Code of Honor

Knights in shining armor?

Baby cries, sister tries to survive in the heat
Brother dies from a shot in the head on the street
What it takes, how to make it today on your own
To go on bein' strong need a heart made of stone.

Streetwise, good buys, new highs anesthetize
Gotta Rolls by sellin' souls, an inner-city compromise
Big time, high crime, not afraid of doin' time
Closed doors, turf wars, just one step ahead of dyin'.

Got a coat of armor... But no code of honor
You're a silk suit cruiser... In a world of losers
Got a coat of armor... But no code of honor
Livin' by the minute... Givin' all to win it.

Out to dine, finest wine, show 'em all a real good time
Wheel and deal, make 'em feel they wanna sign the dotted line
Smile alot, make it hot, tell 'em what a steal you've got
Do it fast, get the cash, makin' sure you won't get caught.

Got a coat of armor... But no code of honor
You're a silk suit diner Another corporate climber
Got a coat of armor... But no code of honor
Livin' by the minute... Givin' all to win it.

Sellin' souls or sellin' dreams
In our modern world you've got what it takes it seems
Livin' fast, makin' plans
Gotta deal that only you can understand.

(bone solo)

On "the hill" take your fill, someone else'll foot the bill
Get your kicks in politics, rhetoric's your only skill
Word games, big names, never ever take the blame
Black-tie, bigger lie believin' you deserve the fame.

Got a coat of armor... But no code of honor
You're in the silk suit senate Where you've "upped" your pay and must defend it
Got a coat of armor... But no code of honor
Livin' by the minute... Givin' all to win it.

Rich Coffey: synths, all vocals, drum groove, trombone
Tom McGrath: bongos, timpani, drum fills, percussion EFX
Don Harris: trumpet, drum fills, horn arrangement*
Bill Harris: tenor and soprano sax*
Engineered by Tom McGrath at Tom Tom Studios, N.Y.C. 1991

Comments:
A fusion of rap, funk-rock and latin with a social/political bent. Written in the early 90s, it ironically still seems relevant today with the constant stream of political and big business scandals in the news.

A comment on the similarity of low-lifes at both the bottom and top of our society and what it took to get them to where they are in life. The hook is a twist on two common phrases--their similarity in sound yet utterly disparate meaning and real life application.

*featuring The Harris Brothers