There Goes the Neighborhood

Body Count

About There Goes the Neighborhood

"There Goes the Neighborhood" is the twelfth track of Body Count's self-titled debut album. The song is a sarcastic response to critics, sung from the point of view of a racist white rocker who wonders "Don't they know rock's just for whites? / Don't they know the rules? / Those niggers are too hardcore / This shit ain't cool." For the song's music video, the word "nigger" was replaced with the phrase "black boys". The music video, directed by Matt Mahurin, ends with a black musician implanting an electric guitar into the ground and setting it on fire. The final image is similar to that of a burning cross. The main guitar riff was later sampled in Vaginal Jesus "Beat Rodney Down" and Anal Cunt's "Lenny's in My Neighborhood". 


Year:
1992
5:50
526 
#2

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There goes the neighborhood.

Here come them fuckin' niggas
With their fancy cars.
Who gave them fuckin' niggas
Those rock guitars?
Who let 'em in the club?
Did you make 'em pay?
Who let 'em on the stage?
Whose lettin' 'em play?

Don't they know rock's just for whites
Don't they know the rules?
Those niggas are too hard core
This shit ain't cool.
Those blacks want everything
In the fuckin' world
That nigga plays so good
He took my muthafuckin' girl
There goes the neighborhood.

There goes the neighborhoooooood,
There goes the neighborhood,
There goes the neighborhood
There goes the neighborhood.

Da, Da, Da, Da, Da

We're here,
We ain't goin' nowhere.
We're movin' right next door to you,
Body Count, muthafucka.
And those of you that don't like it
Can suck, my muthafuckin' dick, ha, ha, ha, ha.

There goes the neighborhood!
Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha
There goes the neighborhood!
Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha
There goes the neightborhoooooood!
There goes the neighborhood!
Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha
There goes the neighborhood!

Here come them fuckin' niggas
With their fancy cars.
Who gave them fuckin' niggas
Those rock guitars?
Who let 'em in the club?
Did you make 'em pay?
Who let 'em on the stage?
Whose lettin' 'em play?
Don't they know rock's just for whites
Don't they know the rules?
Those niggas are too hard core
This shit ain't cool.
Those blacks want everything in the fuckin' world.
That nigga plays so good,
He took my muthafuckin' girl.
There goes the neighborhood
There, there, there, there goes the neighborhood.

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Body Count

Body Count is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1990. The group is fronted by rapper and actor Ice-T, who founded the group out of his interest in heavy metal music, taking on the role of vocalist and writing the lyrics for most of the group's songs. Lead guitarist Ernie C has been responsible for writing the group's music. Their controversial self-titled debut album was released on Sire Records in 1992. more »

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Written by: ERNEST T. CUNNIGAN, TRACY LAUREN MARROW

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


15 facts about this song

Genre Classification
"There Goes the Neighborhood" is a song that falls under the genre of hardcore punk or crossover thrash, blending elements of rock with rap.
Album Information
The song is from the band’s self-titled debut album "Body Count" that was released in 1992.
Band Formation
Body Count was formed in Los Angeles, California in 1990 by Ice-T and lead guitarist Ernie C. The band was designed to be an outlet for Ice-T's interest in heavy metal.
Music Video Director
The music video for "There Goes the Neighborhood" was directed by Matt Mahurin, who has also worked with several other metal bands, including Metallica.
Controversial Content
The song tackles issues of racism and class prejudice. The lyrics depict negative attitudes and preconceptions towards black people in the metal community.
Recognition
Despite its controversial content, "There Goes the Neighborhood" is one of Body Count's most popular songs. It received substantial airplay on MTV and was performed live on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno.
Grammy Nomination
Body Count's album, which included "There Goes the Neighborhood," was nominated for a Grammy for Best Metal Performance in 1993.
Main Line
The main line in the track, "There goes the neighbourhood," is used as a sarcastic cry against the criticism faced by the band for being black and playing in a genre traditionally dominated by white musicians.
Unique Performance
It is considered one of the few songs where Ice-T used clean vocals rather than his usual rap style.
Influence
The song helped pave the way for other African-American rock bands to break into the mainstream.
Misinterpretation
Some critics misinterpreted the song, believing it was promoting violence and racism. However, Ice-T clarified that the track was actually challenging the stereotypes within the music industry.
Band Relevancy
The popularity of "There Goes the Neighborhood" helped Body Count stay relevant for decades, still active and producing music as of 2021.
Distinctive Sound
The song's guitar solo is particularly distinctive, showcasing a fast tempo and unique sound that has come to characterize Body Count's music.
Legacy
Despite the controversy, the song is considered a classic in the rock and metal genres, thanks largely to its biting and provocative social commentary.
Live performances
Body Count often plays "There Goes the Neighborhood" during their live shows due to its popularity, making it a mainstay of their concert setlist.

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