Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) – English Lyrics

• By: JAY-Z

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the lyrical genius of JAY-Z's "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" to not only experience a hip-hop classic but also to explore the rich tapestry of American urban language and storytelling. Through its poignant verses and iconic sampled hook, you can learn how JAY-Z masterfully uses slang, metaphor, and vivid imagery to convey profound messages of struggle, ambition, and resilience. This song is special for its audacious fusion of Broadway musical elements with raw street narratives, offering a unique linguistic bridge between different worlds and providing an authentic insight into the 'hard knock life' that shaped a legend.

[English]

[SOUND DISTORTION BY SLOW PLAYBACK]

- IT'S THE HARD KNOCK LIFE FOR US. IT'S THE HARD KNOCK LIFE.

- IT'S A HARD KNOCK LIFE FOR US.

[SOUND DISTORTION BY SLOW PLAYBACK]

[SOUND DISTORTION BY SLOW PLAYBACK]

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

♪ TAKE THE BASS LINE OUT ♪

♪ UH-HUH JIGGA ♪

♪ UH-HUH UH-HUH UH-HUH YEAH ♪

♪ LET IT BUMP THOUGH ♪

[KIDS] ♪ IT'S THE HARD KNOCK LIFE (UH-HUH) FOR US ♪

♪ IT'S THE HARD KNOCK LIFE FOR US ♪

♪ INSTEAD OF TREATED WE GET TRICKED ♪

♪ INSTEAD OF KISSES WE GET KICKED ♪

♪ IT'S THE HARD KNOCK LIFE ♪

♪ FROM STANDIN' ON THE CORNERS BOPPIN' ♪

♪ TO DRIVIN' SOME OF THE HOTTEST CARS ♪

♪ NEW YORK HAS EVER SEEN ♪

♪ FROM DROPPIN' SOME OF THE HOTTEST VERSES ♪

♪ RAP HAS EVER HEARD ♪

♪ FROM THE DOPE SPOT WITH THE SMOKE GLOCK ♪

♪ FLEEIN' THE MURDER SCENE YOU KNOW ME WELL ♪

♪ FROM NIGHTMARES OF A LONELY CELL MY ONLY HELL ♪

♪ BUT SINCE WHEN Y'ALL (CENSORED) KNOW ME TO FAIL NAW ♪

♪ WHERE ALL MY (CENSORED) WITH THE RUBBER GRIPS BUST SHOTS ♪

♪ AND IF YOU WITH ME MAMA RUB ON YOUR (CENSORED) ♪

♪ AND WHAT-NOT ♪

♪ I'M FROM THE SCHOOL OF THE HARD KNOCKS YOU MUST NOT ♪

♪ LET OUTSIDERS VIOLATE OUR BLOCKS AND MY PLOT ♪

♪ LET'S STICK UP THE WORLD AND SPLIT IT 50/50 UH-HUH ♪

♪ LET'S TAKE THE DOUGH AND STAY REAL JIGGY UH-HUH ♪

♪ AND SIP THE CRIS' AND GET PISSY-PISSY ♪

♪ FLOW INFINITELY LIKE THE MEMORY ♪

♪ OF MY (CENSORED) BIGGIE BABY ♪

♪ YOU KNOW IT'S HELL WHEN I COME THROUGH ♪

♪ THE LIFE AND TIMES OF SHAWN CARTER (CENSORED) VOLUME 2 ♪

[KIDS] ♪ IT'S THE HARD KNOCK LIFE FOR US ♪

♪ IT'S THE HARD KNOCK LIFE FOR US ♪

♪ INSTEAD OF TREATED WE GET TRICKED ♪

♪ INSTEAD OF KISSES WE GET KICKED ♪

♪ IT'S THE HARD KNOCK LIFE ♪

♪ I FLOW FOR THOSE 'DRO'ED OUT ♪

♪ ALL MY (CENSORED) LOCKED DOWN IN THE 10 BY FOUR ♪

♪ CONTROLLIN' THE HOUSE ♪

♪ WE LIVE IN HARD KNOCKS ♪

♪ WE DON'T TAKE OVER WE BORROW BLOCKS ♪

♪ BURN 'EM DOWN AND YOU CAN HAVE IT BACK DADDY ♪

♪ I'D RATHER THAT ♪

♪ I FLOW FOR CHICKS WISHIN' ♪

♪ THEY AIN'T HAVE TO STRIP TO PAY TUITION ♪

♪ I SEE YOUR VISION MAMA ♪

♪ I PUT MY MONEY ON THE LONGSHOTS ♪

♪ ALL MY BALLERS THAT'S BORN TO CLOCK ♪

♪ KNOW I'MA BE ON TOP WHETHER I PERFORM OR NOT ♪

♪ I WENT FROM LUKEWARM TO HOT ♪

♪ SLEEPIN' ON FUTONS AND COTS TO KING SIZE ♪

♪ GREEN MACHINES TO GREEN 5'S ♪

♪ I'VE SEEN PIES LET THE THING BETWEEN MY EYES ♪

♪ ANALYZE LIFE'S ILLS ♪

♪ THEN I PUT IT DOWN TYPE BRAILLE ♪

♪ I'M TIGHT GRILL WITH THE PHONY ♪

♪ RAPPERS Y'ALL MIGHT FEEL WE HOMIES ♪

♪ I'M LIKE STILL Y'ALL DON'T KNOW ME ♪

♪ I'M TIGHT GRILL WHEN MY SITUATION AIN'T IMPROVIN' ♪

♪ I'M TRYNA MURDER EVERYTHING MOVIN' FEEL ME ♪

[KIDS] ♪ IT'S THE HARD KNOCK LIFE FOR US ♪

♪ IT'S THE HARD KNOCK LIFE FOR US ♪

♪ INSTEAD OF TREATED WE GET TRICKED ♪

♪ INSTEAD OF KISSES WE GET KICKED ♪

♪ IT'S THE HARD KNOCK LIFE FOR US ♪

♪ IT'S THE HARD KNOCK LIFE FOR US ♪

♪ INSTEAD OF TREATED WE GET TRICKED ♪

♪ INSTEAD OF KISSES WE GET KICKED ♪

♪ IT'S THE HARD KNOCK LIFE ♪

♪ I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SLEEP I GOTTA EAT STAY ON MY TOES ♪

