Pause – English Lyrics

• By: RUN DMC

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into Run-D.M.C.'s "Pause" and discover a potent message delivered with classic hip-hop flow and a touch of New Jack Swing. This song is an excellent way to learn English vocabulary related to social commentary and warnings, while appreciating how the group uses direct language to convey a powerful anti-drug and anti-crime stance. Its clear lyrical message and memorable chorus make it special for understanding conversational English and cultural themes of responsibility.

[English]

- Afros! (Yeah)

- Afros! (Yeah)

- Brothers be out there doin' crack.

- No

- They be doin' dope.

- No

- All them brothers need to just

(music starts)

- Pause.

(group chants) Go go go go go go

- Yeah I'm with that

Here comes the Afros,

and the forty ounce crew.

Who say slowly but surely,

we gonna turn the mother out.

We got more in store

Young ladies on the floor,

so cool out.

- Pause.

- Intro, which means I start it

In other words, herbs departed

- Pause.

- Stop for the 'cause.

Get up, get down, you get yours

- Chill.

- No time to get ill.

- Word to Herb.

- Yeah it's the will of God.

So whassup Hobbes?

Just jock, clock, rock, and don't stop,

but pause.

(group chants) Go go go go go go

- Pause,

pause for the 'cause, get yours.

But don't break laws.

Quit, quit, quit it, forget it.

- Pause.

- Say you ain't wit' it.

- Pause.

- If you did it, admit it.

'Cause, you shouldn'ta did it.

Next time,

you think of doin' a crime,

pause, and remember this rhyme.

- Pause for the 'cause,

'cause broken laws are just like broken jaws.

They take a long time to heal,

I'm for real, and I know the deal.

Look it over, investigate, evaluate,

think!

Life is long, and full of flaws.

- Before you break laws just pause!

- Pause.

- (repeats) Pause.

- Yeah pause, this beat is dope D.

- I'm tellin' you, this beat is dope.

Just slammin', it's dope.

- Well if it's dope, I hope it's not crack

Or coke, or nuttin' like somethin' you ever smoke.

And if they offer you some say no.

- Or pause.

- The reason I wrote this rhyme, is not to climb

but just to tell all mankind

that the use and abuse of drugs

- Will what?

- Will, blow, your, mind.

- Like dough makes bread,

it goes straight to your head.

You're misled and then you're dead.

- Now that's not fly,

when you die, on a high

Like a trip,

- Ooh,

- you make me sick.

Ill, lookin' like doo-doo on a stick.

You don't have to be a vic.

Life is like a flick, so pause.

(group chants) Go go go go go go

- Pause, p-pause, pause, p-p-pause

- Pause.

- Pause.

- Alright y'all, now that you understand

my man Run never ran.

I'm gonna take this mic out my hand

and hand this to the one man band.

- I'm Jay, I make up the trey.

Now check out the dance that I display.

It's called the pause,

a new thing, on the dance floor.

First you move, then you stop,

combine the hustle, foxtrot, pop and lock.

Put 'em all together, why, because.

It's called the pause.

Slammin', the dance is slammin'.

Pause, the people are jammin'.

Stop again, back to the groove.

I show you how to move.

- Pause.

- It's simple, just like stop and go.

You can pause on the fast or slow.

Participate, but you all get down.

Here's a solo from my homeboy Stanley Brown.

(musical interlude)

(group chants) Go go go go go go

- Pause.

(group chants) Go go go go go go

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
pause /pɔːz/ B1	noun - a temporary stop in activity verb - to stop temporarily
crime /kraɪm/ B2	noun - an act committed in violation of the law
laws /lɔːz/ B2	noun - a system of rules
broke /broʊk/ A2	adjective - having no money verb - to separate into pieces
heal /hiːl/ B1	verb - to become healthy again
investigate /ɪnˈvestɪɡeɪt/ C1	verb - to examine systematically
evaluate /ɪˈvæljueɪt/ C1	verb - to form an idea of the amount, number, or value of
flaws /flɔːz/ B2	noun - imperfections
abuse /əˈbjuːs/ B2	noun - cruel and violent treatment verb - to use something to bad effect
drugs /drʌɡz/ B2	noun - medicines or illegal substances
mind /maɪnd/ A2	noun - the part of a person that thinks, feels, and knows
sick /sɪk/ A2	adjective - ill
vic /vɪk/ B2	noun - victim
understand /ˌʌndərˈstænd/ B1	verb - to perceive the intended meaning of
display /dɪˈspleɪ/ B1	verb - to show
move /muːv/ A1	verb - to change position
slammin /ˈslæmɪn/ B1	adjective - excellent, amazing