If I Was President – English Lyrics

• By: Wyclef Jean

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the intersection of language and politics with Wyclef Jean's thought-provoking song, "If I Was President." This track offers a unique opportunity to understand the role of music in social commentary, learn political vocabulary, and improve listening comprehension while engaging with themes of leadership and change.

[English]

- One, two, three, four

(electric guitar begins playing)

(band joins in)

♪ Obama ♪

♪ Hillary Clinton ♪

♪ They got competition ♪

♪ They got competition ♪

♪ Vote for me yeah, vote for me, yeah ♪

♪ Wyclef for President ♪

(upbeat reggae music plays)

♪ If I was president ♪

♪ I'd get elected on Friday ♪

♪ Assassinated on Saturday ♪

♪ Buried on Sunday ♪

♪ They go back to work on Monday ♪

♪ If I was president ♪

♪ If I was the president ♪

♪ If I was president ♪

♪ They said we would never cross the Red Sea ♪

♪ I tell them yes we can ♪

♪ They said the slaves would never be free ♪

♪ I tell them yes we can ♪

♪ They said the blind man would never see ♪

♪ I tell them yes we can ♪

♪ They said their guys price won't fall over ♪

♪ I tell them yes we can ♪

♪ Obama, yeah ♪

♪ Hillary Clinton ♪

♪ They got competition, ♪

♪ They got competition ♪

♪ Vote for me, ye-eah ♪

♪ Vote for me ♪

♪ Mr. 'clef for the president ♪

♪ If I was president ♪

♪ I'd get elected on Friday ♪

♪ Assassinated on Saturday ♪

♪ Buried on Sunday ♪

♪ They go back to work on Monday, yeah ♪

♪ If I was president ♪

♪ If I was the president ♪

♪ If I was president ♪

♪ We gonna rise, ♪

♪ We gonna rise ♪

♪ We gonna rise, everybody just rise ♪

♪ We gonna rise, ♪

♪ We gonna rise ♪

♪ We gonna rise, everybody just rise ♪

♪ This ain't the Genesis ♪

♪ It's the Exodus ♪

♪ Go move, everybody just move ♪

♪ We gonna rise, ♪

♪ We gonna rise ♪

♪ We gonna, let's take 'em to glory land ♪

(upbeat reggae music plays)

♪ We gonna rise, ♪

♪ We gonna rise ♪

♪ We gonna rise, everybody just rise ♪

♪ We gonna rise, ♪

♪ We gonna rise ♪

♪ We gonna rise, everybody just rise ♪

♪ Whoa ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ Whoa ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ We gonna rise, ♪

♪ We gonna rise ♪

♪ We gonna rise, everybody just rise ♪

(music begins slowing)

♪ Wyclef for President ♪

(audience cheers)

(heavy guitar strum)

(audience cheers)

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
president /ˈprezɪdənt/ A2	noun - The elected head of a republican state.
competition /ˌkɒmpɪˈtɪʃən/ B1	noun - The activity or condition of striving to gain or win something by defeating or establishing superiority over others.
vote /vəʊt/ A2	verb - To express a choice or opinion by ballot, show of hands, or other means. noun - A formal indication of a choice between two or more candidates or courses of action.
elect /ɪˈlekt/ B1	verb - To choose (someone) to hold public office or some other position by voting.
assassinate /əˈsæsɪneɪt/ B2	verb - To murder (an important person) for political or religious reasons.
bury /ˈberi/ B1	verb - To put or hide underground.
work /wɜːk/ A1	verb - To be engaged in physical or mental activity in order to achieve a purpose or result. noun - Activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result.
cross /krɒs/ A2	verb - To go or extend across or to the other side of (an area, road, etc.).
slave /sleɪv/ B1	noun - A person who is the legal property of another and is forced to obey them.
free /friː/ A2	adjective - Not under the control or in the power of another; able to act or be done as one wishes.
blind /blaɪnd/ B1	adjective - Unable to see.
see /siː/ A1	verb - To perceive with the eyes; discern visually.
price /praɪs/ A2	noun - The amount of money expected, required, or given in payment for something.
fall /fɔːl/ A2	verb - To move downwards, typically rapidly and freely without control, from a higher to a lower level.
rise /raɪz/ A2	verb - To move from a lower position to a higher one; come or go up. noun - An act of moving upwards; an ascent.
move /muːv/ A1	verb - To change position or place.
take /teɪk/ A1	verb - To lay hold of (something) with one's hands; reach for and hold.