Banned in the U.S.A.
2 Live Crew
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Government of the people For the people By the people Earlier today a Broward County appellate court judge has Upheld the previous ruling to ban the sale of Miami rap group The 2 Live Crew's double-platinum album, "Nasty As They Wanna Be," in Broward County We think it's the banning of free speech First Amendment protects material, presumptively We don't talk about, uh, harassing and sexually brutalizing women in my music, man! We don't do that in my music, man, I'm tired of you saying that! We've got white-collar people trying to grab our style Saying we're too nasty and we're 2 Live Corrupted politicians playing games Bringing us down to boost their fame They must be joking, thinking we will fall But they're like flies movin' the wall We stand tall from beginning to end With the help from fans and all our friends Freedom of speech will never die For us to have, our ancestors died Don't keep thinking that we will quit We'll always stand and never sit We're 2 Live, too black, too strong Doing the right thing, and not the wrong So listen up, y'all, to what we say We won't be banned in the U-S-A! Banned in the U-S-A, I was Banned in the U-S-A, I was Banned in the U-S-A, I was Banned in the U-S-A, I was Luke's concerts are for adults If it's an adult show you have to be 18 Luke's concerts are for adults If it's an adult show you have to be 18 Our record is a year old, but with all the publicity There's a lot of people, curiosity is aroused We're selling records to a totally different audience I take a precaution that nobody else has I stickered my album I made two versions, two versions, two versions The First Amendment gave us freedom of speech So what you sayin', it didn't include me? I like to party and have a good time There's nothin' but pleasure written in our rhymes I know you don't think we'll ever quit We've got some people on our side who won't take your lip We're gonna do all the things we wanna do You can't stand to see a brother get as rich as you This is the 90's and we're comin' on strong Sayin' things and doin' things that you're sayin's wrong Wisen up, cause on Election Day We'll see who's banned in the U-S-A! Banned in the U-S-A, I was Banned in the U-S-A, I was Banned in the U-S-A, I was Banned in the U-S-A, I was The United States of America Government of the people The United States of America For the people The United States of America By the people By the people The show in Hollywood, those were 21-and-older people They had police out there Cardin' the people coming in the club And they still arrested us for performing in front of adults! What is this? Is this not America? This is not China, this is not Russia! This is not the place where they brought down the wall This is America! We have the right to say what we want to say We have the right to do what we want to do And what I do in my house, you might not do in your house So what I do in my house is my business And the simple fact of it all is that we are bonded by the First Amendment! We have the freedom of expression! We have the freedom of choice! And you, Chinese, black, green, purple, Jew You have the right to listen to whoever you want to And even the 2 Live Crew! (2 Live Crew, 2 Live Crew) So all you right-wingers, left-wingers Bigots, Communists, there is a place for you in this world! Because this is the land of the free, the home of the brave And 2 Live is what we are! Banned in the U-S-A, I was Banned in the U-S-A, I was Banned in the U-S-A, I was Banned in the U-S-A, I was
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Written by: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
11 facts about this song
Legal Controversy"Banned in the U.S.A." by 2 Live Crew was a significantly controversial track when it was released in 1990 due to its explicit lyrics, which resulted in legal troubles for the Miami hip hop group.
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First Amendment DebateThe controversy surrounding the song and the album it came from helped ignite a national debate over the First Amendment and content-control in music, touching on issues of censorship and artistic freedom.
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Bruce Springsteen Connection"Banned in the U.S.A." samples part of "Born in the U.S.A." by Bruce Springsteen. Interestingly, Springsteen agreed to the use of his song for 2 Live Crew's parody, going against his management's initial dismissal.
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Obscenity CaseThe album that included "Banned in the U.S.A.," was ruled obscene by a U.S. district court in Florida. However, this ruling was overturned by the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, which deemed that the album had artistic or political value.
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Cultural ImpactThe song's title and its music video document and criticize the censorship that 2 Live Crew and other artists faced. It has been described as an important cultural moment in the national conversation about music, obscenity, and freedom of speech.
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U.S. First"Banned in the U.S.A." was the first song ever to be labeled as legally obscene by the United States Federal Court.
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Luke RecordsThis song was released under Luke Records, the record label owned by band member Luther Campbell. The label was influential in the Miami bass genre, a type of hip hop music with a fast beat and heavy bass.
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Parental AdvisoryThe controversy surrounding "Banned in the U.S.A." and the overall explicit content of 2 Live Crew's music was one of the key factors leading to a more widespread use of the Parental Advisory sticker on music with explicit lyrics.
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Album Title"Banned in the U.S.A." was the title track for the first album released by 2 Live Crew after their original mainstream success with the album "As Nasty As They Wanna Be."
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Chart SuccessDespite the controversy, or perhaps because of it, "Banned in the U.S.A." was successful on the charts. It peaked at number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it the highest-charting single by 2 Live Crew.
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Music VideoThe music video for "Banned in the U.S.A." includes footage of fans supporting the group, TV reports covering their arrest, and lawyers discussing the case, highlighting the group's ongoing battles against censorship.
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