Across 110th Street

Bobby Womack's song "Across 110th Street" paints a vivid picture of life in the ghetto, specifically focusing on the struggles and harsh realities faced by those living in Harlem. The song opens with a personal narrative, where Womack describes himself as the third brother of five, doing whatever it took to survive. This sets the stage for a broader commentary on the daily fight to escape the ghetto, a place where survival often means making morally questionable choices. The lyrics reflect a sense of entrapment and the constant pressure to find a better way of life, despite the overwhelming odds.

The chorus of the song repeatedly references 110th Street, a symbolic boundary that represents the divide between the impoverished ghetto and the rest of the city. Womack highlights the various elements that make life in the ghetto so challenging: pimps preying on vulnerable women, drug pushers keeping addicts in their grip, and women resorting to prostitution to make ends meet. These vivid images serve to underscore the systemic issues and the cycle of poverty and exploitation that many residents face. The street becomes a microcosm of the larger societal problems, encapsulating the struggles of urban life.

Womack also offers a glimmer of hope and advice amidst the bleakness. He urges his listeners to find a better way out, warning against the temporary escape offered by drugs. His message is one of resilience and strength, emphasizing that survival requires inner fortitude. The song concludes with a broader observation that the issues faced in Harlem are not unique but are mirrored in ghettos across the country. This universal message adds a layer of social commentary, making "Across 110th Street" not just a song about Harlem, but a powerful statement on urban poverty and resilience.