Sound of da Police
KRS–One Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴Woop-woop, that's the sound of da police
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da beast
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da police
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da beast (yes indeed)
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da police
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da beast
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da police
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da beast (yes indeed)
Stand clear, Don man'll talk
You can't stand where I stand, you can't walk where I walk
Watch out, we run New York
Policeman come, we bust him out the park
I know this for a fact, you don't like how I act
You claim I'm sellin' crack, but you be doin' that
I'd rather say see ya, 'cause I would never be ya
Be an officer? You wicked overseer
You hotshot, wanna get props and be a savior
First show a little respect, change your behavior
Change your attitude, change your plan
There could never really be justice on stolen land
Are you really for peace and equality?
Or when my car is hooked up, you know you wanna follow me
Your laws are minimal
'Cause you won't even think about lookin' at the real criminal
This has got to cease
'Cause we be gettin' hyped to the sound of da police

Woop-woop, that's the sound of da police
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da beast
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da police
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da beast

Now here's a likkle truth, open up your eye
While you're checkin' out the boom-bap, check the exercise
Take the word overseer, like a sample
Repeat it very quickly in a crew, for example
Overseer, overseer, overseer, overseer
Officer, officer, officer, officer
Yeah, officer from overseer
You need a little clarity? Check the similarity
The overseer rode around the plantation
The officer is off, patrollin' all the nation
The overseer could stop you, "what you're doin'?"
The officer will pull you over just when he's pursuin'
The overseer had the right to get ill
And if you fought back, the overseer had the right to kill
The officer has the right to arrest
And if you fight back they put a hole in your chest (woop)
They both ride horses
After 400 years, I've got no choices
The police them have a likkle gun
So when I'm on the streets, I walk around with a bigger one (woop-woop)
I hear it all day
Just so they can run the light and be upon their way

Yes indeed
Yes indeed
Yes indeed
Yes indeed

Woop-woop, that's the sound of da police
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da beast
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da police
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da beast

Check out the message in a rough stylee
The real criminal are the C-O-P
You check for undercover and the one P.D
But just a mere Black man, them wan' check me
Them check out me car, for it shine like the sun
But them jealous or them vexed, 'cause them can't afford one
Black people still slaves up 'til today
But the Black police officer nyah see it that way
Him want a salary, him want it
So he put on a badge and kill people for it
My grandfather had to deal with the cops
My great-grandfather dealt with the cops
My great-grandfather had to deal with the cops
And then my great, great, great, great, when it's gonna stop?

Woop-woop, that's the sound of da police
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da beast
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da police
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da beast
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da police
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da beast
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da police
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da beast

Yes indeed
Yes indeed
Yes indeed
Yes indeed

Woop-woop, that's the sound of da police
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da beast

Woop-woop, that's the sound of da police
Woop-woop, that's the sound of da beast

Overall Meaning

KRS-One's "Sound Of Da Police" is an anti-police brutality rap song that highlights the systemic oppression and violence experienced by Black people at the hands of the police. The opening lines of the song "Woop-woop! That's the sound of da police! That's the sound of the beast!" immediately grab the attention of the listeners and reflect the siren of a police car. The lyrics of the song address the unjust treatment of Black people by the police with the use of metaphors and similes.

The song also references the history of slavery and how the overseer's position evolved to that of a police officer. The line "The overseer could stop you what you're doing, the officer will pull you over just when he's pursuing" compares the control the overseer had over slaves with the power police officers hold over Black people in modern times. KRS-One also questions the police's commitment to justice and equality, pointing out that their focus is on enforcing laws rather than addressing the real criminals who cause harm to society.

Overall, "Sound Of Da Police" is a thought-provoking and powerful social commentary that addresses issues of systemic racism and police brutality that are still relevant today.

Line by Line Meaning

Woop-woop! That's the sound of da police! That's the sound of the beast!
The sound of the police is a warning sign for many people who see them as oppressive and dangerous.

Stand clear! Don man a-talk
Clear the way! A powerful message is being delivered.

You can't stand where I stand, you can't walk where I walk
You don't know what I've been through, so you can't judge me.

Watch out! We run New York
We are the ones in power here, so be careful.

Police man come, we bust him out the park
If the police try to interfere, we will take them down.

I know this for a fact, you don't like how I act
You don't approve of my behavior, but that's not my problem.

You claim I'm sellin' crack
You accuse me of selling drugs, but you're doing the same yourself.

But you be doin' that
You are not better than me, you are just as guilty.

I'd rather say "see ya"
I prefer to distance myself from you.

Cause I would never be ya
I am not interested in becoming like you.

Be a officer? You wicked overseer
Being a police officer is like being a cruel slave master.

Ya hotshot, want to get props and be a savior
You want to be seen as a hero, but you're not doing anything to help people.

