Across 110th Street

Bobby Womack

About Across 110th Street

"Across 110th Street" is a single by Bobby Womack, from the soundtrack and film of the same name that starred Anthony Quinn and Yaphet Kotto. 50 Cent told NME that the song was the first with which he fell in love: "Because of how the situation was for black people in America at that time, there were a lot of struggle songs around. It seemed to be something that really moved the people around me. I felt the power of music to raise people up; to make them angry or proud."


Year:
2003
3:50
110 

 The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com

I was the third brother of five
Doing whatever I had to do to survive
I'm not saying what I did was alright
Trying to break out of the ghetto was a day to day fight

Been down so long, getting up didn't cross my mind
I knew there was a better way of life that I was just trying to find
You don't know what you'll do until you're put under pressure
Across 110th Street is a hell of a tester

Across 110th Street
Pimps trying to catch a woman that's weak
Across 110th Street
Pushers won't let the junkie go free
Across 110th Street
Woman trying to catch a trick on the street
Across 110th Street
You can find it all in the street

I got one more thing I'd like to y'all about right now

Hey brother, there's a better way out
Snorting that coke, shooting that dope man you're copping out
Take my advice, it's either live or die
You've got to be strong, if you want to survive

The family on the other side of town
Would catch hell without a ghetto around
In every city you find the same thing going down
Harlem is the capital of every ghetto town

Across 110th Street
Pimps trying to catch a woman that's weak
Across 110th Street
Pushers won't let the junkie go free
Across 110th Street
A woman trying to catch a trick on the street
Across 110th Street
You can find it all in the street

 The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com


Bobby Womack

Robert Dwayne "Bobby" Womack ( /ˈwoʊmæk/; born March 4, 1944 - June 27 2014) was an American singer-songwriter and musician. An active recording artist since the early 1960s where he started his career as the lead singer of his family musical group The Valentinos and as Sam Cooke's backing guitarist, Womack's career has spanned more than 50 years and has spanned a repertoire in the styles of R&B, soul, rock and roll, doo-wop, gospel, and country. more »

3 fans

Written by: Bobby Womack

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Abkco Music Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


13 facts about this song

Release Date
"Across 110th Street" by Bobby Womack was released in 1972.
Soundtrack Feature
The song was originally composed as the main theme song for the 1972 film of the same name.
Genre Classification
The song is often categorized in the soul and funk music genres.
Historical Context
Womack was inspired to write this song based on his experience growing up in a poor neighborhood in Cleveland, and the street in the title signifies the boundary between Harlem's middle-class neighborhood and the poorer, largely African American areas to the north.
Featured Artists
The song features contributions from the seasoned musicians of Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Alabama, where many of Bobby Womack's hit songs were recorded.
Chart Performance
"Across 110th Street" reached the top 20 on the Billboard R&B chart in 1973.
Film Reference
This song has been used in a few popular films aside from the original "Across 110th Street", most notably in Quentin Tarantino's 1997 film "Jackie Brown".
Social Significance
The lyrics of the song provide a narrative about struggle and survival in an urban, low-income environment, telling the story of individuals crossing from despair to hope.
Retrospective Acclaim
The song is now considered as one of the quintessential examples of 70s soul music and remains one of Womack’s best-known tracks.
Album
"Across 110th Street" is the title track of Bobby Womack's 1972 album which has the same name.
Cover Versions
The song has been covered by various artists over the years, including British soul singer Joss Stone.
Re-issue
The song was reissued in 2007 in the UK as a 7" vinyl for a 35th-anniversary release.
Recognition
Rolling Stone ranked "Across 110th Street" as number 63 on its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Songs.

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    Across 110th Street

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1973

    Billboard #56


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