and its surrounding départements: Paris' closest ring of three adjoining departments, or petite couronne ("small ring") are fully saturated with urban growth, and the ring of four departments outside of these, the grande couronne départements, are only covered in their inner regions by Paris' urbanisation. These eight départements form the larger administrative Île-de-France région; most of this region is filled, and overextended in places, by the Paris aire urbaine.
The Paris agglomeration has shown a steady rate of growth since the end of the late 16th century French Wars of Religion, save brief setbacks during the French Revolution and World War II[citation needed]. Suburban development has accelerated in recent years: With an estimated total of 11.4 million inhabitants for 2005, the Île-de-France région shows a rate of growth double that of the 1990s.[79][80]
By law, French censuses do not ask questions regarding ethnicity or religion, but do gather information concerning one's country of birth. From this it is still possible to determine that Paris and its aire urbaine (metropolitan area) is one of the most multi-cultural in Europe: At the 1999 census, 19.4% of its total population was born outside of metropolitan France.[81] At the same census, 4.2% of the Paris aire urbaine's population were recent immigrants (people who had immigrated to France between 1990 and 1999),[82] the majority from Asia and Africa.[83] 37% of all immigrants in France live in the Paris region.[74]
The first wave of international migration to Paris started as early as 1820 with the arrivals of German peasants fleeing an agricultural crisis in their homeland. Several waves of immigration followed continuously until today: Italians and central European Jews during the 19th century; Russians after the revolution of 1917 and Armenians fleeing genocide in the Ottoman Empire;[84] colonial citizens during World War I and later; Poles between the two world wars; Spaniards, Italians, Portuguese, and North Africans from the 1950s to the 1970s; North African Jews after the independence of those countries; Africans and Asians since then.[85]
The Paris metropolitan region or "aire urbaine" is estimated to be home to some 1.7 million Muslims of all races, making up between 10%–15% of the area's population. However, without official data, the margin of error of these estimates is extremely high as it is based on one's country of birth (someone born in a Muslim country or born to a parent from a Muslim country is considered as a "potential Muslim").[86] According to the North American Jewish Data Bank, an estimated 310,000 Jews also live in Paris and the surrounding Île-de-France region, an area with a population of 11.7 million inhabitants. Paris has historically been a magnet for immigrants, hosting one of the largest concentrations of immigrants in Europe today.[87][88][89]
According to INSEE, French National Institute for Statistics and Economic Studies, responsible for the production and analysis of official statistics in France, 20% of people living in the city of Paris are immigrants and 41.3% of people under 20 have at least one immigrant parent.[90] Among the young people under 18, 12.1% are of Maghrebi origin, 9.9% of Subsaharan African origin (not including persons from French West Indies) and 4.0% of South European origin.[91] About four million people, or 35% of the population of the Île-de-France, are either immigrants (17%) or have at least one immigrant parent (18%).[92] According to a study in 2008, nearly 56% of all newborns in Île-de-France in 2007 had at least one parent of immigrant origin.[93]
Département | Immigrants | Children under 20 with at least one immigrant parent | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Number | % département | % Île-de-France | Number | % département | % Île-de-France | |
Paris (75) | 436'576 | 20 | 22.4 | 162'635 | 41.3 | 15.4 |
Seine-Saint-Denis (93) | 394'831 | 26.5 | 20.2 | 234'837 | 57.1 | 22.2 |
Hauts-de-Seine (92) | 250'190 | 16.3 | 12.8 | 124'501 | 34 | 11.8 |
Val-de-Marne (94) | 234'633 | 18.1 | 12 | 127'701 | 40 | 12.1 |
Val-d’Oise (95) | 185'890 | 16.1 | 9.5 | 124'644 | 38.5 | 11.8 |
Yvelines (78) | 161'869 | 11.6 | 8.3 | 98'755 | 26.4 | 9.3 |
Essonne (91) | 150'980 | 12.6 | 7.7 | 94'003 | 29.6 | 8.9 |
Seine-et-Marne (77) | 135'654 | 10.7 | 7 | 90'319 | 26 | 8.5 |
Île-de-France | 1'950'623 | 16.9 | 100 | 1'057'394 | 37.1 | 100 |
(source : Insee, EAR 2006)
Reading: 436 576 immigrants live in Paris, representing 20 % of Parisians and 22.4 % of immigrants in Île-de-France. 162 635 children under 20 with at least one immigrant parent live in Paris, representing 41.3% of the total of children under 20 in Paris and 15.4 % of the total of children under 20 with at least one immigrant parent in Île-de-France.
