NEW ORLEANS – English Lyrics

• By: BROCKHAMPTON

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the raw energy of BROCKHAMPTON's "NEW ORLEANS" to experience a masterclass in modern hip-hop lyricism and flow. The song's diverse verses and candid emotional expression offer a unique opportunity to learn contemporary English slang and explore complex themes of ambition and identity. What makes this track special is its powerful display of collective artistic synergy, born from a period of intense creative focus.

[English]

Perfectly fine, that's fine

Said, nigga brother, nigga brother, what you livin' for?

Is you gon' finish what you started? What you quittin' for?

They told me God gave me a mission

But I'm missin' the supplies to complete it

I ain't the one you should read in, I'm used to bein' defeated

So, nigga brother, who you standin' with?

I'm independent 'cause these parties never planned for this

Brother nigga with a brain, unintentionally swervin' in every lane

The feelin's never the same, you chase what you couldn't gain

I'm so accustomed to flames, I couldn't tell you what's fire

Situation is dire, hear them calls from the choir

The disposition acquired from my position on Earth

Is tellin' me, "Decapitate everything for what it's worth!"

When I die, these words gon' need separate caskets in a hearse

I don't rhyme, I freeze time and let these hands just do the work

I'm in tandem with my curse, goin' manic since my birth

See the canvas as a planet, I'm commandin' with my nerves, ah

Tell 'em boys, don't run from us

I been down too long, cousin

I been down too long, brother

Tell the world, I ain't scared of nothin'

Tell the world, I ain't scared of jumpin'

Tell my boy, I want a crib in London

Tell the world to stop trippin'

I'll build a different house with some different functions

Tell 'em boys, don't run from us

I been down too long, cousin

I been down too long, brother

Tell the world, I ain't scared of nothin'

Tell the world, I ain't scared of jumpin'

Tell my boy, I want a crib in London

Tell the world to stop trippin'

I'll build a different house with some different functions

Try to treat man like baby

Feel the teeth sink in like rabies

Ah ah-ah, ah, ah-ah-ah ah

Ah ah-ah, ah, ah-ah-ah ah

Boy, you know you don't look fly

Them gold chains turn your neck green, bye

Ah ah-ah, ah, ah-ah-ah ah

Ah ah-ah, ah, ah-ah-ah ah

Nothin' different now (Woo)

All around now (Woo)

Who you keep around now? That's a big reflection

Don't like how they talkin' to me, why they walkin' to me?

Wear your shit upon your sleeve, stop projectin' on me

Sense is your surround sound, what's your take on me?

Kill the ego now, what that make of me?

Angle widescreen, couple sips of Tanqueray

I'ma throw a couple punches, I'ma do it anyway

Chin up, little son, I slide in like the macarena

Lose time, pen it style, spiced up, jalapeño

Supersonic, move through tunnel, two-wheel cycle

Slightly silence crowd better than 9 millimeter with extended suppressor

Bustin' out the function, highly comfortable

Got this hot ting on my body, man, my sweat lethal

Sweet kisses like the candy out the carnival

I'ma call my own shots, hit the audible

Impendin' death is the only sign of life

I'm throwin' Hail Marys 'til I die

Throw it up, all I have is peace of mind, throwin' up

Have my wings clipped, I don't need them shits, learn to fly again

Fast track to last place, I swear, I've never been up top

But I'm up here somewhere

Out here, nobody can tell me shit

Shit, never mind what I did back then

You should take a look at yourself instead

Maybe you can find yourself, love yourself

Here's to health and here's to wealth, all together now

Tell 'em boys, don't run from us

I been down too long, cousin

I been down too long, brother

Tell the world, I ain't scared of nothin'

Tell the world, I ain't scared of jumpin'

Tell my boy, I want a crib in London

Tell the world to stop trippin'

I'll build a different house with some different functions

Tell 'em boys, don't run from us

I been down too long, cousin

I been down too long, brother

Tell the world, I ain't scared of nothin'

Tell the world, I ain't scared of jumpin'

Tell my boy, I want a crib in London

Tell the world to stop trippin'

I'll build a different house with some different functions

Hoo! Voodoo Man

Momma took me to the church and I sang a hymn

Co-colonized Chris-ti-an

Now I'm losin' my reli-gi-on

God damn, so narcissistic this millennium

Fuck you and the bubble that you livin' in

I don't go to church, but I'm so spiritual

Pulled my life out of dirt, that's a miracle

If Jesus was a pop star, would he break the bank?

