Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You) – English Lyrics

• By: UGK, Outkast

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the rich narrative and lyrical depth of 'Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You),' a song that beautifully merges the worlds of Southern hip-hop and classic soul. For language learners, this track offers a fascinating look into the vernacular and storytelling styles of four distinct and iconic rappers. From André 3000's introspective and conversational verse to Pimp C's charismatic and direct address, you can learn a range of expressions and deliveries. The song's special quality lies in its ability to present multiple, contrasting viewpoints on love and relationships within a single, cohesive masterpiece.

[English]

- [Pimp C] Man don't do it. I'm tellin' you don't do it.

- [Man 1] Mm-mm.

- [Pimp C] Don't do it.

- [Man 2] He's already nervous man.

- [DJ Paul] The only thing I wanna know is,

why is he dressed like Rowdie Piper?

- [Andre 3000] I got Scottish in my family.

- [Bun B] Scottish?

- Come on man.

- So who's your bridesmaid?

- Come on man. Support me. Support me. Come on now.

When the man is ready, he ready.

When y'all get 80, 70, 60, 55 years old and y'all gonna be

sitting in a rocking chair by yourself to

"Ahh, let's go to the club. Let's go to the club."

Y'all gonna be the only old (silence) in the club.

- Seriously, Dre, all playing aside man.

Why get married pimpin'? Why?

♪ So I typed a text to a girl I used to see ♪

♪ Sayin' that I chose this cutie pie with whom I wanna be ♪

♪ And I apologize if this message gets you down ♪

♪ Then I CC'ed every girl that I'd see-see 'round town ♪

♪ And hate to see y'all frown, ♪

♪ but I'd rather see her smilin' ♪

♪ Wetness all around me, true, but I'm no island ♪

♪ Peninsula, maybe ♪

♪ It makes no sense, I know crazy ♪

♪ Give up all this (silence) cat that's in my lap. ♪

♪ No lookin' back ♪

♪ Spaceships don't come equipped with rear view mirrors ♪

♪ They dip as quick as they can ♪

♪ The atmosphere is now ripped ♪

♪ I'm so like a pimp, I'm glad it's night ♪

♪ So the light from the sun ♪

♪ Would not burn me on my bum ♪

♪ When I shoot the moon ♪

♪ High jump the broom ♪

♪ Like a preemie out the womb ♪

♪ My partner yellin' "Too soon! Don't do it! ♪

♪ Reconsider! Read some liter-ature on the subject ♪

♪ You sure? (silence) it. ♪

♪ You know we got your back like chiroprac-tic ♪

♪ If that (silence) do you dirty ♪

♪ We'll wipe her (silence) out in some detergent ♪

♪ Now hurry hurry ♪

♪ Go on to the altar ♪

♪ I know you ain't a pimp, ♪

♪ but pimp remember what I taught ya ♪

♪ Keep your heart, three stacks, keep your heart ♪

♪ Hey keep your heart, three stacks, keep your heart ♪

♪ Man these girls is smart, three stacks, ♪

♪ these girls is smart ♪

♪ Play your part, play your part ♪

♪ My (silence) a choosy lover ♪

♪ Never (silence) without a rubber ♪

♪ Never in the sheets, like it on top of the cover ♪

♪ Money on the dresser, drive a Kompressor ♪

♪ Top notch (silence) get the most, not the lesser ♪

♪ Trash like to (silence) with $40 in the club ♪

♪ (silence) up the game, (silence) it gets no love ♪

♪ She be cross-country, givin' all that she got ♪

♪ A thousand a pop, I'm pullin' Bentleys off the lot ♪

♪ I smashed up the gray one, bought me a red ♪

♪ Every time we hit the parkin' lot we turn head ♪

♪ Some (silence) wanna choose but them (silence) too scary ♪

♪ Your (silence) chose me, you ain't a pimp, you a (silence) ♪

♪ I choose you, girl ♪

♪ Baby you been rollin' solo, time to get down with the team ♪

♪ The grass is greener on that other side, ♪

♪ if know what I mean ♪

♪ I show you (silence) you never seen, ♪

♪ the Seven Wonders of the World ♪

♪ And I can make you the eighth if you wanna be my girl ♪

♪ When I say my girl I don't mean my woman, ♪

♪ that ain't my style ♪

♪ Need a real street stalker to walk a green mile ♪

♪ We pilin' up the paper on the dinin' room table ♪

♪ Cuz you able to realize I'm the truth and not a fable ♪

♪ We rock the freshest Sable, keep that 'chilla on the rack ♪

♪ What I look like with some thousand dollar (silence) ♪

♪ up on my back? ♪

♪ I'm a million dollar mack that need a billion dollar ♪

(silence)

