Light Up – English Lyrics

• By: Drake, JAŸ-Z
• Album: Thank Me Later

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a linguistic journey with Drake and JAY-Z's "Light Up," a special track that offers rich vocabulary related to success, ambition, and industry wisdom. Through Drake's introspective verses and JAY-Z's iconic, cautionary rhymes, you can explore nuanced expressions and cultural references, making it an engaging way to deepen your English comprehension in a hip-hop context. This song is special for its blend of emerging talent and veteran sagacity, providing a unique narrative arc through its lyrics.

[English]

Uh, I've been up for four days, gettin' money both ways

Dirty and clean, I could use a glass of cold Spades

Rolexes, chauffers and low fades

I keep thinkin', how young can you die from old age?

They always tell me: "Nobody's workin' as hard as you"

And even though I laugh it off, man, it's probably true

'Cause while all of my closest friends out partyin'

I'm just here makin' all the music that they party to

But party on, party on all night, nigga

I got these new rappers nervous: prom night, nigga

I grow tired of these fuckin' grown man liars

Storytellers, they ain't even need a campfire

Uh, but I just want to tell the truth

Before one of these haters load a couple shells and shoot

The shit feel like when Fredro Starr

Was in Sunset Park stuntin' hard in his yellow goose - yeah!

And I'm a motherfuckin' missed target

But a target nonetheless, and I just started

Was that directed at moi? Can't be

They must be talkin' to themselves, Hov: hands free

Yeah, and I'm just fillin' up this daily planner

Gettin' busy 'cause I'm a star: no spangled banner

Jealous dudes get to talkin' in they music

And I just say I wrote it for your girlfriends: Kelsey Grammer

Yeah, that's what life becomes when you're doin' you

Welcome to Hollywood, don't let this town ruin you

And if you pillow-talkin' with the women that are screwin' you

Just know that she gon' tell another nigga

When she through with you

Don't get impatient when it takes too long

Drink it all, even when it tastes too strong

Yeah, I got to feel alive, even if it kills me

Promise to always give you me, the real me

Who would've thought I'd be caught in this life?

Let's celebrate with a toast and get lost in tonight

And make it all light up

(Ay Guru tell, tell homegirl to open that Ace right there...)

Wait until the sun goes down

We gon' make this bitch light up

Even when the sun goes down I'ma make it go

Oww, hoes turn they heads like owls

I'm the man of the hour

Triple entendre, don't even ask me how

Con Edison flow, I'm connected to a higher power

Bright lights'll make your whole city light up

A trillion-watt light bulb when I'm in the night club

I just landed in that G450

Caught the Mayweather fight 'cause the satellite was crispy, uhh

Y'all can miss me with the money talk

The smart money's on Hov', fuck what the dummies talk, uhh

I don't do too much bloggin'

I just run the town, I don't do too much joggin'

Mm, I ain't got a scar yet

'Cause you fuckin' around with me and my dogs is far-fetched

Drake, here's how they gon' come at you

With silly rap feuds, tryin' to distract you

In disguise, in the form of a favor

The Barzini meeting, watch for the traitors, uhh

I done seen it all, done it all

That's why none of these dum-dums could done him off

The summer's ours, the winter too

Top down in the winter, that's what winners do

And to these niggas I'm like Windows 7

You let them tell it, they swear that they invented you

And since no good deed go unpunished

I'm not as cool with niggas as I once was

I once was cool as the Fonz was

But these bright lights turned me to a monster

Sorry, mama, I promised it wouldn't change me

But I would have went insane had I remained the same me

Fuck niggas! Bitches, too!

All I got is this money — this'll do

Who would've thought I'd be caught in this life?

Let's celebrate with a toast and get lost in tonight

And make it all light up

Wait until the sun goes down

We gon' make this bitch light up

Even when the sun goes down I'ma make it go

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
money /ˈmʌni/ B1	noun - currency or wealth used as a medium of exchange
party /ˈpɑːrti/ A2	noun - a social gathering for enjoyment verb - to take part in a celebration
truth /truːθ/ B2	noun - the quality or state of being true; facts
haters /ˈheɪtəz/ B2	noun - people who express intense dislike or hostility
target /ˈtɑːrɡɪt/ B2	noun - an object or goal intended to be hit or reached verb - to aim at or select as a goal
Hollywood /ˈhɑːlɪˌwuːd/ C1	proper noun - district in Los Angeles famed for its film industry
light /laɪt/ A2	noun - visible radiant energy; illumination verb - to make something shine or become brighter
night /naɪt/ A1	noun - the period of darkness between sunset and sunrise
star /stɑːr/ B1	noun - a luminous celestial body; also a famous performer verb - to appear as a lead performer
celebrate /ˈsɛlɪˌbreɪt/ B2	verb - to acknowledge a happy occasion with festivities
toast /toʊst/ B2	noun - a drink taken in honor of someone; also browned bread verb - to raise a glass in salute; to brown bread
jealous /ˈdʒɛləs/ B2	adjective - feeling envy toward another’s advantages
impatient /ɪmˈpeɪʃənt/ B2	adjective - unable to wait calmly; restless
chauffeur /ˈʃoʊfɜːr/ C1	noun - a person hired to drive a vehicle
storyteller /ˈstɔːriˌtɛlər/ C1	noun - someone who tells or writes stories
alive /əˈlaɪv/ B1	adjective - living; not dead
promise /ˈprɒmɪs/ B2	noun - a declaration that one will do something or that a particular thing will happen verb - to assure someone that something will definitely happen

Key Grammar Structures

• I've been up for four days, gettin' money both ways

  ➔ Present Perfect Continuous

  ➔ The phrase 'I've been up for four days' uses the Present Perfect Continuous to describe an action that started in the past and continues up to the present.

• They always tell me: 'Nobody's workin' as hard as you'

  ➔ Reported Speech

  ➔ The phrase 'They always tell me: 'Nobody's workin' as hard as you'' uses Reported Speech to convey what someone else said without quoting them directly.

• I grow tired of these fuckin' grown man liars

  ➔ Present Simple with Adverbial Phrase

  ➔ The phrase 'I grow tired' uses the Present Simple with an adverbial phrase ('of these fuckin' grown man liars') to express a habitual or ongoing action.

• Before one of these haters load a couple shells and shoot

  ➔ Subjunctive Mood

  ➔ The phrase 'Before one of these haters load a couple shells and shoot' uses the Subjunctive Mood to express a hypothetical or wished-for situation.

• Was that directed at moi? Can't be

  ➔ Tag Question

  ➔ The phrase 'Was that directed at moi? Can't be' uses a Tag Question to seek confirmation or to express doubt.

• I'm the man of the hour

  ➔ Present Continuous for Temporary Situation

  ➔ The phrase 'I'm the man of the hour' uses the Present Continuous to describe a temporary situation or state.

• You let them tell it, they swear that they invented you

  ➔ Hypothetical Condition in Past

  ➔ The phrase 'You let them tell it, they swear that they invented you' uses a Hypothetical Condition in the Past to describe an unreal or contrary-to-fact situation.

• But I would have gone insane had I remained the same me

  ➔ Third Conditional

  ➔ The phrase 'But I would have gone insane had I remained the same me' uses the Third Conditional to describe a past situation that did not happen and its hypothetical result.