Hey God Descrepency

I'd always taken it as him being born into (initiated) the ghetto at 12, not literally being born in the ghetto, i.e. maybe he joined a gang aged twelve.

No. The idea is Jon or Richie, is observing a 4 year old boy playing outside in the ghetto in 1995 while recognizing the odds of his future at 12 and then 21 years old based on statistics. At no point in the song is the boy 12 or 21 at the time it's being sung. It's the boy's future.

I wonder how many people here write off songs as crap or having horrible lyrics because they completely butcher them in their own head and fail to get it.

That's how I've always seen it too. It doesn't matter what year it was when the song was written. They're 'foreseeing' the boy's future judging by the surroundings/life style he grows up in. Basically this song is saying "what has this world come to?" At least that's how i see it.

Hang on - so does this mean that guitars don't really bleed?

Yes, they do! And Always is the perfect song for a wedding.

Yeah, I think it's one of two things which people have already said ..

Basically, he might be 12 .. yet he was 'born' into the ghetto in 1991.

And like someone has said ... could be talking about the future and by the age he's 12 .. he will have a gun.

For me the key line is "The odds are bet against him"……. Meaning that, if "odds" are being made on an event, it tells me that the event didn't happen yet.

In this situation it's most likely that he's making a prediction (future dating a story) based on past events with "odds".....

This kid does not have a chance. He was born in 1991 (innocent and happy playing in the summer sun). Unfortunately because he was raised in the ghetto, he'll "most likely" own a gun by age 12., So the odds will be against him that he doesn't make it to his 21st birthday.

Also, "Born" doesn't necessarily have to mean he was physically birthed in the ghetto in 1991. "Born" can take on a different a meaning too. But that is up to interpretation.

Hope this clears things up for you.

Of course that's what it means, I really don't get how anyone whose first language is English couldn't get that, it makes perfect sense.

Incidentally: http://drycounty.com/jovitalk/showthread.php?t=17662

^^LOL

English is not my first language but i still understand the meaning

Exactly, I'd understand if English is not your first language, but otherwise... it's not a debatable line.