♪ Put my pimpin' in your life, watch ya daddy get rich ♪

♪ Easy as A-B-C, simple as 1-2-3 ♪

♪ Get down with U-G-K, Pimp C, B-U-N B ♪

♪ Cuz what's a (silence) with no pimp? ♪

♪ And what's a pimp with no (silence) ♪

♪ Don't be a lame, you know the game and how it goes ♪

♪ We tryin' to get chose ♪

♪ I choose you, girl ♪

♪ Eeny meeny decisions, with precision I pick or ♪

♪ Make my selection on who I choose to be with girl ♪

♪ Don't touch my protection, I know you want it to slip ♪

♪ But slippin' is somethin' I don't do, tippin' for life ♪

♪ That's like makin' it rain every month on schedule ♪

♪ Let me tell you, get your parasol umbrella ♪

♪ Cuz it's gonna get wetter ♪

♪ Better prepare ya for the C support ♪

♪ She supposed to spend it on that baby but we see she don't ♪

♪ Ask-ask Paul McCartney ♪

♪ The lawyers couldn't stop me ♪

♪ Slaughter-slaughterin' them pockets ♪

♪ Had to tie her to a rocket ♪

♪ Send her in to outer space, I know he wish he could ♪

♪ Cuz he payin' 20K a day, that (silence) is eating good ♪

♪ Like an infant on a double D (silence) just getting plump ♪

♪ Cuz you miscalculated the next to the-the last pump ♪

♪ Dump-dump in the gut, (silence) from the giddy up ♪

♪ Better choose the right one or pick-pick the kiddies up ♪

♪ I choose you, girl ♪

♪ I choose you, baby ♪

(music fades)

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
choose /tʃuːz/ A2	verb - to select freely and after considering
girl /ɡɜːrl/ A1	noun - a female child or young woman
heart /hɑːrt/ A1	noun - a hollow muscular organ that pumps the blood
money /ˈmʌni/ A1	noun - a current medium of exchange in the form of coins and banknotes
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - an intense feeling of affection verb - feel deep affection for (someone)
play /pleɪ/ A1	verb - engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose
town /taʊn/ A1	noun - an urban area that has a name, defined boundaries, and local government
rich /rɪtʃ/ A2	adjective - having a great deal of money or assets; wealthy
walk /wɔːk/ A1	verb - move at a regular and fairly slow pace by lifting and setting down each foot in turn
ready /ˈrɛdi/ A1	adjective - in a suitable state for an activity or action; fully prepared
club /klʌb/ A2	noun - an association or organization dedicated to a particular interest or activity
message /ˈmɛsɪdʒ/ A2	noun - a verbal, written, or recorded communication sent to or left for someone
trash /træʃ/ B1	noun - waste material; refuse
game /ɡeɪm/ A1	noun - a form of play or sport, especially a competitive one played according to rules and decided by skill, strength, or chance
team /tiːm/ A2	noun - a group of people with a common purpose

Key Grammar Structures

• Sayin' that I chose this cutie pie with whom I wanna be

  ➔ Relative Clause with Preposition

  ➔ The grammar structure uses a relative pronoun "whom" preceded by the preposition "with". It modifies "cutie pie" indicating the person he wants to be with. At B2-C1, learners should be familiar with using relative clauses with prepositions for more formal and precise writing and speaking.

• Hate to see y'all frown, but I'd rather see her smilin'

  ➔ Conditional "would rather" + bare infinitive

  ➔ "would rather" expresses preference. Here, it's used in a hypothetical situation to indicate a preferred outcome. The bare infinitive "see" follows "would rather". At B2-C1, learners should be comfortable expressing preferences and hypothetical situations using this construction.

• Spaceships don't come equipped with rear view mirrors; They dip as quick as they can

  ➔ Adverbial Clause of Manner (as + adjective/adverb + as)

  ➔ The phrase "as quick as they can" is an adverbial clause modifying how the spaceships "dip" (leave quickly). This construction expresses the manner in which the action is performed. At B2-C1 learners should use a range of adverbial clauses and phrases to add depth and precision to their descriptions.

• I smashed up the gray one, bought me a red.

  ➔ Ellipsis (omission of words)

  ➔ The phrase "bought me a red" is elliptical. The implied, complete phrase is "bought myself a red one/car". The words "myself", "one/car" have been omitted as they are understood from the context. Ellipsis makes the sentence shorter and more natural. B2-C1 learners are expected to understand and use ellipsis for fluent communication.

• The grass is greener on that other side, if know what I mean

  ➔ Mixed Conditional (Zero/First)

  ➔ The idiom "the grass is greener on the other side" is a general truth (like a zero conditional). The tag "if you know what I mean" acts as a type 1 conditional - implying a possible (but not guaranteed) understanding. Blending the two creates a nuanced meaning. Advanced learners need to master subtle conditional constructions to communicate effectively.

• What I look like with some thousand dollar (silence) up on my back?

  ➔ Rhetorical Question

  ➔ This is a rhetorical question, not seeking an answer but emphasizing the speaker's point. It implies the speaker finds the idea of wearing something cheap completely absurd. Mastering rhetorical devices is crucial for advanced communication and persuasive speaking.

• Cuz what's a (silence) with no pimp? And what's a pimp with no (silence)

  ➔ Parallel Structure

  ➔ The repeated structure "What's a... with no..." is a parallel construction. This rhetorical device emphasizes the interdependent relationship between the two elements. At C1-C2 levels, learners should consciously use parallel structures for emphasis, balance, and rhythm in their writing and speech.