Written by Neneh Cherry and the members of Gnag Starr, the song is a haunting call for faith and wisdom in the face of adversity, crafted around a sample of acoustic bass and cymbal and featuring an unintentional guest vocal courtesy of Cherry’s daughter.
Samples: You Ain’t Lookin' in the Right Pla...
I'm just another voice from the street
And since it's my choice, I feel that I must speak
Now I know that you won't listen to little me
But I can't rest unless I get this off my chest, see
The city's my home the streets where I roam
But still I leave the drugs and violence alone
And so I try to stay in the right frame of mind
Although I know some people who might say that I'm
Crazy and lazy for not breakin' out
But the city has soul and that's what I'm about
I have an appetite that must be fed
No longer blind and being led
The kind of freedom that you can buy
My bank won't lend me yet
But still I can get by--and even smile
So don't judge me by the colour of my skin
My blood runs as deep as your runs red
So you can see it ain’t over yet which takes me out of the rap
The choice is mine with my joy and pain inside
I try to get by and I ain't gone under yet!
See bodies with souls living in the street
No one wants to live with nothing to eat
But to climb over living people and feel
That they brought in on themselves cause they lazy or would rather steal is a mystery--
So don't judge me by the colour of my skin
My blood runs as deep as your runs red
So you can see it ain’t over yet which takes me out of the verse
Your under is my over, I’ve never seen your over yet
But don't forget: I ain't gone under yet!
I don't steal I don't run tricks or scams
Cause I'm a strong young woman yes I know who I am
But sometimes it's so hard to get by
And touch circumstances make me want to get high
But I don't go too far cause that ain't my style
So why don't you come live next to me for a while
I Ain’t Gone Under Yet was written by Neneh Cherry & Booga Bear & DJ Premier & Guru.
I Ain’t Gone Under Yet was produced by Neneh Cherry & Gang Starr & Booga Bear & Jonny $.
Neneh Cherry released I Ain’t Gone Under Yet on Mon Oct 26 1992.