- published: 12 Aug 2012
- views: 164425
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK, or Britain) is a sovereign state located off the north-western coast of continental Europe. The country includes the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands. Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK that shares a land border with another sovereign state—the Republic of Ireland. Apart from this land border the UK is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, the English Channel and the Irish Sea.
The United Kingdom is a unitary state governed under a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary system, with its seat of government in the capital city of London. It is a country in its own right and consists of four countries: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. There are three devolved administrations, each with varying powers, based in Belfast, Edinburgh and Cardiff, the capitals of Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Associated with the UK, but not constitutionally part of it, are three Crown Dependencies. The United Kingdom has fourteen overseas territories. These are remnants of the British Empire which, at its height in 1922, encompassed almost a quarter of the world's land surface and was the largest empire in history. British influence can still be observed in the language, culture and legal systems of many of its former territories.
Gilbert O'Sullivan (born 1 December 1946) is an Irish-English singer-songwriter, best known for his early 1970s hits "Alone Again (Naturally)", "Clair" and "Get Down". The music magazine Record Mirror voted him the No. 1 UK male singer of 1972.
Worldwide he has charted 16 top 40 discs; including six number one songs, the first of which was 1970's "Nothing Rhymed" (for further information see Gilbert O'Sullivan discography). His most successful recording period was between 1970 and 1980, though he has since recorded nine studio albums up to 2011's "Gilbertville". Speaking in 2009 he said; "I write pop songs. End of story. That's all I wanted to do. That's all I want to do. And that's all I continue to want to do. I have no interest in just touring, and living in the past."
O'Sullivan was born Raymond Edward O'Sullivan in Waterford, Ireland. In 1960, aged 13, his family moved to Swindon, Wiltshire, England. He attended St Joseph's and the Swindon College of Art, where he briefly played drums in a band called Rick's Blues, founded by Rick Davies (who later founded Supertramp) and where he developed his lifelong interests in music and art. According to a 1972 interview with O'Sullivan, Davies taught him how to play both drums and piano. Other semi-professional bands he played with while at college include The Doodles and The Prefects.
Love is pain
My momma showed me the way
The day she pushed me out her womb
and told me Nigga get paid
Stay focused when them obstacles get in your way
Can't let these opportunities keep gettin' away
It gets hard tryn to juggle these responsibilities
But it's a beautiful struggle you can ask Kweli
After the rain falls
See the rainbow in the sky
Auntie passed,
See the pain go away when she died
Youngin' looked me in the eyes
Said he can't even cry
Asked him why?
'She in a better place now' he replied
Can't be walking with my face down
Face frown fed up
Bob Marley told me get up
Pac said keep ya head up
Try or fail or fail or try
This ain't about never falling
It's about how ya rise
Can't judge by the surface
It's about what's inside
You only reach a destination if you willing to ride
(Chorus)
This ain't no sad song rap
Or a track you relax on
This to help you stand strong
While you getting your cash on
Ain't no looking back now son
Word, we came mad far
Whoever said it's easy living life as a rap star
You get knocked down
You get back up
You wanna live this lifestyle
You gotta be tough
The chips fall where they may
So the bricks stack up
The number one rule of making it is never give up
KEEP ON...