First show a little respect, change your behavior
Start by treating people with respect and changing your oppressive behavior.

Change your attitude, change your plan
If you want to make a real difference, you need to change your mindset and approach.

There could never really be justice on stolen land
As long as the land was taken from its original inhabitants, justice will never truly exist.

Are you really for peace and equality?
Do you truly believe in peace and equality for all, or just for a select few?

Or when my car is hooked up, you know you want to follow me
As soon as I make myself known, you want to keep an eye on me.

Your laws are minimal
Your laws are lacking in real justice and fairness.

Cause you won't even think about lookin' at the real criminal
You are more concerned with punishing small-time offenders than with fighting real crime.

This has got to cease
This oppressive behavior needs to stop.

Cause we be getting hyped to the sound of da police
We are energized and motivated by the sound of police sirens.

Now here's a likkle truth
Here is a small but important truth.

Open up your eye
Pay attention and be aware.

While you're checking out the boom-bap, check the exercise
While you enjoy the music, think about the deeper meaning behind the lyrics.

Take the word "overseer," like a sample
Use the word "overseer" as a metaphor for police oppression.

Repeat it very quickly in a crew for example
Use repetition to make a point, like in a song or poem.

Officer, Officer, Officer, Officer!
Police officers are just overseers in a different form.

Yeah, officer from overseer
The same oppressive behavior that existed during slavery is still present in modern policing.

You need a little clarity?
Do you need a better understanding of what's really going on?

Check the similarity!
Compare police officers to slave overseers and see the similarities for yourself.

The overseer rode around the plantation
The overseer was in charge of keeping the slaves in line on the plantation.

The officer is off patrolling all the nation
The police officer is tasked with enforcing the law and maintaining order across the country.

The overseer could stop you what you're doing
The overseer had complete power over the enslaved people on the plantation.

The officer will pull you over just when he's pursuing
The police officer can stop and search anyone they suspect of wrongdoing.

The overseer had the right to get ill
The overseer was allowed to use whatever means necessary to keep the slaves in line.

And if you fought back, the overseer had the right to kill
If a slave tried to resist or fight back, the overseer could kill them without consequence.

The officer has the right to arrest
The police officer has the power to arrest anyone suspected of a crime.

And if you fight back they put a hole in your chest!
If you resist arrest or fight back against the police, they may use deadly force.

(Woop!) They both ride horses
Both the overseer and the police officer use their power to ride roughshod over others.

After 400 years, I've got no choices!
After centuries of oppression, Black people are still being mistreated and abused by the police.

The police them have a little gun
The police may have a weapon, but Black people have to deal with systemic oppression and violence every day.

So when I'm on the streets, I walk around with a bigger one
In order to defend themselves against police brutality, some Black people may carry a weapon.

(Woop-woop!) I hear it all day
The sound of police sirens is a constant reminder of the oppression Black people face.

Just so they can run the light and be upon their way
Police may use their sirens and lights to break traffic rules and get where they want to go faster.

Check out the message in a rough stylee
Listen closely to the message in this song, even if the delivery is a bit rough.

The real criminals are the see-O-P
The true criminals are the police themselves, who use their power to oppress and harm marginalized communities.

You check for undercover and the one PD
You may look out for undercover police or members of the police department.

But just a mere Black man, them want check me
Simply because I am a Black man, police will treat me with suspicion and try to control my every move.

Them check out me car for it shine like the sun
Police may target Black people driving nice cars, assuming they must have obtained them through illegal means.

But them jealous or them vexed cause them can't afford one
Police may be jealous or resentful of Black people who have more money or wealth than they do.

Black people still slaves up 'til today
Black people are still being oppressed and mistreated today, just as they were during slavery.

But the Black police officer nah see it that way
Even Black police officers may be complicit in the oppression of Black people by other police officers.

Him want a salary
Black police officers may be willing to work for the police department in order to earn a salary.

Him want it
They are willing to compromise their values and beliefs to earn a paycheck.

So he put on a badge and kill people for it
Some Black police officers may be willing to use their power to harm other Black people in order to earn their salary and maintain their position of authority.

My grandfather had to deal with the cops
Police oppression and brutality has been a part of Black people's lives for generations.

My great-grandfather dealt with the cops
Even further back than my grandfather, Black people have had to navigate a system that was designed to oppress them.

My great grandfather had to deal with the cops
The history of policing in America has been steeped in racism and oppression against Black people.

And then my great, great, great, great, when it's gonna stop?!
When will this cycle of police brutality and oppression end for Black people?

Woop-woop, That's the sound of da police, that's the sound of the beast
The sound of police sirens is a reminder of the oppression and brutality that Black people continue to face at the hands of the police.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Lawrence Krsone Parker, Rodney Lemay, Eric Victor Burdon, Bryan James Chandler, Alan Lomax

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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