911 – English Lyrics

• By: Wyclef Jean, Mary J. Blige

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the depths of love and sacrifice in Wyclef Jean's iconic song "911" featuring Mary J. Blige. This track, with its blend of hip hop, R&B, and reggae, offers a poignant look at the complexities of relationships and the emotional emergencies they can create. Learn about the song's creation, meaning, and impact, and discover why it remains a timeless exploration of the heart.

[English]

("911" intro music)

♪ Yo, what up, this Wyclef with Mary J ♪

♪ I like to serenade the girls with my acoustic guitar ♪

♪ You knows what I'm sayin'? ♪

♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪

♪ Yo, fellas havin' problems with the chicks ♪

♪ I want you right now to turn the lights down low ♪

♪ Pull your girl up next to you ♪

♪ I want you to sing this to her ♪

♪ If death comes for me tonight, girl ♪

♪ I want you to know that I loved you ♪

♪ And no matter how tough I wouldn't dare ♪

♪ Only to you I would reveal my tears ♪

♪ So tell the police I ain't home tonight ♪

♪ Messin' around with you is gonna get me life ♪

♪ But when I look into your eyes ♪

♪ Man, you're worth that sacrifice ♪

♪ Ay, ay ♪

♪ If this is the kind of love ♪

♪ That my mom used to warn me about ♪

♪ Man, I'm in trouble ♪

♪ I'm in real big trouble ♪

♪ If this is the kind of love ♪

♪ That the old folks used to warn me about ♪

♪ Man, I'm in trouble ♪

♪ I'm in real big trouble ♪

♪ I need y'all to do me a favor ♪

♪ Someone please call 911 ♪

♪ Pick up the phone yo ♪

♪ Tell them I just been shot down ♪

♪ And the bullet's, in my heart ♪

♪ And it's piercin' through my soul ♪

♪ I'm losin' blood yo ♪

♪ Feel my body gettin' cold ♪

♪ So cold, so cold ♪

♪ Someone please call 911 ♪

♪ Pick up the phone yo ♪

♪ The alleged assailant is five foot one ♪

♪ And she shot me through my soul ♪

♪ Feel my body gettin' cold ♪

♪ So cold ♪

♪ Sometimes I feel like I'm a prisoner ♪

♪ I think I'm trapped here for a while ♪

♪ But I'm always right here with you girl ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah ♪

♪ And every breath I fight to take ♪

♪ It's as hard as these four walls I wanna break, mm ♪

♪ Yo Mary ♪

♪ I told the cops you wasn't here tonight ♪

♪ All right ♪

♪ Messin' around with me is gonna get you life ♪

♪ Oh yeah, Mary, yeah ♪

♪ But every time I look into your eyes ♪

♪ Man, it's worth the sacrifice, mm ♪

♪ Girl, girl ♪

♪ If this is the kind of love ♪

♪ That your mom used to warn you about ♪

♪ Mary, you're in trouble ♪

♪ I'm in real bit trouble ♪

♪ You're in real big trouble ♪

♪ Lord knows I'm in trouble ♪

♪ If this is the kind of love ♪

♪ That the old folks used to warn me about ♪

♪ Every day, every night ♪

♪ I'm in trouble ♪

♪ I'm in real big trouble ♪

♪ I'm in real big trouble ♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ You got anything to say, girl ♪

♪ Someone please call 911, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ Pick up the phone yo ♪

♪ Tell them I just got shot down ♪

♪ Tell them I just got shot down ♪

♪ And it's piercin' through my soul ♪

♪ I'm losin' blood yo ♪

♪ Feel my body gettin' cold, ah ♪

♪ So cold, so cold ♪

♪ Someone please call 911 ♪

♪ Can you do that for me ♪

♪ The alleged assailant was five foot one ♪

♪ And she shot me through my soul ♪

♪ And he shot me through my heart ♪

♪ Feel my body gettin' cold ♪

♪ He didn't care, he didn't worry, he didn't wonder ♪

♪ Wyclef and Mary J. Blige ♪

♪ I'm feelin' you girl ♪

♪ I understand ♪

♪ And you're doin', what you're doin', would you do it ♪

♪ And do it and do it and do it for me, yeah, yeah ♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
serenade /sɪˈreɪneɪd/ B2	verb - to sing or play a romantic song for someone
problems /ˈprɒbləmz/ A2	noun - a situation that causes difficulty or worry
reveal /rɪˈviːl/ B1	verb - to make known previously secret information
tough /tʌf/ A2	adjective - difficult
sacrifice /ˈsækrifaɪs/ B2	noun - an act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else verb - to give up something valued
warn /wɔːrn/ A2	verb - to inform someone of a possible danger or problem
trouble /ˈtrʌbl/ A2	noun - difficulty or problems
favor /ˈfeɪvər/ A2	noun - a kind or helpful act
shot /ʃɒt/ A2	verb - to fire a gun noun - a bullet wound
piercin' /ˈpɪrsɪŋ/ B1	adjective - penetrating or sharp
losin' /ˈluːzɪŋ/ A2	verb - to be deprived of or cease to have
assailant /əˈseɪlənt/ C1	noun - a person who attacks someone
prisoner /ˈprɪznər/ B1	noun - a person who is kept in prison
trapped /træpt/ B1	adjective - unable to escape from confinement
breath /brɛθ/ A1	noun - the air taken into and expelled from the lungs
fight /faɪt/ A2	verb - to take part in a physical fight
break /breɪk/ A2	verb - to separate into pieces
worry /ˈwɜːri/ A2	verb - to feel or show anxiety and concern
understand /ˌʌndərˈstænd/ B1	verb - to perceive the intended meaning of words, a language, or a speaker

Key Grammar Structures

• ♪ I like to serenade the girls with my acoustic guitar ♪

  ➔ Verb + to infinitive (like to serenade)

  ➔ The structure 'like + to infinitive' is used to express a preference or enjoyment.

• ♪ You knows what I'm sayin'? ♪

  ➔ Present continuous (I'm sayin')

  ➔ The present continuous tense is used to describe an action that is happening now or around now. Note: Informal English uses 'knows' with 'you'.

• ♪ If death comes for me tonight, girl ♪

  ➔ Conditional sentence (Type 1 - If + present simple, will + verb)

  ➔ This is a first conditional sentence, used to talk about a possible situation in the future.

• ♪ I want you to know that I loved you ♪

  ➔ Indirect Object + Infinitive (want you *to know*) and Past Simple (loved)

  ➔ The structure 'want + indirect object + to infinitive' is used. Also Past Simple 'loved' is used.

• ♪ And no matter how tough I wouldn't dare ♪

  ➔ Modal verb (wouldn't dare)

  ➔ 'Wouldn't dare' is a modal verb phrase expressing that the speaker would not take the risk or be brave enough.

• ♪ Messin' around with you is gonna get me life ♪

  ➔ Going to future (is *gonna* get)

  ➔ 'Gonna' is a contraction of 'going to,' used to talk about the future.

• ♪ But when I look into your eyes ♪

  ➔ Subordinate clause (when + clause)

  ➔ The phrase 'when I look into your eyes' is a subordinate clause which modifies the main clause.

• ♪ If this is the kind of love ♪

  ➔ Conditional sentence (Type 0 or 1, depending on interpretation)

  ➔ The sentence implies a condition, which could be a general truth (Type 0 - If + present simple, present simple) or a possible future (Type 1 - If + present simple, will + verb).

• ♪ I need y'all to do me a favor ♪

  ➔ Object + Infinitive (y'all to do)

  ➔ 'Y'all' is an informal way of saying 'you all'. The structure is 'need + object + to infinitive'.