All these diamonds in my face, I'm shinin' like the day

I'm livin' in my prime, man, what can I say?

If the service is a hour, I'm a hour late

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
brother /ˈbrʌðər/ A1	noun - a male sibling
world /wɜːrld/ A1	noun - the earth and all the people, things, and places on it
want /wɑːnt/ A1	verb - to desire or wish for something
run /rʌn/ A1	verb - to move quickly on foot
tell /tel/ A1	verb - to communicate information to someone
house /haʊs/ A1	noun - a building for human habitation
scared /skerd/ A2	adjective - afraid; frightened
fly /flaɪ/ A2	verb - to move through the air
different /ˈdɪfərənt/ A2	adjective - not the same as another or others; unlike
build /bɪld/ A2	verb - construct (something) by putting parts or material together.
life /laɪf/ B1	noun - the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death.
functions /ˈfʌŋkʃənz/ B1	noun - an activity or purpose natural to or intended for a person or thing. verb - to work or operate in a proper or particular way.
digging /ˈdɪɡɪŋ/ B1	verb - to break up and move earth with a tool, a machine, or one's hands.
mission /ˈmɪʃən/ B2	noun - an important assignment carried out for political, religious, or commercial purposes, typically involving travel.
flames /fleɪmz/ B2	noun - a hot glowing mass of burning gas or vapor.
defeat /dɪˈfiːt/ B2	verb - to win a victory over (someone or something) in a war, contest, game, or argument.
manic /ˈmanɪk/ B2	adjective - showing wild excitement or energy
crib /krɪb/ B2	noun - a baby's bed with high sides
ego /ˈiːɡoʊ/ B2	noun - a person's sense of self-esteem or self-importance.
spiritual /ˈspɪrɪtʃuəl/ B2	adjective - relating to or affecting the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things.

Key Grammar Structures

• Is you gon' finish what you started? What you quittin' for?

  ➔ Contractions in questions (gon', you + verb)

  ➔ “Gon'” is a contraction of “going to,” and “you” is combined with the verb “finish” and “quittin’” (quitting). This is common in informal speech.

• I'm independent 'cause these parties never planned for this

  ➔ Contraction (I'm) and causative conjunction ('cause)

  ➔ “I'm” is a contraction of “I am,” and ‘cause is a shortened form of “because.” Both are informal.

• The feelin's never the same, you chase what you couldn't gain

  ➔ Apostrophe for possession (feelin's)

  ➔ “Feelin's” is a contraction of “feeling’s,” indicating possession. It’s a colloquial form.

• I'm so accustomed to flames, I couldn't tell you what's fire

  ➔ Modal verb (couldn't) for ability in the past

  ➔ “Couldn't” is the past form of “can not,” used to express inability in the past.

• When I die, these words gon' need separate caskets in a hearse

  ➔ Future construction with 'gon''

  ➔ “Gon'” is used here to indicate a future action, similar to “going to.”

• I don't rhyme, I freeze time and let these hands just do the work

  ➔ Parallel structure with coordinating conjunctions

  ➔ The sentence uses parallel structure (“I don't rhyme, I freeze time”) with coordinating conjunctions to emphasize contrast.

• Tell 'em boys, don't run from us

  ➔ Contraction ('em) and negative command (don't run)

  ➔ ‘Em is a contraction of “them,” and “don't run” is a negative command using the auxiliary verb “do.”