Election Time – English Lyrics

• By: Wyclef Jean

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into "Election Time" by Wyclef Jean, a powerful hip-hop anthem that transcends mere music to explore themes of civic responsibility and national rebuilding. This song offers a unique opportunity to engage with political discourse through its accessible lyrics, encouraging listeners to understand the nuances of democratic choice and social issues. Through Wyclef's blend of hip-hop and Haitian influences, you'll gain insight into the artist's personal journey and his profound connection to his homeland, making it a compelling piece for language learners interested in culturally rich and politically charged narratives.

[English]

♪ My generation like, ♪

♪ We okay ♪

♪ As long as we got music, we gon' dance all day ♪

♪ He gon' vote Taylor Swift, she gon' vote Kanye, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ Election time is coming ♪

♪ We okay ♪

♪ As long as we got music, we gon' party all day ♪

♪ She gon' vote U2, he gon' vote Coldplay, play, play ♪

♪ Election time is coming ♪

♪ Immigration, socialism, capitalism, racism ♪

♪ Health care, welfare, seems like nobody cares ♪

♪ Big business, corporation, small business, taxation ♪

♪ Unemployment, education, my generation ♪

♪ Built the space station so when you google earth ♪

♪ You can see all the Haitians as they rebuild their nation ♪

♪ With fair trade, everybody trades ♪

♪ You trade, I trade, and everybody gets paid ♪

♪ Election time around the corner ♪

♪ Who you gon' vote for ♪

♪ We okay ♪

♪ Election time around the corner ♪

♪ What you gon' fight for ♪

♪ We okay ♪

♪ Election time around the corner ♪

♪ Who you gon' vote for ♪

♪ We okay ♪

♪ Election time is coming ♪

♪ Do you want peace or war ♪

♪ Alternative energy or oil in your SUV ♪

♪ Tell me what you're looking for, ♪

♪ We about to have a poll ♪

♪ Gun control, infrastructure, agriculture, manufacturer ♪

♪ Hip Hop, be my culture, tell me what you think about us ♪

♪ Technology and foreign policy ♪

♪ I need the bailout money to stimulate economy ♪

♪ Raised on family values, my life be my testament ♪

♪ King had a dream and you too can be the president ♪

♪ Election time around the corner ♪

♪ Who you gon' vote for ♪

♪ We okay ♪

♪ Election time around the corner ♪

♪ What you gon' fight for ♪

♪ We okay ♪

♪ Election time around the corner ♪

♪ Who you gon' vote for ♪

♪ We okay ♪

♪ Election time is coming ♪

♪ Do you want peace or war ♪

♪ But the kids like ♪

♪ We okay ♪

♪ As long as we got music, we gon' dance all day ♪

♪ He gon' vote Taylor Swift, she gon' vote Kanye, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ Election time is coming ♪

♪ But the kids like ♪

♪ We okay ♪

♪ As long as we got music, we gon' party all day ♪

♪ She will vote U2, he will vote Coldplay, play, play ♪

♪ Election time is coming ♪

♪ You know what? ♪

♪ What? ♪

♪ Why don't you take some of that stuff I grew up on ♪

♪ You know what I'm talkin' 'bout? ♪

♪ I got you ♪

♪ Yeah, Gramps was a voodoo priest ♪

♪ Dad was a preacher ♪

♪ Uncle was a Mason, I was raised Christian ♪

♪ Best friend, Muslim, "As-salamu alaikum" ♪

♪ My manager was Jewish, he taught me "Shabbat shalom" ♪

♪ Flatbush Rastas taught me the scriptures ♪

♪ Haile Selassie, Marcus Garvey ♪

♪ Saint L'Ouverture, Haitian Revolution ♪

♪ Napoleon's army got spanked by them Haitians ♪

♪ Toussaint St. Jean, with the info ♪

♪ Did you know that a Haitian founded Chicago? ♪

♪ If I was president ♪

♪ The first thing I would do is get my people out them tents ♪

♪ Election time is coming ♪

♪ My generation like ♪

♪ We okay ♪

♪ As long as we got music, we gon' dance all day ♪

♪ He gon' vote Taylor Swift, she gon' vote Kanye, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ Election time is coming ♪

