Legendary – English Lyrics

• By: Tyrese, CeeLo Green

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into "Legendary," a poignant song by Tyrese and CeeLo Green that offers a profound opportunity to engage with English as a medium for social commentary and emotional expression. This powerful track, born from a crucial moment in history, uses evocative language and soulful melodies to articulate themes of racial injustice and resilience. By exploring its lyrics and the compelling story behind its creation, you'll not only enhance your English vocabulary and comprehension but also gain a deeper understanding of contemporary American social issues and the cultural significance of music as a form of protest. The song's raw honesty and directness make it special, providing a rich, authentic context for language learning.

[English]

I'm laying here in this street.

Screaming out.

Won't you help me?

Mama, help me.

I had plans tonight

to have dinner with my baby girl,

who's at home waiting on a daddy.

Life is the cause to protect the world so cold.

You can take my body,

but you can't kill my soul of a man.

Lives on beyond this world,

beyond this world.

And the heart of a king stays alive

with a story to tell.

Oh, I can't breathe.

No way, this is love.

And now the world's screaming, 'No justice!

No justice!'

If I die tomorrow,

you can take my breath away.

Oh, I still be legendary.

If I die tomorrow,

you can take my breath away.

Oh, I still be legendary.

Tell your mama gotta call the cops, another nigga getting shot.

What if a rapper killed a hip hop cop?

What's your political stance when you got no stance?

And all you do is song and dance.

Black lives will never matter 'til they matter to us.

In God we can't trust with no God in us.

They say pray harder, but then killers with dirty water.

A sad story, hate to explain to my own daughters.

Stand strong, the politics is just is dead wrong.

I'm black and I'm proud, just in case you ran wrong.

Relentless, sent this right where I penned this.

The emphasis is you could tell that I meant this.

In Memphis, kids don't have nothing for breakfast.

And the one they picked for president, a prick from apprentice.

You crazy? Can't you see they trying to kill us off?

In the streets to the corner, gonna peel us off.

I no longer want to ask why.

I can still see Trayvon's mom's cry.

And if it ever comes down to that time,

just remember the last words of Black.

If I die tomorrow,

you can take my breath away.

Oh, I still be legendary.

If I die tomorrow,

you can take my breath away.

Oh, I still be legendary.

If I die tomorrow,

oh, I still be legendary.

Coming to you live in the back of a dirty squad car,

trying to get me to tell where all the Black stars are.

I said, 'Cop look around, we surround y'all.

Everybody magical, even grandma charm y'all.'

Don't you see that's why they hate our cuts?

Don't you see that's why they spray us up?

Don't you see if we just raise up like one, two, three, a hundred million plus?

Everybody ready, the crowd is moving in unison.

See it in their eyes, their minds that I'm influencing.

Governor is nervous, emergency service unison.

Helicopters watching, it's documented on news at ten.

No agenda, no pretenders, Lord defenders, no surrenders.

It's a ticket to freedom, and I'm inviting y'all.

What the fuck you think I'm fighting for?

Honestly, if today is my last day,

as I look at all the things that I can't say.

My will and testament, if I pass away.

All these last words, if you ask me.

If I die tomorrow,

you can take my breath away.

Oh, I still be legendary.

If I die tomorrow,

you can take my breath away.

Oh, I still be legendary.

Protect and serve.

This revolution will be televised.

Get your knee off my neck.

Protect and serve.

This motherfucking revolution will be televised.

Get your knee off my neck.

Protect and serve.

Protect and serve.

Protect and serve.

Protect and serve.

Protect and serve.

Protect and serve.

Protect and serve.

Protect and serve.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
legendary /ləˈdʒɛndəri/ B2	adjective - very famous and well-known, often for being exceptional or remarkable
protect /prəˈtɛkt/ A2	verb - to keep someone or something safe from harm or injury
revolution /ˌrɛvəˈluʃən/ B1	noun - a significant change in political, social, or economic structures
justice /ˈdʒʌstɪs/ A2	noun - fairness and moral rightness
proud /praʊd/ A1	adjective - feeling deep pleasure or satisfaction about something achieved
relentless /rɪˈlɛntlɪs/ B2	adjective - unrelenting, continuing without stopping
influence /ˈɪnfluəns/ B1	noun - the power to affect or change how someone or something develops verb - to affect or change someone or something in a specific way
scream /skrim/ A2	verb - to shout very loudly, often in fear, pain, or excitement
political /pəˈlɪtɪkəl/ A2	adjective - relating to politics or government
matter /ˈmætər/ A1	noun - a subject or situation under consideration verb - to be important or significant
breath /brɛθ/ A1	noun - the air taken into or expelled from the lungs
king /kɪŋ/ A1	noun - a male ruler of a kingdom
story /ˈstɔri/ A1	noun - a narrative, typically of imaginary or real events
unison /ˈjuːnɪsən/ B1	noun - simultaneous action or agreement
magical /ˈmædʒɪkəl/ A2	adjective - having or seeming to have special powers or qualities
documented /ˈdɒkjʊmɛntɪd/ B1	adjective - supported by documents or records