Paris, its administrative limits unchanged since 1860 (save for the addition of two large parks), is one of a few cities that have not evolved politically with their real demographic growth; this issue is at present being discussed in plans for a "Grand Paris" (Greater Paris) that will extend Paris' administrative limits to embrace much more of its urban tissue.[94]
Paris is the seat of France's national government. For the executive, the two chief officers each have their own official residences, which also serve as their offices. The President of France resides at the Élysée Palace in the 8th arrondissement, while the Prime Minister's seat is at the Hôtel Matignon in the 7th arrondissement. Government ministries are located in various parts of the city; many are located in the 7th arrondissement, near the Matignon.
The two houses of the French Parliament are also located on the Left Bank. The upper house, the Senate, meets in the Palais du Luxembourg in the 6th arrondissement, while the more important lower house, the Assemblée Nationale, meets in the Palais Bourbon in the 7th. The President of the Senate, the second-highest public official in France after the President of the Republic, resides in the "Petit Luxembourg", a smaller palace annex to the Palais du Luxembourg.[citation needed]
France's highest courts are located in Paris. The Court of Cassation, the highest court in the judicial order, which reviews criminal and civil cases, is located in the Palais de Justice on the Île de la Cité, while the Conseil d'État, which provides legal advice to the executive and acts as the highest court in the administrative order, judging litigation against public bodies, is located in the Palais Royal in the 1st arrondissement.[citation needed]
The Constitutional Council, an advisory body with ultimate authority on the constitutionality of laws and government decrees, also meets in the Palais Royal.[citation needed]
Paris has been a commune (municipality) since 1834 (and also briefly between 1790 and 1795). At the 1790 division (during the French Revolution) of France into communes, and again in 1834, Paris was a city only half its modern size, but, in 1860, it annexed bordering communes, some entirely, to create the new administrative map of twenty municipal arrondissements the city still has today. These municipal subdivisions describe a clockwise spiral outward from its most central, the 1st arrondissement.[citation needed]
In 1790, Paris became the préfecture (seat) of the Seine département, which covered much of the Paris region. In 1968, it was split into four smaller ones: The city of Paris became a distinct département of its own, retaining the Seine's departmental number of 75 (originating from the Seine département's position in France's alphabetical list), while three new départements of Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-Saint-Denis and Val-de-Marne were created and given the numbers 92, 93, and 94, respectively. The result of this division is that today Paris' limits as a département are exactly those of its limits as a commune, a situation unique in France.[citation needed]
Each of Paris' twenty arrondissements has a directly elected council (conseil d'arrondissement), which, in turn, elects an arrondissement mayor. A selection of members from each arrondissement council form the Council of Paris (conseil de Paris), which, in turn, elects the mayor of Paris.
In medieval times, Paris was governed by a merchant-elected municipality whose head was the provost of the merchants. In addition to regulating city commerce, the provost of the merchants was responsible for some civic duties such as the guarding of city walls and the cleaning of city streets. The creation of the provost of Paris from the 13th century diminished the merchant Provost's responsibilities and powers considerably.
