One Way or Another (Hocus Pocus 2 Version) – English Lyrics

• By: Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy
• Album: Hocus Pocus 2

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the whimsical world of "Hocus Pocus 2" with the Sanderson Sisters' captivating rendition of "One Way or Another." This song offers a fun and energetic way to engage with the English language, as you can learn about how a familiar pop hit is transformed through clever lyrical changes to fit a magical, mischievous narrative. It's special for its playful reinterpretation and its central role in one of Disney's most anticipated sequels, perfect for understanding how language can be adapted for creative storytelling.

[English]

One way or another, I'm gonna to find ya

I'm gonna get ya, get ya, get ya, get ya

One way or another, I'm gonna win ya

I'm gonna get ya, get ya, get ya, get ya

One way or another, I'm gonna see ya

I'm gonna meet ya, meet ya, meet ya, meet ya

One day, maybe real soon, I'm gonna meet ya

I'm gonna meet ya, I'll meet ya!

And when the sun has gone down

We'll fly our broomsticks downtown

To spy who's around

Sistahs!

One way or another, we're gonna find ya

We're gonna get ya, get ya, get ya, get ya

One way or another we're gonna grab ya!

I'll nab ya, I'll jab ya

One way or another we're gonna snatch ya

I'm gonna catch ya! dispatch ya!

One day, maybe next week, we're gonna grip ya, and then I'll trip ya, I'll whip ya

Now lead us Salem!

Lead us to that Mayor!

And like a hawk in the night (shoopa-shoopa, shoopa-shoopa)

We'll scoop you up for a flight (shoo-shoo-boom, shakadula, shaka)

And we'll take a bite (we'll take a, we'll take a bite!)

1, 2, 3, 4!

Ah, say into pi, alpha maybe upendi

Ah, say into pi, alpha maybe upendi!

In comma-coriyama

In comma-coriyama

Hey! (Hey!)

High! (High!)

Come on maybe upendi!

We're gonna chew ya

And even witches' brew ya

We're acting cruel ya'll

And oopa-doopa-doo ya

We're gonna slay ya

And probably filet ya

It might upset ya

But we'll get ya, get ya, get ya, get ya

One way or another, we're gonna find ya

We're gonna get ya, get ya, get ya, get ya

One way or another, we're gonna trick ya

I'm gonna stick ya, I'll kick ya

(One way) one way or another, we're gonna meet ya

Yeah, we're gonna cheat ya, beat ya, then defeat ya

One day, oh, maybe right now, no more debatin'

It's agravatting, satan's, waitin', stayin'

One way or another!

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
find /faɪnd/ A1	verb - to discover, especially by searching or by chance
win /wɪn/ A2	verb - to be successful or victorious in a game, contest, or fight
meet /miːt/ A1	verb - to come together with someone, either by arrangement or by chance
fly /flaɪ/ A1	verb - to move through the air using wings or an engine
broomsticks /ˈbruːm.stɪks/ B1	noun - the handle of a broom, especially one used by witches to fly
downtown /ˈdaʊn.taʊn/ A2	noun - the central part of a city, especially the main business or shopping area
spy /spaɪ/ B1	verb - to watch someone or something secretly
grab /ɡræb/ B1	verb - to take hold of something or someone suddenly and roughly
snatch /snætʃ/ B2	verb - to take something quickly and often rudely or illegally
dispatch /dɪˈspætʃ/ C1	verb - to kill a person or animal
grip /ɡrɪp/ B2	verb - to hold something tightly
whip /wɪp/ B2	verb - to hit someone or something with a whip or a similar object
hawk /hɔːk/ B1	noun - a type of large, strong bird that hunts and eats smaller birds and animals
scoop /skuːp/ B2	verb - to lift something quickly and in one movement
bite /baɪt/ A2	verb - to cut or break something with your teeth noun - the act of biting something, or a piece of food cut by biting
brew /bruː/ B1	verb - to make a drink, especially beer or tea noun - a drink that has been brewed
slay /sleɪ/ B2	verb - to kill someone or something in a violent way
trick /trɪk/ B1	verb - to deceive or outwit someone, often for fun or mischief noun - an action that is intended to deceive someone
cheat /tʃiːt/ B1	verb - to behave in a dishonest way in order to gain an advantage
defeat /dɪˈfiːt/ B2	verb - to win against someone in a fight, war, or competition; overcome or conquer

Key Grammar Structures

• One way or another, I'm gonna to find ya

  ➔ Informal Future (Going to)

  ➔ "Gonna" is an informal contraction of "going to", used for future plans or intentions, or predictions based on current evidence. In standard English, the "to" after "gonna" is redundant as "gonna" already incorporates it (e.g., "I'm going to find ya" or "I'm gonna find ya"). This specific lyric is a common informal or poetic liberty.

• And when the sun has gone down

  ➔ Present Perfect

  ➔ Describes an action that started in the past and continues into the present, or a completed action with a result relevant to the present. The auxiliary verb is "has/have" followed by the past participle. "The sun has gone down" indicates the action of setting is complete and its effect (darkness) is current.

• We'll fly our broomsticks downtown

  ➔ Simple Future (Will)

  ➔ Used for spontaneous decisions, predictions, or promises. "We'll" is the contraction of "we will".

• To spy who's around

  ➔ Infinitive of Purpose

  ➔ An infinitive verb (to + base form) used to explain the reason or purpose for an action. Here, they go downtown "to spy" (for the purpose of spying).

• Now lead us Salem!

  ➔ Imperative Mood

  ➔ Used to give commands, instructions, or make requests. The verb is in its base form and the subject (you) is usually implied. "Lead us" is a direct command.

• And like a hawk in the night

  ➔ Simile (using "like")

  ➔ A simile is a figure of speech that directly compares two different things using "like" or "as" to make a description more vivid. Here, the comparison is made between their actions and a "hawk in the night".

• We'll scoop you up for a flight

  ➔ Phrasal Verb ("scoop up")

  ➔ A phrasal verb is a verb combined with a preposition or adverb (or both), creating a new meaning. "Scoop up" means to lift or gather quickly.

• And even witches' brew ya

  ➔ Possessive Apostrophe (Plural Possessive)

  ➔ The apostrophe ('s or s') is used to show possession. For plural nouns ending in 's', only an apostrophe is added (e.g., "witches'"). For singular nouns or plural nouns not ending in 's', add 's (e.g., "witch's"). "Witches' brew" means the brew belonging to witches.

• It might upset ya

  ➔ Modal Verb (Might)

  ➔ "Might" is a modal verb used to express possibility or a weak probability. "It might upset ya" means there's a possibility it will upset you.

• no more debatin'

  ➔ "No more" + Gerund

  ➔ "No more" followed by a gerund (verb-ing acting as a noun) indicates that an action or activity has stopped or should stop. "Debatin'" is an informal form of "debating".

• It's agravatting, satan's, waitin', stayin'

  ➔ Present Participle / Informal Contractions

  ➔ The '-ing' forms ("agravatting", "waitin'", "stayin'") are present participles used to form the continuous aspect (e.g., present continuous). They often function as adjectives or parts of verb phrases. The omitted 'g' at the end is an informal speech pattern. "Satan's" here is an informal contraction of "Satan is", indicating an action happening now.