Baltimore – English Lyrics

• By: Prince, Eryn Allen Kane
• Album: HITnRUN Phase 2

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the poignant story behind Prince's "Baltimore," a tribute to Freddie Gray and a call for peace. Featuring Eryn Allen Kane, this song offers a blend of R&B and soul, inviting you to explore themes of social justice and hope through its powerful lyrics and melody.

[English]

Baltimore

Nobody got in nobody's way

So I guess you could say it was a good day

At least a little better than the day in Baltimore

Does anybody hear us pray

For Michael Brown or Freddie Gray?

Peace is more than the absence of war

Absence of war

Are we gonna see another bloody day?

We're tired of the cryin' and people dyin'

Let's take all the guns away

Absence of war, you and me

Maybe we can finally say

Enough is enough, it's time for love

It's time to hear

It's time to hear the guitar play, guitar play

Baltimore, ever more

If there ain't no justice then there ain't no peace

If there ain't no justice then there ain't no peace

If there ain't no justice then there ain't no peace

If there ain't no justice then there ain't no peace

Are we gonna see another bloody day?

We're tired of the cryin' and people dyin'

Let's take all the guns away

If there ain't no justice then there ain't no peace

Baltimore

If there ain't no justice then there ain't no peace

We have to interrupt the regular scheduled programming to bring you up to date on a developing situation in Los Angeles

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
justice /ˈdʒʌstɪs/ B2	noun - fairness in the way people are dealt with
peace /piːs/ A2	noun - freedom from disturbance; tranquility
absence /ˈæbsəns/ B2	noun - the state of being away; non-existence
war /wɔːr/ A2	noun - a state of armed conflict
bloody /ˈblʌdi/ B1	adjective - covered in or involving blood; violent
tired /ˈtaɪərd/ A1	adjective - in need of sleep or rest
dying /ˈdaɪɪŋ/ B1	verb - the process of becoming dead
guns /ɡʌnz/ A2	noun - firearms
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - an intense feeling of affection
hear /hɪər/ A1	verb - to perceive with the ear
play /pleɪ/ A1	verb - engage in activity for enjoyment
guitar /ɡɪˈtɑːr/ A2	noun - a musical instrument with strings
interrupt /ˌɪntəˈrʌpt/ B1	verb - to stop something from happening
situation /ˌsɪtʃuˈeɪʃn/ B1	noun - a set of circumstances
developing /dɪˈveləpɪŋ/ B2	adjective - growing or becoming more advanced

Key Grammar Structures

• Nobody got in nobody's way

  ➔ Double negative

  ➔ The use of two negatives ('nobody' and 'nobody's') in the same clause for emphasis, which is grammatically correct in certain contexts.

• So I guess you could say it was a good day

  ➔ Modal verb (guess)

  ➔ The modal verb 'guess' expresses uncertainty or tentativeness in the statement.

• Does anybody hear us pray

  ➔ Interrogative sentence with inversion

  ➔ The subject 'anybody' and the verb 'hear' are inverted to form a question, typical in formal or poetic language.

• Peace is more than the absence of war

  ➔ Comparative structure with 'more than'

  ➔ The phrase 'more than' is used to indicate that peace involves additional elements beyond just the absence of war.

• If there ain't no justice then there ain't no peace

  ➔ Double negative and conditional sentence

  ➔ The double negative ('ain't no') is used colloquially, and the sentence structure is a conditional statement linking justice and peace.

• We're tired of the cryin' and people dyin'

  ➔ Contractions and present continuous

  ➔ The contraction 'we're' and the present continuous tense ('tired of') express ongoing emotions and actions.

• Let's take all the guns away

  ➔ Modal verb (let's)

  ➔ The modal verb 'let's' is used to make a suggestion or proposal.

• It's time to hear the guitar play

  ➔ Infinitive of purpose

  ➔ The infinitive 'to hear' is used to express the purpose of the action.