Party | Seats | |
---|---|---|
• | Socialist Party | 72 |
Union for a Popular Movement | 55 | |
• | The Greens | 9 |
• | French Communist Party | 8 |
New Centre | 8 | |
• | Citizen and Republican Movement | 5 |
• | Miscellaneous Left | 2 |
• | Left Party | 2 |
MoDem | 1 |
A direct representative of the king, in a role resembling somewhat the préfet of later years, the Provost (prévôt) of Paris oversaw the application and execution of law and order in the city and its surrounding prévôté (county) from his office in the Grand Châtelet. Many functions from both provost offices were transferred to the office of the crown-appointed lieutenant general of police upon its creation in 1667. For centuries, the prévôt and magistrates of the Châtelet clashed with the administrators of the Hôtel de Ville over jurisdiction;[95] the latter notably included the quartiniers, each of whom was responsible for one of the sixteen quartiers (which were in turn divided into four cinquantaines, each with its cinquantainier, and those in turn were divided into dizaines, administered by dizainiers):
All of these men were in principle elected by the local bourgeois. At any one time, therefore, 336 men had shared administrative responsibility for street cleaning and maintenance, for public health, law, and order. The quartiniers maintained the official lists of bourgeois de Paris, ran local elections, could impose fines for breaches of the bylaws, and had a role in tax assessment. They met at the Hôtel de Ville to confer on matters of citywide importance and each year selected eight of "the most notable inhabitants of the quarter", who together with other local officials would elect the city council.[96]
Even though in the course of the 18th century these elections became purely ceremonial, choosing candidates already selected by the royal government, the memory of genuine municipal independence remained strong: "The Hôtel de Ville continued to bulk large in the awareness of bourgeois Parisians, its importance extending far beyond its real role in city government."[97]
Paris' last Prévôt des marchands was assassinated the afternoon of the 14 July 1789 uprising that was the French Revolution Storming of the Bastille. Paris became an official "commune" from the creation of the administrative division on 14 December the same year, and its provisional "Paris commune" revolutionary municipality was replaced with the city's first municipal constitution and government from 9 October 1790.[98] Through the turmoil of the 1794 Thermidorian Reaction, it became apparent that revolutionary Paris' political independence was a threat to any governing power: The office of mayor was abolished the same year, and its municipal council one year later.
Although the municipal council was recreated in 1834, for most of the 19th and 20th centuries, Paris — along with the larger Seine département of which it was a centre — was under the direct control of the state-appointed préfet of the Seine, in charge of general affairs there; the state-appointed Prefect of Police was in charge of police in the same jurisdiction. Save for a few brief occasions, the city did not have a mayor until 1977, and the Paris Prefecture of Police is still under state control today.
Despite its dual existence as commune and département, Paris has a single council to govern both; the Council of Paris, presided over by the mayor of Paris, meets as either as a municipal council (conseil municipal) or a departmental council (conseil général), depending on the issue to be debated.
Paris' modern administrative organisation still retains some traces of the former Seine département jurisdiction. The Prefecture of Police (also directing Paris' fire brigades), for example, has still a jurisdiction extending to Paris' petite couronne of bordering three départements for some operations such as fire protection or rescue operations, and is still directed by France's national government. Paris has no municipal police force, although it does have its own brigade of traffic wardens.
As part of a 1961 nation-wide administrative effort to consolidate regional economies, Paris as a département became the capital of the new région of the District of Paris, renamed the Île-de-France région in 1976. It encompasses the Paris département and its seven closest départements. Its regional council members, since 1986, have been chosen by direct elections.
The prefect of the Paris département (who served as the prefect of the Seine département before 1968) is also prefect of the Île-de-France région, although the office lost much of its power following the creation of the office of mayor of Paris in 1977.
Few of the above changes have taken into account Paris' existence as an agglomeration. Unlike in most of France's major urban areas such as Lille and Lyon, there is no intercommunal entity in the Paris urban area, no intercommunal council treating the problems of the region's dense urban core as a whole; Paris' alienation of its suburbs is indeed a problem today, and considered by many[who?] to be the main causes of civil unrest such as the suburban riots in 2005. A direct result of these unfortunate events is propositions for a more efficient metropolitan structure to cover the city of Paris and some of the suburbs, ranging from a socialist idea of a loose "metropolitan conference" (conférence métropolitaine) to the right-wing idea of a more integrated Grand Paris ("Greater Paris").
