Diamonds From Sierra Leone (Remix) – English Lyrics

• By: Kanye West, JAY-Z
• Album: Late Registration

Lyrics & Translation

Step into a masterclass of multi-layered storytelling and rich, orchestral production. “Diamonds From Sierra Leone (Remix)” offers a unique opportunity to explore complex English vocabulary related to social justice, geopolitics (Sierra Leone Civil War, blood diamonds), and moral conflict, all while engaging with the witty, dual-meaning wordplay that is the hallmark of both Kanye West and JAY-Z's lyrical styles.

[English]

作词 : Kanye West/DeVon Harris/Don Black/John Barry/JAY-Z

作曲 : Kanye West/DeVon Harris/Don Black/John Barry/JAY-Z

编曲 : DeVon Harris/Jon Brion/Kanye West

制作人 : DeVon Harris/Jon Brion/Kanye West

Diamonds are forever

They're all I need to please me

They can't stimulate or tease me

They won't leave in the night

Have no fear that they might

Desert me

...

"Diamonds are forever forever forever"

Throw ya diamonds in the sky

If you feel the vibe

"Diamonds are forever forever forever"

The ROC is still alive

Everytime I rhyme

"Forever and ever!"

For ever ever? for ever ever? ever ever?

Ever ever? ever ever? ever ever? ever ever?

Good Morning, this ain't Vietnam still

People lose hands, legs, arms for real

Little was known of Sierra Leone

And how it connect to the diamonds we own

When I speak of Diamonds in this song

I ain't talkin bout the ones that be glown

I'm talkin bout Rocafella, my home, my chain

These ain't conflict diamonds,is they Jacob? don't lie to me mayne

See, a part of me sayin' keep shinin',

How? when I know of the blood diamonds

Though it's thousands of miles away

Sierra Leone connect to what we go through today

Over here, its a drug trade, we die from drugs

Over there, they die from what we buy from drugs

The diamonds, the chains, the bracelets, the charmses

I thought my Jesus Piece was so harmless

'til I seen a picture of a shorty armless

And here's the conflict

It's in a black person's soul to rock that gold

Spend ya whole life tryna get that ice

On a polar rugby it look so nice

How could somethin' so wrong make me feel so right, right?

'fore I beat myself up like Ike

You could still throw ya Rocafella diamond tonight, 'cause

"Diamonds are forever forever forever"

Throw ya diamonds in the sky

If you feel the vibe

"Diamonds are forever forever forever"

The ROC is still alive

Everytime I rhyme

"Forever and ever!"

For ever ever? for ever ever? ever ever?

Ever ever? ever ever? ever ever? ever ever?

People askin' me is I'm gon' give my chain back (uh)

That'll be the same day I give the game back (uh)

You know the next question dog 'yo, where Dame at?'(uh)

This track the Indian dance to bring our reign back (whoo!)

'wassup wit you a Jay man, are ya'll okay man?'

Yep!

I got it from her 'ye damn!

The chain remians, the gang is in tact

The name is mine, I'll take blame for that

The pressure's on, but guess who ain't gon' crack?

Pardon me I had to laugh at that

How could you falter when you're the rock of gibralter

I had to get of the boat so I could walk on water

This ain't no tour order, this is nothin to me

Difficult takes a day, impossible takes a week

I do this in my sleep,

I sold Kilos of coke, (so?) I'm guessin' I can sell CD's

I'm not a businessman I'm a business, man

Let me handle my buisness, damn!

Kanyeez you got me, Freeway and Foxy

YG', Teairra Mari, Petey watch me

Bleek could be one hit away his whole career

As long as I'm alive, he's a millionaire

And even if I die, he's in my will somewhere

So he can just kick back and chill somewhere, oh yeah

He don't even have to write rhymes

The Dynasty like my money last three lifetimes

Shirley Bassey was in the rear sayin exactly

What I was sayin practically me whole carreer

The diamond is forever, I been mindin' this forever

Now the Louis Vuitton Don's timin' couldn't be better

People lined up to see the Titanic sinkin'

Instead we rose from the ash like a phoenix

If you waitin' for the end, the dynasty signed

And what seemed like forever is a mighty long time

I'm young *******

Goodnight!

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
diamonds /ˈdaɪəməndz/ B2	noun - precious stones consisting of carbon crystallized under high pressure
forever /fɔːˈrɛvər/ B1	adverb - for all future time; eternally
vibe /vaɪb/ B2	noun - the atmosphere or feeling a place or situation gives off
Rocafella /ˌroʊkəˈfɛlə/ C1	proper noun - nickname for Roc-A-Fella Records, a hip‑hop label founded by Jay‑Z
conflict /ˈkɒnflɪkt/ B2	noun - a serious disagreement or fight, often violent; in this context, “conflict diamonds” are gems mined in war zones
blood /blʌd/ A2	noun - the red liquid that circulates in the bodies of humans and animals
chain /tʃeɪn/ B1	noun - a series of linked metal rings, often worn as jewelry
bracelet /ˈbreɪslɪt/ B2	noun - an ornament worn around the wrist
charm /tʃɑːrm/ B2	noun - a small decorative object, often attached to a bracelet or necklace
Jesus /ˈdʒiːzəs/ B1	proper noun - central figure of Christianity
armless /ˈɑːrləs/ C1	adjective - without arms; lacking arms
soul /soʊl/ B1	noun - the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being
ice /aɪs/ A2	noun - frozen water; also slang for diamonds
rock /rɒk/ B1	verb - to move back and forth or side to side
impossible /ɪmˈpɒsɪbəl/ B2	adjective - not able to be done or achieved
millionaire /ˌmɪljəˈnɛər/ C1	noun - a person whose wealth is at least one million units of currency
dynasty /ˈdaɪnəsti/ C1	noun - a succession of rulers from the same family or line
phoenix /ˈfiːnɪks/ C1	noun - mythical bird that rises from its own ashes, symbolizing rebirth

Key Grammar Structures

• Diamonds are forever, they're all I need to please me.

  ➔ Present Simple Tense

  ➔ The verb 'are' and 'need' are in the present simple tense, used to express a general truth or habitual action.

• They won't leave in the night, have no fear that they might desert me.

  ➔ Future with 'will' (negated)

  ➔ 'Won't' is a contraction of 'will not', used to express a future action that will not happen.

• If you feel the vibe.

  ➔ If Clause (Type 1)

  ➔ The 'if' clause here expresses a possible condition in the present or future, with the main clause showing the result.

• Though it's thousands of miles away, Sierra Leone connect to what we go through today.

  ➔ Concession with 'though'

  ➔ 'Though' is used to introduce a contrasting idea despite the main clause.

• How could somethin' so wrong make me feel so right, right?

  ➔ Tag Question

  ➔ The phrase 'right?' at the end is a tag question, used to seek confirmation or agreement.

• I'm not a businessman I'm a business, man.

  ➔ Emphasis with Inversion

  ➔ The inversion of 'I'm a business, man' emphasizes the statement by placing the subject after the verb.

• As long as I'm alive, he's a millionaire.

  ➔ Subordinating Conjunction 'as long as'

  ➔ 'As long as' introduces a condition that must be true for the main clause to be valid.

• Even if I die, he's in my will somewhere.

  ➔ Even if Clause

  ➔ 'Even if' introduces a hypothetical condition that emphasizes the unlikelihood of the situation.