In Due Time – English Lyrics

• By: Outkast, Cee-Lo
• Album: Soul Food Soundtrack

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the soulful side of Atlanta hip-hop with Outkast's "In Due Time." This song is a great entry point to learning English through music, as its clear and heartfelt chorus teaches themes of patience and perseverance. The thoughtful verses also provide a deeper look into American culture and social critique, making it a special track for both language learners and music lovers.

[English]

(soulful hip hop plays)

♪ Just keep your faith in me ♪

♪ Don't act impatiently ♪

♪ You'll get where you need to be ♪

♪ In due time ♪

♪ Even when things are slow ♪

♪ Hold on and don't let go ♪

♪ I'll give you what I owe ♪

♪ In due time ♪

♪ Check it ♪

♪ When that be thinkin' of cruisin' ♪

♪ The Braves cap is to the side ♪

♪ Thinkin' the police gon' pull me over ♪

♪ With this herb off in my ride ♪

♪ So I hide the brick under the arm rest ♪

♪ Under the leather ♪

♪ And thinkin' of startin' of ways ♪

♪ To make my life a little bit better ♪

♪ Than the dope peddler ♪

♪ Never to pay no taxes ♪

♪ Takin' a chunk up out of my checks ♪

♪ And makin' my rhymes just look like practice ♪

♪ Buying clothing, Range Roving with my folks ♪

♪ Don't speak about the Dirty South ♪

♪ My crew ain't bout no jokes ♪

♪ I know some people don't like the way we flow ♪

♪ Because they envy ♪

♪ They talkin' about they ♪

♪ And that they could have been me ♪

♪ You lookin' to be the butterfly ♪

♪ Without the caterpillar ♪

♪ Take your time and do it right cause you gon' make it ♪

♪ I swear my ♪

♪ Or collapse one ♪

♪ Fallin' a victim to your greed boy ♪

♪ You're lookin' to be Big Willie ♪

♪ But you're still a seed boy ♪

♪ The information in my skull be pokin' ♪

♪ Some of y'all on the shoulder ♪

♪ But on the other side of the fence ♪

♪ They got y'all breakin' boulders ♪

♪ For quick money ♪

♪ Strugglin's just a part of my day ♪

♪ Many obstacles have been placed in my way ♪

♪ I know the only reason that I make it through ♪

♪ Is because I never stop believing in you ♪

♪ Some people wonder why we here in the first place ♪

♪ They can't believe 'cause they ain't never seen your face ♪

♪ But even when you pray the next day you gotta try ♪

♪ Can't wait for nobody to come down out the sky ♪

♪ You've got to realize that the world's a test ♪

♪ You can only do your best and let Him do the rest ♪

♪ You've got your life and got your health ♪

♪ So quit procrastinating and push it yourself ♪

♪ You've got to realize that the world's a test ♪

♪ You can only do your best and let Him do the rest ♪

♪ You've got your life and got your health ♪

♪ So quit procrastinating ♪

♪ Just keep your faith in me ♪

♪ Don't act impatiently ♪

♪ I'll be fine and dandy ♪

♪ You'll get where you need to be ♪

♪ In due time ♪

♪ Even when things are slow ♪

♪ Hold on and don't let go ♪

♪ I'll give you what I owe ♪

♪ In due time ♪

(guys grunt)

♪ Mama mama can't you see ♪

♪ Mama mama can't you see ♪

♪ What these folk done did to me ♪

♪ What these folk done did to me ♪

♪ Aite now on the count of three ♪

♪ Aite now on the count of three ♪

♪ Lord it's time to get free ♪

♪ One, Two, Three ♪

(guys shout)

- [Group] Water, we need some water.

We need some water, come bring some water folks.

- Bling bling bling bling bling.

Chooo!

(guys make commotion)

- Bling bling bling bling bling.

Chooo!

(guys make commotion)

- Bling bling bling bling bling.

Chooo!

Bling bling bling bling bling.