One of the main reasons for such incoherence has been the fear felt by the French State in front of such a huge agglomeration and the desire to tap its wealth.[citation needed] Since the Middle Ages and particularly since the 1649 troubles (La Fronde), Paris has been considered as a source of danger. The authoritarian king Louis the XIVth built Versailles as a new political center, away from the dangerous city crowds. The conflict between the State and the City reached a climax with the Revolution of 1871 (La Commune) : the French Assembly in Bordeaux decided Paris would no longer be the capital city, while the Paris Commune discussed declaring Paris independent of France. Since then, one of the foundations of the centralized French State has been to widely distribute Paris wealth while depriving the agglomeration and keeping it divided into 8 departments and 1 200 communes. (For an analysis of the long hostility against Paris, see [2][verification needed] ). Of the 22 metropolitan French regions, 19 are regularly subsidized — mostly by Paris resources — while Paris suburbs lack necessary equipment.
In the early 9th century, the emperor Charlemagne mandated all churches to give lessons in reading, writing and basic arithmetic to their parishes, and cathedrals to give a higher-education in the finer arts of language, physics, music, and theology; at that time, Paris was already one of France's major cathedral towns and beginning its rise to fame as a scholastic centre. By the early 13th century, the Île de la Cité Notre-Dame cathedral school had many famous teachers, and the controversial teachings of some of these led to the creation of a separate Left-Bank Sainte-Genevieve University that would become the centre of Paris' scholastic Latin Quarter best represented by the Sorbonne university.
Twelve centuries later, education in Paris and the Paris region (Île-de-France région) employs approximately 330,000 persons, 170,000 of whom are teachers and professors teaching approximately 2.9 million children and students in around 9,000 primary, secondary, and higher education schools and institutions.[99]
Paris is home to several of France's most prestigious high-schools such as Lycée Louis-le-Grand, Lycée Henri-IV and Lycée Condorcet. Other high-schools of international renown in the Paris area include the Lycée International de Saint Germain-en-Laye and the École Active Bilingue Jeannine Manuel.
As of the academic year 2004–2005, the Paris Region's 17 public universities, with its 359,749 registered students,[100] comprise the largest concentration of university students in Europe.[101] The Paris Region's prestigious grandes écoles and scores of university-independent private and public schools have an additional 240,778 registered students, that, together with the university population, creates a grand total of 600,527 students in higher education that year.[100]
The cathedral of Notre-Dame was the first centre of higher-education before the creation of the University of Paris. The universitas was chartered by King Philip Augustus in 1200, as a corporation granting teachers (and their students) the right to rule themselves independently from crown law and taxes. At the time, many classes were held in open air. Non-Parisian students and teachers would stay in hostels, or "colleges", created for the boursiers coming from afar.
Already famous by the 13th century, the University of Paris had students from all of Europe. Paris' Rive Gauche scholastic centre, dubbed "Latin Quarter" as classes were taught in Latin then, would eventually regroup around the college created by Robert de Sorbon from 1257, the Collège de Sorbonne. The University of Paris in the 19th century had six faculties: law, science, medicine, pharmaceutical studies, literature, and theology.
Following the 1968 student riots, there was an extensive reform of the University of Paris, in an effort to disperse the centralised student body. The following year, the former unique University of Paris was split between thirteen autonomous universities ("Paris I" to "Paris XIII") located throughout the City of Paris and its suburbs. Each of these universities inherited only some of the departments of the old University of Paris, and are not generalist universities. Paris I Pantheon-Sorbonne, Paris II Pantheon-Assas, Paris-Descartes, and Paris-Nanterre, inherited the Law School; Paris Descartes University inherited the School of Medicine as well; Pierre and Marie Curie University and Paris-Diderot the scientific departments, the Paris-Sorbonne University inherited the Arts and Humanities, etc.
