One Sound of da Police
KRŠ Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴Woop-woop, that's the sound of da police
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da beast
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da police
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da beast (yes indeed)
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da police
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da beast
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da police
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da beast (yes indeed)
Stand clear, Don man'll talk
You can't stand where I stand, you can't walk where I walk
Watch out, we run New York
Policeman come, we bust him out the park
I know this for a fact, you don't like how I act
You claim I'm sellin' crack, but you be doin' that
I'd rather say see ya, 'cause I would never be ya
Be an officer? You wicked overseer
You hotshot, wanna get props and be a savior
First show a little respect, change your behavior
Change your attitude, change your plan
There could never really be justice on stolen land
Are you really for peace and equality?
Or when my car is hooked up, you know you wanna follow me
Your laws are minimal
'Cause you won't even think about lookin' at the real criminal
This has got to cease
'Cause we be gettin' hyped to the sound of da police
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da police
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da beast
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da police
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da beast
Now here's a likkle truth, open up your eye
While you're checkin' out the boom-bap, check the exercise
Take the word overseer, like a sample
Repeat it very quickly in a crew, for example
Overseer, overseer, overseer, overseer
Officer, officer, officer, officer
Yeah, officer from overseer
You need a little clarity? Check the similarity
The overseer rode around the plantation
The officer is off, patrollin' all the nation
The overseer could stop you, "what you're doin'?"
The officer will pull you over just when he's pursuin'
The overseer had the right to get ill
And if you fought back, the overseer had the right to kill
The officer has the right to arrest
And if you fight back they put a hole in your chest (woop)
They both ride horses
After 400 years, I've got no choices
The police them have a likkle gun
So when I'm on the streets, I walk around with a bigger one (woop-woop)
I hear it all day
Just so they can run the light and be upon their way
Yes indeed
Yes indeed
Yes indeed
Yes indeed
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da police
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da beast
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da police
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da beast
Check out the message in a rough stylee
The real criminal are the C-O-P
You check for undercover and the one P.D
But just a mere Black man, them wan' check me
Them check out me car, for it shine like the sun
But them jealous or them vexed, 'cause them can't afford one
Black people still slaves up 'til today
But the Black police officer nyah see it that way
Him want a salary, him want it
So he put on a badge and kill people for it
My grandfather had to deal with the cops
My great-grandfather dealt with the cops
My great-grandfather had to deal with the cops
And then my great, great, great, great, when it's gonna stop?
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da police
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da beast
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da police
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da beast
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da police
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da beast
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da police
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da beast
Yes indeed
Yes indeed
Yes indeed
Yes indeed
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da police
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da beast
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da police
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da beast
Overall Meaning
KRS-One's "Sound of da Police" is a song that addresses police brutality, profiling, and racism issues in the United States. The opening lyrics, "Woop-woop! That's the sound of da police! That's the sound of the beast!" create a sense of dread and unease for both the listener and anyone else who happens to hear the siren. The song discusses the experiences of young Black men being targeted by police officers for no reason other than the color of their skin.
The lyrics also address the hypocrisy of police officers who engage in illegal activities such as drug dealing, yet still manage to act self-righteous and superior towards the people they are there to protect. KRS-One points out the idea that police officers consider themselves as "saviors," yet they oppress instead of empowering individuals. The lyrics constantly repeat "overseer," linking modern-day police officers with the historical figure from slavery who controlled and mistreated Black people.
The overall message of the song is a call to action to take a hard look at the way that law enforcement is carried out in the United States. KRS-One urges his listeners to push for change and better treatment for Black people at the hands of the police. The song encourages people to stand up against a corrupt system and fight discrimination and inequality whenever they see it.
Line by Line Meaning
Woop-woop! That's the sound of da police! That's the sound of the beast!
The sound of the police's siren is like the sound of a beast, which is symbolic of their power and authority.
Stand clear! Don man a-talk
I'm warning you to back off because I'm about to speak my mind.
You can't stand where I stand, you can't walk where I walk
You can't understand my experiences and the challenges I face because you haven't walked in my shoes.
Watch out! We run New York
We, the people living in New York, control and influence the city more than the police do.
Police man come, we bust him out the park
If the police come and try to confront us, we won't back down and will fight them off with force.
I know this for a fact, you don't like how I act
I'm aware that you don't approve of my behavior, but I don't care because our values don't align.
You claim I'm sellin' crack
You accuse me of selling drugs, but you're doing the same thing while also trying to arrest me for it.
But you be doin' that
You're being hypocritical by doing the same things you're trying to arrest me for.
I'd rather say 'see ya'
I don't want to associate with people who are corrupt and don't value justice.
Cause I would never be ya
I'm not willing to compromise my values and become like you, a corrupt police officer.
Be a officer? You wicked overseer
You want to be a police officer, but I see you as an oppressive overseer who follows unjust laws.
Ya hotshot, want to get props and be a savior
You're eager to receive recognition and be seen as a hero, but that's not what it means to be a police officer.
