I have never experienced the struggles of the “inner city”. I have only witnessed them from a distance and I wish they didn't exist. It is a complicated matter. I feel great empathy for those who face these challenges every day. My perception of trying to escape this life and its hardships is that it must feel like trying to crawl out of quicksand. It must seem like there is no way out. To break out, one must have a helping hand, be super talented, or very lucky. For decades, show business and professional sports have provided a “ticket” out for a fortunate few. I am a fanatic football fan. To me, football is the most amazing game/sport ever conceived. I cannot imagine the NFL without the talent borne out of the inner city. Talent alone may not be enough to get you an opportunity. It would seem that the stars must be aligned to even get noticed. It is sad to imagine the talent from the inner city that just never quite secured that opportunity or missed out by some ill-fated fluke. This is a song about one such deserving young man; a person who had every ingredient to succeed except one… TIME.

Lyrics

The Pride Of Chicago Words & music JRRothrock

Runnin’ through the streets of Chicago. Livin’s hard in this part of town.
Little Willie learned his "tricks" on the corner, playin’ as he was getting it down.
Never knowin’ anything different… than savoring every breath that you take.
Where guns, as toys, were stealin’ life from little boys… and your Daddy’s gone!
For goodness’ sake!

Willie wants to be a football hero! …be the apple of everyone’s eye.
In blazes or glory, it’s such a desperate story… when your heart’s reaching out for the sky.
Willie would say “Hey, Mr. Hero, can’t you see I wanna be like you”?
I’m gonna make it to the "big time" if it’s the last thing I do!
Then he would work with soul possessed. With his dream he was obsessed.
"I give my all in everything I do!"
"You know I love you, Brother, but I don’t wanna be like you!"

(Sports Play-by-play Announcer)
Ok, folks…this will be it. Down by 4 points with 11 seconds left in the game.
4th and 9 from their own 13-yard line. Southside will need a miracle if they’re gonna bring home their 3rdstraight state championship. They’re gonna have to "go for it all" on this play…
Morton breaks the huddle…brings them up to the line…
Here’s the snap! He drops back… fakes deep! He gives the ball to Lattimore up the middle!
He breaks it to the outside… turns the corner… cuts back! He’s got one man to beat!
Lattimore will score!!! Little Willie Lattimore… 87 yards!!!!!

You can only make it if you try…
You're gonna make it, baby, but… you know you’ll only make it if you try.
You're gonna make it, baby, but… you know you’ll only make it if you try.
You're gonna make it, baby, but… you know you’ll only make it if you try.

He knew he could become the "Pride of Chicago", so he gave it everything that he had.
In a town without pity, he held the hopes of the city… then "on a dime" the story turned so sad.
Jogging home one night from his workout, he was cornered by a desperate crowd…
…and when they snuffed Willie’s life with the flash of a knife…
…there fell a "silence that was deafeningly loud!"
From the pride that was always inside him, to his spirit, we were never so proud!

He’s still runnin’ through the streets of Chicago. Willie, we’re cheering you, wherever you are!
No, it wasn’t a lie… and as we look to the sky… I see you’ve made it! You are finally a star!

Run, Willie, run… run towards the sun. You’re gonna get there someday… Run, Willie, run!
Run, Willie, run… into the sun. You’re gonna get there someday… Run, Willie, run!
Run, Willie, run… into the sun. You’re gonna get there someday… Run, Willie, run!
Run, Willie, run… into the sun. You’re gonna get there someday… Run, Willie, run!