Performance-Ready Version[Hook] (x2) Scratching the Surface — forty years on the rise Skid Row vision — truth deep in our eyes Art in the struggle — paint the city with pride From the block to the gallery — the culture survived[Soulful Singing] 40 Years, Visual Arts in Skid Row... nineteen eighty-five thru twenty twenty-five, exhibition and it's worth it.. Scratching the Surface... Scratching the Surface... Scratching the Surface... [Verse 1] Back in ‘85 — put the brush to the wall Poverty Dept — made a call to us all Skid Row voices — never hidden away Life on the block — in the art we displayMurals and canvases — the colors they speak Every face in the crowd — got a story unique Shelters to the streets — creativity grows Dark nights fade — when the light still showsScratchin’ the surface — but the roots go deep Forty years strong — it’s a vow we keep Museum of memory — archive stays Document the struggle — in a thousand waysSkid Row heartbeat — with a crown on top Four decades later — and we still won’t stop Every frame, every word — that’s a fight we own This our house — our stage, our zone[Hook] (x2) Scratching the Surface — forty years in the game Skid Row art — put respect on the name Paintin’ our story — never fade away Legacy alive — from the past to today[Soulful Singing] 40 Years, Visual Arts in Skid Row... nineteen eighty-five thru twenty twenty-five, exhibition and it's worth it.. Scratching the Surface... Scratching the Surface... Scratching the Surface... [Verse 2] Alley was a stage — every rhyme was a torch Drumbeats echo — from the block to the porch Vision so strong — couldn’t silence the sound Skid Row family — still holdin’ it downGallery walls — show pain and hope Pictures painted — help the people cope History alive — in the brush, in the rhyme Forty years standin’ — not lost to timeFunk Hut nights — to museum halls Skid Row art — still breakin’ them walls Truth revealed — through the artists’ feel Scratchin’ through the surface — with the power that’s realStory of the people — courage to fight Every canvas blaze — like a beacon of light Four decades strong — with the beat so clear Skid Row art — gonna last for years[Hook] (x2) Scratching the Surface — let the people unite Murals on the walls — keep the culture in sight Forty years strong — every color ignite Skid Row vision — still shining so bright[Soulful Singing] 40 Years, Visual Arts in Skid Row... nineteen eighty-five thru twenty twenty-five, exhibition and it's worth it.. Scratching the Surface... Scratching the Surface... Scratching the Surface... [Verse 3] Archive open — let the records reveal Testimonies sacred — every memory real Marches and stages — the voices remain Creativity stronger — than struggle and painYouth in the circle — truth from the old Stories on canvas — more precious than gold Photographs framed — spirit inside Scratchin’ the surface — nothin’ to hideBlueprint made — outta love and fire Forty years later — still we inspire Skid Row rhythm — deep in the land Built by the people — brush in the handVictory painted — on walls we claim History alive — in the art we name Scratching the Surface — tale we tell Skid Row forever — legacy swell[Hook] (x2) Scratching the Surface — forty years of the fight Skid Row soul — put the struggle in sight From the block to the world — now the vision is free Skid Row art — that’s our victory[Soulful Singing] 40 Years, Visual Arts in Skid Row... nineteen eighty-five thru twenty twenty-five, exhibition and it's worth it.. Scratching the Surface... Scratching the Surface... Scratching the Surface... [Soulful Singing] 40 Years, Visual Arts in Skid Row... nineteen eighty-five thru twenty twenty-five, exhibition and it's worth it.. Scratching the Surface... Scratching the Surface... Scratching the Surface... [Soulful Singing] 40 Years, Visual Arts in Skid Row... nineteen eighty-five thru twenty twenty-five, exhibition and it's worth it.. Scratching the Surface... Scratching the Surface... Scratching the Surface...