In 1991, four more universities were created in the suburbs of Paris, reaching a total of seventeen public universities for the Paris (Île-de-France) région. These new universities were given names (based on the name of the suburb in which they are located) and not numbers like the previous thirteen: University of Cergy-Pontoise, University of Évry Val d'Essonne, University of Marne-la-Vallée, École supérieure Robert De Sorbon and University of Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines.
The Paris region hosts France's highest concentration of the prestigious grandes écoles – specialised centres of higher-education outside the public university structure. The prestigious public universities are usually considered grands établissements. Most of the grandes écoles were relocated to the suburbs of Paris in the 1960s and 1970s, in new campuses much larger than the old campuses within the crowded city of Paris, though the École Normale Supérieure has remained on rue d'Ulm in the 5th arrondissement.
The Paris area has a high number of engineering schools, led by the prestigious Paris Institute of Technology (ParisTech) which comprises several colleges such as École Polytechnique, École des Mines, AgroParisTech, Télécom Paris, Arts et Métiers, and École des Ponts et Chaussées. There are also many business schools, including INSEAD, ESSEC, HEC and ESCP Europe. The administrative school such as ENA has been relocated to Strasbourg, the political science school Sciences-Po is still located in Paris' Left bank 7th arrondissement. The Parisian school of journalism CELSA department of the Paris-Sorbonne University is located in Neuilly-sur-Seine .
The grandes écoles system is supported by a number of preparatory schools that offer courses of two to three years' duration called Classes Préparatoires, also known as classes prépas or simply prépas. These courses provide entry to the grandes écoles. Many of the best prépas are located in Paris, including Lycée Louis-le-Grand, Lycée Henri-IV, Lycée Saint-Louis, Lycée Janson de Sailly, and Lycée Stanislas.[102] Two other top-ranking prépas (Lycée Hoche and Lycée privé Sainte-Geneviève) are located in Versailles, near Paris. Student selection is based on school grades and teacher remarks. Prépas are known to be very demanding in terms of work load and psychological stress.
The Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF) operates libraries in Paris, among them François-Mitterrand Library, Richelieu Library, Louvois, Opéra Library, and Arsenal Library.[103]
The American Library in Paris opened in 1920. It is a part of a private, non-profit organization.[104] The modern library originated from cases of books sent by the American Library Association to U.S. soldiers in France.[105] An incarnation existed in the 1850s.[106]
Paris is the head of barge and ship navigation on the Seine and is the fourth most important port in France (after Marseille, Le Havre, and Dunkerque). The Loire, Rhine, Rhone, Meuse and Scheldt rivers can be reached by canals connecting with the Seine. Paris is also a major rail, highway, and air transportation hub. Three international airports, Orly, Roissy and le Bourget, serve the city. The city's subway system, the métro, was opened in 1900.
Paris has been building its transportation system throughout history and continuous improvements are on-going. The Syndicat des transports d'Île-de-France (STIF), formerly Syndicat des transports parisiens (STP) oversees the transit network in the region.[108]
The members of this syndicate are the Île-de-France region and the eight departments of this region. The syndicate coordinates public transport and contracts it out to the RATP (operating 654 bus lines, the Métro, three tramway lines, and sections of the RER), the SNCF (operating suburban rails, one tramway line and the other sections of the RER) and the Optile consortium of private operators managing 1,070 minor bus lines.
The Métro is Paris' most important transportation system. The system, with 300 stations (384 stops) connected by 214 km (133.0 mi) of rails, comprises 16 lines, identified by numbers from 1 to 14, with two minor lines, 3bis and 7bis, so numbered because they used to be branches of their respective original lines, and only later became independent. In October 1998, the new line 14 was inaugurated after a 70‑year hiatus in inaugurating fully new métro lines. Because of the short distance between stations on the Métro network, lines were too slow to be extended further into the suburbs, as is the case in most other cities. As such, an additional express network, the RER, has been created since the 1960s to connect more-distant parts of the urban area. The RER consists in the integration of modern city-centre subway and pre-existing suburban rail. Nowadays, the RER network comprises five lines, 257 stops and 587 km (365 mi) of rails.