♪ But the kids like ♪

♪ We okay ♪

♪ As long as we got music, we gon' party all day ♪

♪ She will vote U2, he will vote Coldplay, play, play ♪

♪ Election time is coming ♪

♪ I wanna thank you all for coming to see me now ♪

♪ You could have been anywhere ♪

♪ But you've chosen to come ♪

♪ To the Haitian Experience to see us ♪

♪ I go by the name of Wyclef Jean, straight from Haiti ♪

♪ And that's my brother Sedeck on the drums ♪

♪ I got a question everybody ♪

♪ What would you to protect the one you love ♪

♪ All hands on deck ♪

♪ Cause I'd do anything man ♪

♪ I love her, I love her, I love her ♪

♪ Two step, two step ♪

♪ Forever ♪

♪ Two step ♪

♪ And ever ♪

♪ Two step ♪

♪ I'm gonna love you ♪

♪ Forever ♪

♪ And I don't care who is listening ♪

♪ I'm gonna scream it loud ♪

♪ I'm gonna love you ♪

♪ Forever ♪

♪ Yeah, she move her hips like a dancer ♪

♪ She wanna ( indistinct, indistinct) like she don't care ♪

♪ My baby's got no fear ♪

♪ Things may worsen we still here ♪

♪ From the bottom of the rubble girl back to the top ♪

♪ From the bottom of the rubble girl back to the top ♪

♪ From the bottom of the rubble girl back to the top ♪

♪ From the bottom of the rubble ♪

♪ We don't care. ♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
election /ɪˈlɛkʃən/ B2	noun - a formal process of choosing a person for a political office
vote /voʊt/ A2	verb - to cast a ballot in an election noun - a formal indication of choice, expressed by a ballot
generation /ˌdʒɛnəˈreɪʃən/ B1	noun - all of the people born and living at about the same time
immigration /ˌɪməˈɡreɪʃən/ B2	noun - the act of moving to a new country to live permanently
capitalism /ˈkæpɪtəlɪzəm/ C1	noun - an economic system based on private ownership of the means of production and profit motive
socialism /ˈsoʊʃəlɪzəm/ C1	noun - a political and economic theory advocating public ownership of the means of production
racism /ˈreɪsɪzəm/ B2	noun - prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against a person or people based on their race
welfare /ˈwɛlfɛr/ B2	noun - government support for the health and well‑being of its citizens
unemployment /ˌʌnɪmˈplɔɪmənt/ B2	noun - the state of being without a paid job while actively looking for work
education /ˌɛdjʊˈkeɪʃən/ B1	noun - the process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially at school
trade /treɪd/ B1	noun - the action of buying and selling goods and services verb - to exchange goods or services for money
peace /pis/ A2	noun - a state of calm and freedom from conflict
war /wɔːr/ A2	noun - armed conflict between different countries or groups
economy /ɪˈkɒnəmi/ B2	noun - the system of production, distribution and consumption of goods and services in a country
infrastructure /ˈɪnfrəˌstrʌktʃər/ C1	noun - the basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise
technology /tɛkˈnɒlədʒi/ B2	noun - the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes
foreign /ˈfɒrən/ B1	adjective - of, from, or characteristic of a country other than one's own
policy /ˈpɒləsi/ C1	noun - a course or principle of action adopted or proposed by an organization or individual
bailout /ˈbeɪlaʊt/ C1	noun - financial assistance to a failing business or economy, often by a government
stimulate /ˈstɪmjʊleɪt/ C1	verb - to encourage or increase activity, growth, or development

Key Grammar Structures

• As long as we got music, we gon' dance all day

  ➔ As long as...

  ➔ This uses the conjunction "as long as" to introduce a condition. "Gon'" is a contraction of "going to" used in informal speech.

• Election time is coming

  ➔ Present Continuous

  ➔ Indicates an action that is happening now or around now, emphasizing the imminence of the event.

• Who you gon' vote for

  ➔ Question with "who" and future tense ("gon'" for "going to")

  ➔ A question asking about the person the listener will vote for. "Gon'" is colloquial for "going to."

• Do you want peace or war

  ➔ Direct question with "or" (alternative)

  ➔ A direct question presenting two choices. "Or" connects the alternatives.

• I need the bailout money to stimulate economy

  ➔ Need + infinitive (to stimulate)

  ➔ Expressing a need, followed by the infinitive to indicate the purpose.

• Raised on family values, my life be my testament

  ➔ Passive Voice/Past Participle; Subject-verb inversion for emphasis

  ➔ "Raised" functions as a past participle. The sentence structure is slightly inverted for emphasis. "Be" is used for poetic effect.

• I was raised Christian

  ➔ Passive voice

  ➔ The subject of the sentence is acted upon, which is a characteristic of passive voice.

• Did you know that a Haitian founded Chicago?

  ➔ Indirect question with "that"

  ➔ A question structured as a statement, introduced with a question about knowledge and using "that" to connect the statement.

• You could have been anywhere

  ➔ Modal perfect (could have + past participle)

  ➔ Expresses a possibility in the past that did not happen.

• I'm gonna love you

  ➔ Future tense with "going to"

  ➔ Expresses an intention or future action using "going to". "Gonna" is a colloquial contraction.