Ghetto Speak – English Lyrics

• By: Wale

Lyrics & Translation

[English]

From a land that far too well comprehends universal madness

Not too far from the symbolic architecture that masks it

But all is fair, I guess

'Cause broken glass, cherry blossoms and bullet fragments

Don't look as fantastic on the pamphlet, yeah

Let me land, though, let me land

Yeah, I welcome premature jokes, I'm a last laugh enthusiast

My wrath 'bout to start

This your last time to show me how we doing

How you moving? What we doing? Are we doing this?

You tryin' to outclass, you gonna found out who the truant is

Nosy little boy, I be hot, tryin' to be cool with us

Dap us and move along, my temperature's doin' too much

I'm out in London on the humble, trying not to clutch

My cousin laughed and said, "Man, walk, I got the crutches"

Two sticks can make a fire, show me where the smoke is

I told 'em, show me who gonna match the one holding the torches

Now you said you in the trenches having all the motion

I don't know, but look, to me, that sounds like extortion, mm

But you ain't know that's part of our culture, mm

The politician's just functional smokers, mm

Uh, but who gonna really care

'Cause all the hittas who ain't kidding, over here be kids

Free cars, proceed with caution

Come here for a brunch, might leave here nauseous

Might leave, say, "Aw, shit", thought DC was chocolate

Agree my dog, but it's sweet 'til it's dark here

It's dark here

Been some hard years

Bullet frag', broken glass, cherry blossoms

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
madness /ˈmæd.nəs/ B2	noun - the state of being mentally ill; extreme foolishness
architecture /ˈɑː.kɪ.tek.tʃɚ/ C1	noun - the art or practice of designing and constructing buildings
broken /ˈbroʊ.kən/ A2	adjective - having been fractured or damaged and no longer whole
glass /ɡlæs/ A1	noun - a hard, transparent material used for windows and containers
bullet /ˈbʊl.ɪt/ B1	noun - a projectile fired from a gun
fragments /ˈfræɡ.mənts/ B2	noun - small pieces broken off or detached from something larger
cherry /ˈtʃer.i/ A1	noun - a small, round, red fruit with a stone inside
blossoms /ˈblɒs.əmz/ B1	noun - the flowers of a plant, especially when they are in full bloom
wrath /rɑːθ/ C1	noun - intense anger; fury
truant /ˈtruː.ənt/ C1	noun - a student who stays away from school without permission
trenches /trɛn(t)ʃɪz/ B2	noun - deep narrow ditches used in warfare for protection
extortion /ɪkˈstɔːr.ʃən/ C1	noun - the practice of obtaining something by force or threats
culture /ˈkʌl.tʃɚ/ B1	noun - the customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation or group
politician /ˌpɑː.lɪˈtɪʃ.ən/ B2	noun - a person who is professionally involved in politics, especially as a holder of or candidate for an elected office
functional /ˈfʌŋk.ʃə.nəl/ B2	adjective - designed to be practical rather than attractive; working properly
smokers /ˈsmoʊ.kɚz/ B1	noun - people who habitually inhale tobacco smoke
kids /kɪdz/ A1	noun - children; young people
caution /ˈkɔː.ʃən/ B1	noun - careful attention to avoid danger or mistakes
brunch /brʌntʃ/ B2	noun - a late morning meal that combines breakfast and lunch
nauseous /ˈnɔː.ʃəs/ B2	adjective - feeling sick, especially with an urge to vomit