Nappy Heads – English Lyrics

• By: Fugees
• Album: The Score

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the vibrant sounds and empowering message of Fugees' 'Nappy Heads,' a groundbreaking track that blends hip-hop, reggae, and R&B. This song provides a window into the Fugees' unique sound and their celebration of Black identity and resilience. Learn about the cultural context and lyrical depth that made this song a pivotal moment in music history.

Key Grammar Structures

• Well I'm a Libra, y'all

  ➔ Present Simple, colloquial contraction ('I'm'), use of 'y'all' (Southern American English)

  ➔ The sentence establishes a personal characteristic using the **present simple** tense. 'I'm' is a contraction of 'I am'. '**y'all**' is a colloquial term meaning 'you all', common in Southern American English.

• You wanna battle, swing I bring commanding men like I was king

  ➔ Ellipsis (omission of 'do'), conditional clause ('like I was king'), colloquial language ('wanna')

  ➔ The phrase 'You **wanna** battle' uses ellipsis, omitting the auxiliary verb '**do**'. The phrase '**like I was king**' functions as a simile, creating a conditional comparison. The use of '**wanna**' is a colloquial contraction of 'want to'.

• I got tired of the fat lady so I song to my own opera

  ➔ Past Simple, metaphorical language, unusual verb usage ('song' instead of 'sang')

  ➔ The sentence uses the **past simple** to describe a completed action. The 'fat lady' is a metaphor for something being over. The use of '**song**' instead of '**sang**' is grammatically incorrect but used for stylistic effect, adding to the song's unique flow.

• If you live by the sword you will be die by the gun

  ➔ Conditional sentence (Type 1), future in the 'if' clause, unusual verb form ('die' instead of 'be killed')

  ➔ This is a **Type 1 conditional** sentence, expressing a likely outcome. The 'if' clause uses the **present simple**, and the main clause uses 'will + base verb'. The use of '**die**' instead of '**be killed**' is a stylistic choice, making the statement more direct and impactful.