In addition, the Paris region is served by a light rail network of four lines, the tramway: Line T1 runs from Saint-Denis to Noisy-le-Sec, line T2 runs from La Défense to Porte de Versailles, line T3 runs from Pont du Garigliano to Porte d'Ivry, line T4 runs from Bondy to Aulnay-sous-Bois. Six new light rail lines are currently in various stages of development.
Paris is a central hub of the national rail network. The six major railway stations — Gare du Nord, Gare Montparnasse, Gare de l'Est, Gare de Lyon, Gare d'Austerlitz, and Gare Saint-Lazare — are connected to three networks: The TGV serving four High-speed rail lines, the normal speed Corail trains, and the suburban rails (Transilien). Paris is served by two major airports: Orly Airport, which is south of Paris; and the Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, in Roissy-en-France, which is one of the busiest in the world and is the hub for the unofficial flag carrier Air France. A third and much smaller airport, Beauvais Tillé Airport, located in the town of Beauvais, 70 km (43 mi) to the north of the city, is used by charter and low-cost airlines. The fourth airport, Le Bourget, nowadays hosts only business jets, air trade shows and the aerospace museum.
The city is also the most important hub of France's motorway network, and is surrounded by three orbital freeways: the Périphérique, which follows the approximate path of 19th-century fortifications around Paris, the A86 motorway in the inner suburbs, and finally the Francilienne motorway in the outer suburbs. Paris has an extensive road network with over 2,000 km (1,243 mi) of highways and motorways. By road, Brussels can be reached in three hours, Frankfurt in six hours and Barcelona in 12 hours. By train, London is now just two hours and 15 minutes away, Brussels can be reached in 1 hour and 22 minutes (up to 26 departures/day), Amsterdam in 3 hours and 18 minutes (up to 10 departures/day), Cologne in 3 hours and 14 minutes (6 departures/day), and Marseille, Bordeaux, and other cities in southern France in three hours.
Paris offers a bike sharing system called Vélib' with more than 20,000 public bicycles distributed at 1,450 parking stations, which can be rented for short and medium distances including one way trips.
Paris and its region host several international organisations including : the UNESCO, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the International Chamber of Commerce, the Paris Club, the European Space Agency, the International Energy Agency, the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, the European Union Institute for Security Studies, the International Bureau of Weights and Measures, the International Exhibition Bureau and the International Federation for Human Rights.
Paris has numerous partner cities,[109][110] but according to the motto "Only Paris is worthy of Rome; only Rome is worthy of Paris.",[111][112][113] the only sister city of Paris is Rome.
"In March 1871, the Commune took power in the abandoned city and held it for two months. Then Versailles seized the moment to attack and, in one horrifying week, executed roughly 20,000 Communards or suspected sympathizers, a number higher than those killed in the recent war or during Robespierre’s ‘Terror’ of 1793–94. More than 7,500 were jailed or deported to places like New Caledonia. Thousands of others fled to Belgium, England, Italy, Spain and the United States. In 1872, stringent laws were passed that ruled out all possibilities of organizing on the left. Not until 1880 was there a general amnesty for exiled and imprisoned Communards. Meantime, the Third Republic found itself strong enough to renew and reinforce Napoleon III's imperialist expansion — in Indochina, Africa, and Oceania. Many of France’s leading intellectuals and artists had participated in the Commune (Gustave Courbet was its quasi-minister of culture, Rimbaud and Pissarro were active propagandists) or were sympathetic to it. The ferocious repression of 1871 and after was probably the key factor in alienating these milieux from the Third Republic and stirring their sympathy for its victims at home and abroad."
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