(soulful hip hop plays)

♪ Uh, who said good folks is not supposed to die ♪

♪ The same that said is not supposed to cry ♪

♪ United States giving out milk and cheese to pacify ♪

♪ I'm sure they got a cure for AIDS but yet it's classified ♪

♪ You wonder why I spit the truth and not to make no dough ♪

♪ To make a difference 'fore this mother up and blow ♪

♪ In pieces ♪

♪ I could think of many reasons ♪

♪ Only when is going bad, you want to holla Jesus ♪

♪ A pledge allegiance ♪

♪ They got my knuckles bleedin' ♪

♪ From crawling ♪

♪ Got these thinkin' they really ballin' ♪

♪ When they isn't ♪

♪ Don't take my word ♪

♪ There's off in prison ♪

♪ That will tell you ♪

♪ That's locked up for long time ♪

♪ And won't sell you no flex ♪

♪ So congregation will you turn your text ♪

♪ To the book of OutKast ♪

♪ Chapter two, verse one ♪

♪ The first one that feel me ♪

♪ Jump up and make a joyful noise ♪

♪ You's OutKast-ed ♪

♪ Meaning, now you have a choice, like that ♪

♪ Just keep your faith in me ♪

♪ Don't act impatiently ♪

♪ You'll get where you need to be ♪

♪ In due time ♪

♪ Even when things are slow ♪

♪ Hold on and don't let go ♪

♪ I'll give you what I owe ♪

♪ In due time ♪

♪ Just keep your faith in me ♪

♪ Don't act impatiently ♪

♪ You'll get where you need to be ♪

♪ In due time ♪

♪ Even when things are slow ♪

♪ Hold on and don't let go ♪

♪ I'll give you what I owe ♪

♪ In due time ♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - the measured or measurable period during which an action, process, or condition exists or continues; duration.
faith /feɪθ/ B1	noun - complete trust or confidence in someone or something.
slow /sləʊ/ A2	adjective - moving or operating at a low speed; not fast.
need /niːd/ A2	verb - require (something) because it is essential or very important. noun - the state of requiring help or support.
owe /əʊ/ B1	verb - have a debt of gratitude to (someone).
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death.
people /ˈpiːpl/ A1	noun - human beings in general or considered collectively.
way /weɪ/ A1	noun - a method, style, or manner of doing something.
world /wɜːld/ A1	noun - the earth and all of its countries and people.
test /test/ A2	noun - a procedure intended to establish the quality, performance, or reliability of something, especially before it is taken into widespread use. verb - take a test of (someone or something).
health /helθ/ A2	noun - the state of being free from illness or injury.
truth /truːθ/ B2	noun - the quality or state of being true.
difference /ˈdɪfərəns/ B1	noun - a point or respect in which people or things are not alike.
reason /ˈriːzən/ B1	noun - a cause, explanation, or justification for an action or event. verb - think, understand, and form judgments logically.
make /meɪk/ A1	verb - form (something) by putting parts together or combining substances; create.
blow /bləʊ/ B1	verb - move or cause to move rapidly and forcefully. verb - explode or burst.

Key Grammar Structures

• Just keep your faith in me

  ➔ Imperative mood – base verb (keep) used to give advice or command.

  ➔ The verb "keep" is in its base form after the imperative marker, indicating a command or advice.

• Don't act impatiently

  ➔ Negative imperative – do + not + base verb.

  ➔ "Don't" + base verb "act" forms a negative command: "Don't act impatiently."

• You'll get where you need to be

  ➔ Future simple with "will" + relative clause (where you need to be).

  ➔ "You'll get" uses "will" for future; the clause "where you need to be" is a relative clause acting as complement.

• Even when things are slow, hold on and don't let go

  ➔ Concessive clause with "even when" + imperative main clause.

  ➔ "Even when" introduces a concession ("Even when things are slow"), followed by the imperative "hold on and don't let go".

• I could think of many reasons

  ➔ Modal verb "could" + base verb expresses possibility or ability in a hypothetical context.

  ➔ "could think" shows a conditional or potential meaning: "I could think of many reasons".

• I'm sure they got a cure for AIDS but yet it's classified

  ➔ Present simple with "I'm sure" + clause; passive voice "it's classified".

  ➔ "I'm sure" expresses certainty in the present; "it's classified" is a passive construction where the subject receives the action.

• They've got my knuckles bleeding

  ➔ Present perfect "have got" indicating possession; object complement "bleeding".

  ➔ "They've got" is present perfect of "have" meaning "they possess"; "my knuckles bleeding" describes the state of the object.

• You’re looking to be Big Willie, but you’re still a seed boy

  ➔ Present continuous "are looking" + infinitive "to be" expressing intention; contrastive conjunction "but".

  ➔ "are looking to be" uses the present continuous to convey a future intention; "but" introduces a contrast with "you’re still a seed boy".

• I never stop believing in you

  ➔ Simple present habitual action with negative adverb "never" and gerund "believing".

  ➔ "never stop believing" expresses a continual habit in the present; the gerund "believing" functions as the object of "stop".