JAN PIEREWIET – English Lyrics

• By: DIE ANTWOORD, The Black Goat
• Album: SUCK ON THIS MIXTAPE

Lyrics & Translation

Discover a unique and provocative side of the Afrikaans language with Die Antwoord's version of "JAN PIEREWIET". This track offers a fascinating look at how a traditional children's song can be radically transformed to express a modern counter-culture. By listening, you can learn simple, classic Afrikaans phrases and then witness how they are contrasted with the raw, rebellious energy of 'Zef' slang, providing a truly unique and memorable language learning experience.

[English]

Suck on this

Jan Pierewiet

Jan Pierewiet

Jan Pierewiet stand stil

Jan Pierewiet

Jan Pierewiet

Jan Pierewiet stand stil

Goeiemôre, my vrou

Hier's 'n soentjie vir jou

Goeiemôre, my man

Daar is koffie in die kan

Come to the dark side

We have candy

COMING SOON BIATCH

ZEF means you are hungry as fuck

Like some illegally modified turbo fuckin' charge

No brains on, full fuckin' flex

Locked in the zone with your flow on fleek

Pumping off your fucking face

Cheater from the feeder

Sneaks on fleek, cash in your pocket

We've got no cash in your pocket

Maybe you got a gat in your pocket

We'll planning your brains to do what you gotta do

In order to get where you need to be

(end)

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
stand /stænd/ A2	verb - to be on your feet; to remain upright
dark /dɑːrk/ A2	adjective - with little or no light
side /saɪd/ A2	noun - a lateral or vertical surface of an object
hungry /ˈhʌŋɡri/ A2	adjective - feeling or displaying the need for food
brains /breɪnz/ B1	noun - the organ of thought, memory, etc. noun - intelligence
flex /fleks/ B1	verb - to contract or tighten a muscle noun - a boastful display of one's abilities or possessions
zone /zoʊn/ B1	noun - an area or stretch of land having a particular characteristic noun - a state of focus or immersion
flow /floʊ/ B1	noun - the smooth continuous movement of something
face /feɪs/ A1	noun - the front part of the head
cash /kæʃ/ B1	noun - money in the form of coins and banknotes
pocket /ˈpɑːkɪt/ A2	noun - a small bag sewn into clothing
gat /ɡæt/ C1	noun - (slang) a gun
planning /ˈplænɪŋ/ B1	verb - deciding on and arranging in advance
modified /ˈmɑːdɪfaɪd/ B2	adjective - altered or adapted
charge /tʃɑːrdʒ/ B1	noun - the rate at which something changes
cheater /ˈtʃiːtər/ B1	noun - a person who deceives or swindles
feeder /ˈfiːdər/ B1	noun - a person who provides food or support

Key Grammar Structures

• Jan Pierewiet stand stil

  ➔ Imperative Mood (Afrikaans)

  ➔ The phrase "stand stil" is an imperative verb phrase in Afrikaans, meaning "stand still." It directly commands or instructs someone to perform an action. In Afrikaans, similar to English, a direct command uses the base form of the verb.

• Hier's 'n soentjie vir jou

  ➔ Contraction, Indefinite Article, Prepositional Phrase (Afrikaans)

  ➔ "Hier's" is a contraction of "Hier is" (Here is). "'n" is the indefinite article in Afrikaans, equivalent to "a" or "an" in English. "vir jou" is a prepositional phrase meaning "for you," showing the recipient of the action.

• Come to the dark side

  ➔ Imperative Verb

  ➔ "Come" is used here as an imperative verb, giving a direct command or invitation. It's the base form of the verb, commonly used to tell someone to do something.

• We have candy

  ➔ Simple Present Tense (Possession)

  ➔ The verb "have" in the simple present tense is used to express possession, indicating that "we" own or possess "candy."

• ZEF means you are hungry as fuck

  ➔ Simple Present Tense (Linking Verb), Comparative Adjective (as...as, informal intensifier)

  ➔ "Means" is a simple present tense verb defining what "ZEF" signifies. "are hungry" uses the linking verb "are" with the adjective "hungry." "as fuck" is an informal, strong intensifier, functioning similarly to a superlative or a very strong degree of comparison, emphasizing the extent of hunger.

• Like some illegally modified turbo fuckin' charge

  ➔ Preposition "Like" for comparison, Adverbial and Adjectival Modification

  ➔ "Like" introduces an example or comparison, showing similarity. "illegally" (adverb) modifies "modified" (past participle acting as an adjective), which in turn modifies "turbo fuckin' charge" (a noun phrase). "fuckin'" is an informal intensifier/adjective.

• Locked in the zone with your flow on fleek

  ➔ Past Participle as Adjective/State, Prepositional Phrases, Colloquialism

  ➔ "Locked" is a past participle used here as an adjective to describe a state. "in the zone" and "with your flow" are prepositional phrases indicating a state of intense focus and smooth performance. "on fleek" is a modern colloquialism meaning perfectly executed or flawless.

• We've got no cash in your pocket

  ➔ Contraction "We've got" (Possession), Negative "no", Prepositional Phrase

  ➔ "We've got" is a common informal contraction of "We have got" (or simply "We have") used to express possession. "No" is used before a noun to indicate the absence or non-existence of something. "in your pocket" is a prepositional phrase indicating location.

• to do what you gotta do

  ➔ Infinitive of Purpose, Relative Clause (Informal Contraction)

  ➔ "To do" is an infinitive phrase expressing purpose, indicating the reason for an action. "what you gotta do" is an informal relative clause, where "gotta" is a colloquial contraction of "have got to," meaning "must" or "need to."

• In order to get where you need to be

  ➔ Infinitive Phrase of Purpose ("in order to"), Adverbial Clause of Place

  ➔ "In order to get" is an infinitive phrase that explicitly states the purpose or reason for an action. "where you need to be" is an adverbial clause of place, specifying the location or situation one needs to reach, functioning as the object of "get."