First show a little respect, change your behavior
If you want to be respected, you need to treat us with dignity and respect our rights.
Change your attitude, change your plan
You need to change your mindset and approach to become more just and fair in executing your duties.
There could never really be justice on stolen land
The country was built on stolen land, so true justice will always be elusive until we address this historical injustice.
Are you really for peace and equality?
Do you truly support peace and equality, or are those just empty buzzwords for you?
Or when my car is hooked up, you know you want to follow me
You are more likely to target me and question my activities when I'm driving a nice car or appearing successful.
Your laws are minimal
The laws you enforce only scratch the surface of real criminal activity and don't address the root causes of crime.
Cause you won't even think about lookin' at the real criminal
You focus on small-time criminals while ignoring the larger systemic issues and powerful individuals who commit worse crimes.
This has got to cease
These systemic injustices and hypocrisies within the police force and justice system need to come to an end.
Cause we be getting hyped to the sound of da police
We get excited and energized by the sound of the police because it represents power and something to rebel against.
Now here's a likkle truth
Let me share some cold, hard facts with you.
Open up your eye
Wake up and see the truth.
While you're checking out the boom-bap, check the exercise
As you enjoy the music, also pay attention to the message and think critically.
Take the word 'overseer,' like a sample
Use the word overseer as a metaphor to understand the similarities between past and present oppressors.
Repeat it very quickly in a crew for example
Chant the word 'overseer' in unison with others to emphasize the oppressive nature of the word.
Officer, Officer, Officer, Officer!
Connect the word 'overseer' to its modern-day counterpart, 'officer.'
Yeah, officer from overseer
Police officers today have roots in the overseer role from the slavery era.
You need a little clarity?
Do you need me to spell it out for you?
Check the similarity!
Compare past and present power structures to see how they're similar and continue to perpetuate oppression.
The overseer rode around the plantation
The overseer was in charge on the plantation, patrolling and maintaining control.
The officer is off patrolling all the nation
The police officer's role today is similar to the overseer's in the past, except on a larger scale.
The overseer could stop you what you're doing
The overseer had the power to interrupt and control the lives of enslaved people.
The officer will pull you over just when he's pursuing
Today, police officers have the power to stop and question you when they want or when they think you're suspicious.
The overseer had the right to get ill
The overseer had the authority and power to use violence and intimidation to control and maintain order.
And if you fought back, the overseer had the right to kill
The overseer had the power of life and death over enslaved individuals and could use lethal force if necessary.
The officer has the right to arrest
Police officers today have the power to detain and arrest individuals who they believe are breaking the law.
And if you fight back they put a hole in your chest!
If you resist arrest or fight back against the police, they have the power to use lethal force.
(Woop!) They both ride horses
Both overseers in the past and police today often ride horses or in vehicles to maintain control and patrol areas.
After 400 years, I've got no choices!
After all these years of oppression and systemic racism, I still feel like I have no power or choices.
The police them have a little gun
The police have access to guns and other weapons to enforce their authority.
So when I'm on the streets, I walk around with a bigger one
I feel the need to carry a bigger and more powerful weapon for self-protection against police brutality.
(Woop-woop!) I hear it all day
The sound of the police siren is so ubiquitous that I hear it all the time and associate it with fear and oppression.
Just so they can run the light and be upon their way
Police sometimes use their sirens and lights for minor reasons, like speeding up their commute, which is a misuse of their power.
Check out the message in a rough stylee
Pay attention to the lyrics and message presented in a raw, unrefined manner.
The real criminals are the see-O-P
The true criminals are the corrupt police officers enforcing unjust laws and perpetuating oppression.
You check for undercover and the one PD
You should be wary of undercover police officers and the entire police department due to their oppressive nature.
But just a mere Black man, them want check me
The police are more likely to profile, harass, and investigate Black men without cause or suspicion.
Them check out me car for it shine like the sun
Police are envious and suspicious of Black individuals who have nice cars, assuming they are involved in illegal activity.
But them jealous or them vexed cause them can't afford one
The police may be jealous or threatened by affluent Black people who are breaking away from traditional stereotypes about poverty and lack of success.
Black people still slaves up 'til today
Black people still face systemic oppression and are enslaved by unjust laws and power structures.
But the Black police officer nah see it that way
Even Black police officers may be blinded by their position of power and not see the oppression that still exists for their own people.
Him want a salary
The Black police officer is motivated by money and status instead of justice and equity.
Him want it
The police officer is only looking out for his own interests and not the community's.
So he put on a badge and kill people for it
The police officer may use his badge and position of power to justify killings and other excessive force.
My grandfather had to deal with the cops
My grandfather faced discrimination and harassment from the police like I do today.
And then my great, great, great, great, when it's gonna stop?!
Generations of my family have suffered from police brutality and racism, and I wonder when this cycle of oppression will finally end?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Lawrence Krsone Parker, Rodney Lemay, Eric Victor Burdon, Bryan James Chandler, Alan Lomax
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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