Hey Ya! – English Lyrics

• By: Outkast
• Album: Speakerboxxx / The Love Below

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the vibrant world of "Hey Ya!" by OutKast, a song that brilliantly fuses infectious funk-pop with thought-provoking lyrics. Beyond its irresistible dance beat, this track offers a unique opportunity to explore English through rich, narrative verses that delve into the nuances of relationships and societal expectations. Discover how André 3000 masterfully uses language to create a paradox of sound and meaning, making it a truly special song for anyone eager to understand authentic, layered English expression.

[English]

- 3000, for the sake of everybody in the band,

act like you've got some sense.

- He ain't goin' go up there and shake his ass.

- Were we talkin' to you?

Go get out there playin' the (beep), okay?

- We 'id that every night,

that's all I know how to do, man, you know?

- I ain't flew overseas in the middle seat

for us to get over here and (beep) up,

act like you got some sense.

You might get a little bit of this here.

Not (beep) money, this is hope money.

I hope you get out there and do your thing.

Hey, check it out. Hey, hey.

You know what I'm saying?

- All right.

- You think you can follow that?

3000, I'm telling you. Don't mess it up for everybody.

Greyhound don't float on water.

- Here in London for the first time

to perform for you live

Johnny Vulture, Benjamin Andre, Dookie on drums,

Possum Jenkins, and Andre Ice Cold 3000

performing their smash hit "Hey Ya,"

ladies and gents, I give you the love, the love.

(audience cheers)

- One, two, three, uh!

♪ My baby don't mess around ♪

♪ Because she loves me so ♪

♪ And this I know fo sho ♪

♪ But does she really wanna ♪

♪ But can't stand to see me walk out the door ♪

♪ Don't try to fight the feeling ♪

♪ Because the thought alone is killin' me right now ♪

♪ Thank God for Mom and Dad ♪

♪ For sticking two together ♪

♪ 'Cause we don't know how ♪

♪ Come on ♪

♪ Hey ya ♪

♪ Hey ya ♪

♪ Hey ya ♪

♪ Hey ya ♪

♪ Hey ya ♪

♪ Hey ya ♪

♪ Hey ya ♪

♪ Hey ya ♪

♪ You think you've got it ♪

♪ Oh, you think you've got it ♪

♪ But got it just don't get it 'til there's nothin' at all ♪

♪ We get together ♪

♪ Oh, we get together ♪

♪ But separate's always better ♪

♪ When there's feelings involved ♪

♪ If what they say is ♪

♪ "Nothing is forever" ♪

♪ Then what makes, then what makes ♪

♪ Then what makes, then what makes ♪

♪ Love the exception ♪

♪ So why, oh, why, oh ♪

♪ Why, oh, why, oh, why, oh ♪

♪ Are we so in denial when we know we're not happy here ♪

♪ Y'all don't want to hear me, you just want to dance ♪

♪ Hey ya ♪ ♪ Uh oh ♪

♪ Don't want to meet your daddy ♪

♪ Uh oh ♪

♪ Just want you in my Caddy ♪

♪ Uh oh ♪

♪ Don't want to meet your mama ♪

♪ Hey ya ♪ ♪ Uh oh ♪

♪ Just want to make you ♪

♪ Uh oh ♪

♪ I'm, I'm, I'm just being honest ♪

♪ I'm just being honest ♪

♪ Hey, alright now ♪

♪ Alright now, fellas ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ Now, what cooler than being cool ♪

♪ Ice cold ♪

♪ I can't hear you ♪

♪ I say what's, what's cooler than being cool ♪

♪ Ice cold ♪

♪ Alright, alright, alright, alright, alright ♪

♪ Alright, alright, alright, alright, alright ♪

♪ Alright, alright, alright, alright ♪

♪ Okay, now ladies ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ Now, we gon' break this thang down in just a few seconds ♪

♪ Now, don't have me break this thang down for nothin' ♪

♪ Now, I want to see y'all on y'all baddest behavior ♪

♪ Lend me some sugar, I am your neighbor ♪

♪ Ah, here we go ♪

♪ Shake it, shake, shake it, shake it, shake, shake it ♪

♪ Shake it, shake, shake it, shake it, shake it ♪

♪ Shake it like a Polaroid picture, hey ya ♪

♪ Shake it, shake, shake it, shake it, shake, shake it ♪

♪ Shake it, shake it, shake it, sugar ♪

♪ Shake it like a Polaroid picture ♪

♪ Now, all Beyonce's, and Lucy Liu's ♪

♪ And baby dolls, get on the floor ♪

♪ Get on the floor, you know what to do ♪

♪ You know what to do ♪

♪ You know what to do ♪

♪ Hey ya ♪ ♪ Uh oh ♪

♪ Hey ya ♪ ♪ Uh oh ♪

♪ Hey ya ♪ ♪ Uh oh ♪

♪ Hey ya ♪ ♪ Uh oh ♪

♪ Hey ya ♪ ♪ Uh oh ♪

♪ Hey ya ♪ ♪ Uh oh ♪

♪ Hey ya ♪ ♪ Uh oh ♪

♪ Hey ya ♪ ♪ Uh oh ♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
shake /ʃeɪk/ A1	verb - to move something quickly back and forth or up and down
dance /dæns/ A1	verb - to move rhythmically to music, typically following a set sequence of steps
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - a deep affection for someone or something
feeling /ˈfiːlɪŋ/ A1	noun - an emotional state or reaction
happy /ˈhæpi/ A1	adjective - feeling or showing pleasure or contentment
together /təˈɡeðər/ A1	adverb - in or into one place, group, or whole
separate /ˈsɛpərət/ A2	verb - to move or come apart adjective - not touching or joined
forever /fəˈrɛvər/ A2	adverb - for all future time; permanently
exception /ɪkˈsɛpʃən/ B1	noun - a person or thing that is excluded from a general statement or rule
denial /dɪˈnaɪəl/ B1	noun - the action of denying something
honest /ˈɑnɪst/ A2	adjective - free of deceit; truthful and sincere
behavior /bɪˈheɪvjər/ B1	noun - the way in which one acts or conducts oneself
cool /kuːl/ A2	adjective - calmly confident and not easily excited or disturbed
floor /flɔːr/ A1	noun - the lower surface of a room, on which one may walk
neighbor /ˈneɪbər/ A1	noun - a person living near or next door to the speaker or person referred to
Polaroid /ˈpɒlərɔɪd/ B2	noun - a type of camera that produces instantly developed photographs

Key Grammar Structures

• My baby don't mess around

  ➔ Negative Contraction & Non-Standard Verb Form

  ➔ The use of "don't" instead of "does not" with "baby" is a common colloquialism. It's a contraction, and the verb form is slightly non-standard for emphasis and rhythm. The sentence uses a contraction for a more casual tone.

• But can't stand to see me walk out the door

  ➔ Modal Verb + Bare Infinitive

  ➔ "Can't stand" is a modal idiom expressing inability or strong dislike. It's followed by the bare infinitive "to see" (without 'to'). This structure is common with verbs like 'can't bear', 'can't help', etc.

• If what they say is "Nothing is forever"

  ➔ Noun Clause as Subject & Reported Speech

  ➔ The entire phrase "What they say is "Nothing is forever"" functions as the subject of the 'If' clause. "Nothing is forever" is reported speech, quoting a general statement.

• Then what makes, then what makes love the exception

  ➔ Repetition for Emphasis & Question Tag Structure (implied)

  ➔ The repetition of "then what makes" emphasizes the speaker's questioning and disbelief. The sentence implies a question tag, like "...right?" or "...isn't it?", seeking confirmation.