♪ GOT A LOTTA BEEF SO LOGICALLY I PREY ON MY FOES ♪

♪ HUSTLIN' IS STILL INSIDE OF ME AND AS FAR AS PROGRESS ♪

♪ YOU'D BE HARD-PRESSED TO FIND ANOTHER RAPPER HOT AS ME ♪

♪ I GAVE YOU PROPHECY ON MY FIRST JOINT ♪

♪ AND Y'ALL LAMED OUT ♪

♪ DIDN'T REALLY APPRECIATE IT 'TIL THE SECOND ONE CAME OUT ♪

♪ SO I STRETCHED THE GAME OUT ETCHED YOUR NAME OUT ♪

♪ PUT JIGGA ON TOP AND DROPPED ALBUMS NON-STOP FOR YA ♪

[KIDS] ♪ IT'S THE HARD KNOCK LIFE FOR US ♪

♪ IT'S THE HARD KNOCK LIFE FOR US ♪

♪ INSTEAD OF TREATED WE GET TRICKED ♪

♪ INSTEAD OF KISSES WE GET KICKED ♪

♪ IT'S THE HARD KNOCK LIFE FOR US ♪

♪ IT'S THE HARD KNOCK LIFE FOR US ♪

♪ INSTEAD OF TREATED WE GET TRICKED ♪

♪ INSTEAD OF KISSES WE GET KICKED ♪

♪ IT'S THE HARD KNOCK LIFE ♪

(UPBEAT MUSIC)

♪ IT'S THE HARD KNOCK LIFE ♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
hard /hɑːrd/ B1	adjective - difficult, requiring great effort adverb - with great force or intensity
knock /nɒk/ B1	verb - to strike a surface noisily noun - a sudden blow or hit verb - to criticize or find fault with
life /laɪf/ A2	noun - the existence of living beings; the period between birth and death
bump /bʌmp/ B1	verb - to collide with something lightly noun - a slight collision or a raised area verb - to increase the volume of music
drive /draɪv/ B1	verb - to operate a vehicle noun - motivation or ambition
hot /hɒt/ A2	adjective - having a high temperature adjective - trendy or popular (slang)
verse /vɜːs/ B2	noun - a line or group of lines in poetry or a song
rap /ræp/ B2	noun - a musical style featuring rhythmic spoken lyrics verb - to strike lightly, especially with a knuckle
dope /doʊp/ C1	adjective - excellent, very good (slang) noun - illegal drug, especially marijuana
glock /ɡlɒk/ C1	noun - a brand of semi‑automatic pistol
murder /ˈmɜːrdər/ B2	noun - the unlawful killing of a person verb - to kill someone unlawfully
nightmare /ˈnaɪtmeər/ B2	noun - a frightening or unpleasant dream
cell /sɛl/ B1	noun - a small room in a prison noun - the basic structural unit of living organisms
hell /hɛl/ B1	noun - the place of eternal punishment in many religions noun - a very bad or difficult situation (informal)
rubber /ˈrʌbər/ B1	noun - an elastic material made from the latex of trees noun - slang for a condom
block /blɒk/ B1	noun - a solid piece of material, often rectangular noun - a city street area between two cross streets
world /wɜːrld/ A2	noun - the earth, together with all of its countries and peoples
dough /doʊ/ B2	noun - a mixture of flour and liquid used for baking noun - slang for money
flow /floʊ/ B2	verb - to move smoothly and continuously noun - a steady stream of something, especially words or music
money /ˈmʌni/ A2	noun - currency used as a medium of exchange

Key Grammar Structures

• IT'S THE HARD KNOCK LIFE FOR US.

  ➔ Present Simple Tense

  ➔ The sentence uses the present simple tense to describe a general truth or a habitual action, emphasizing that the 'hard knock life' is a constant state for the speaker.

• INSTEAD OF TREATED WE GET TRICKED.

  ➔ Past Simple Tense with 'Instead of'

  ➔ The phrase uses the past simple tense to contrast what was expected ('treated') with what actually happened ('tricked'), highlighting the disparity using 'instead of'.

• FROM STANDIN' ON THE CORNERS BOPPIN' TO DRIVIN' SOME OF THE HOTTEST CARS.

  ➔ Prepositional Phrase with 'From...To'

  ➔ The prepositional phrase 'from...to' is used to indicate a progression or change from one state ('standing on corners') to another ('driving hot cars').

• I'M FROM THE SCHOOL OF THE HARD KNOCKS YOU MUST NOT.

  ➔ Present Simple with 'Be' + Prepositional Phrase

  ➔ The sentence uses the present simple with 'be' to state origin ('I'm from') and a prepositional phrase to describe the type of school ('of the hard knocks').

• LET'S STICK UP THE WORLD AND SPLIT IT 50/50 UH-HUH.

  ➔ Modal Verb 'Let's' + Verb Phrase

  ➔ The modal verb 'let's' is used to make a suggestion ('stick up the world') followed by a verb phrase ('split it 50/50') to describe the action and its outcome.