The Bay

Ladies and gentlemen, we will soon touch down in the beautiful Bay
Area. Please lean your seats back, cut your turntables up, and always
Hold a firm and forthright position. We ask that you permanently
Stow all your personal baggage behind you. The temperature's about
Like this with a slight ocean breeze, with crisp highs and deep lows
It's been our pleasure serving it, and we appreciate you riding
High with the team. Ladies and gentlemen, it's a new day in the Bay!

Where the people are intelligent, articulate, eloquent
Artistic, hard-working, and diligent
Both progressive and politically spirited
Definitely in possession of the militant element
We hella independent, more than a little bit critical
Of the political system, ain't nobody bullshitting the Bay
That ain't the way we live it, women got that smart-ass charm

So uninhibited, they always catch a spent off guard
But cool to kick it with, we hold a certain love for our own
Known as Bay love, but if push comes to shove
We won't hesitate to raise up, we ain't afraid of funk
The Bay was made of funk, they say we helped create the funk

Baby, take it from this native son
I dedicate this one to every neighborhood on every side of each bridge
Globally we known for being soulfully distinct, culturally rich
Totally unique, emotionally I'm linked to the place I'm from
That's why I name this one the...

The Bay!
The Bay!
The Bay!
The Bay!
The Bay!
The Bay!
The Bay!

Now I grew up in this area from a very early age
It ain't occurred to me the world could be much bigger than the Bay
Now I've journeyed 'round the Earth, man, I can certainly say
If I'm lucky they'll bury me here or hit the pearly gates
I spent my early days in Berkeley getting thoroughly blazed
Could have very well been worse, but I was mercifully saved
The Bay taught me how to persevere, endure, and maintain
Despite adversity, courageously, with purpose and strength
The entrepreneurial attitude we have and service very well
With very little, we're able to adapt

From independent record labels, newspapers, and stands
Exploring every avenue, nobody gave us a hand
From the mom-and-pop bargain spots, record shops, restaurants
Auto body shops, flea markets, and park parking lots

Some parts is large and yo, we all want homes there
Some parts is hard, even the fog don't go there

The Bay!
The Bay!
The Bay!
The Bay!
The Bay!
The Bay!
The Bay!

9-1-0, 7-0-7, 9-2-5, 6-5-0
4-0-8, 2-0-9, The 4, the 1, the 5

Players and gamers, hippies and dickies, Asians with pagers

Heathens and vegans, straight makers and demonstrators

Day laborers slash caterers slash bass players
Slash waiters slash painters slash whatever pays in cash
A's Raiders and Giants, Sharks, Warriors, and 49ers
The birthplace of defiance, earthquakes and fires
Two guys inside a blue-painted Yukon who grind
Suitcases full of Tupac bootlegs in a shoebox
You break it, you buy it, liquor stores, record stores
Thrift stores, bank inside in the second story
Red Victorian picket lines, E-40, Too Short lyrics
American Spirits, Newports, shoe stores, mixed marriage in nuke courts

Spinners that don't spin, women that don't bend

Beat poets, weed growers, heat holders
Each culture represent the way it ought to be

Home, they calling me back, the ocean lullaby in me
It's where my soul will always be

The Bay!
The Bay!
The Bay!
The Bay!
The Bay!
The Bay!
The Bay!