People – English Lyrics

• By: Libianca

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the poignant lyrics and emotional depth of Libianca's "People," a song that delves into themes of loneliness and mental health. Discover how this viral hit sparked a global conversation about empathy and the importance of checking in on one another, offering a unique opportunity to connect with Cameroonian culture and explore the nuances of expressing vulnerability.

[English]

Oh-oh, mm, mm

From Bamenda, it's Libianca

Oh-oh (a-yo, Mage, you made a bang)

I've been drinking more alcohol for the past five days

Did you check on me?

Now, did you look for me?

I walked in the room, eyes are red, and I don't smoke banga

Did you check on me? (Did you check on me?)

Now, did you notice me?

Nobody wey know the paranoia, oh

'Cause I put a smile on my face, a facade you can never face (hoo)

And if you don't know me well, well, oh

You won't see how buried I am inside my grave, inside my grave

'Cause you see people, people, people, people

Who don't really know you, they don't really know you

'Cause you see people, people, people

They don't really know you, they don't really know

I've been drinking more alcohol for the past five days

Did you check on me?

Now, did you look for me?

I walked in the room, eyes are red, and I don't smoke banga

Did you check on me? (Did you check on me?)

Now, did you notice me?

Oh, Holy Father, oh, Holy Father, I dey try fo' hold my head

I say make You no leave me diko

Oh, Holy Father, yeah-yeah, oh, make You try for understand

Yahoo girl, no dey for here (oh, yeah)

'Cause you see people (bang), people, people, people

Who don't really know you (they don't really know)

They don't really know you (know-oh)

'Cause you see people (bang), people, people

They don't really know you (mhm), they don't really know

I've been drinking more alcohol for the past five days (yeah, yeah)

Did you check on me?

Now, did you look for me?

I walked in the room, eyes are red, and I don't smoke banga (oh-ah)

Did you check on me? (Did you check on me?)

Now, did you notice me?

I've been drinking more alcohol for the past five days (mm-hmm)

Did you check on me?

Now, did you look for me? (Oh)

I walked in the room, eyes are red (and I don't)

And I don't smoke banga (and I don't)

Did you check on me? (Did you check on me?)

Now, did you notice me?

I've been drinking more alcohol for the past five days

Did you check on me?

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
alcohol /ˈæl.kə.hɒl/ (UK), /ˈæl.kə.hɔːl/ (US) B1	noun - a colorless, flammable liquid used as a solvent and intoxicant
smoke /smoʊk/ B1	verb - to inhale and exhale the smoke of tobacco
face /feɪs/ A2	noun - the front part of the head that contains the eyes, nose, and mouth
people /ˈpiːpl/ A2	noun - humans in general; persons
check /tʃɛk/ A2	verb - to examine or look at carefully
notice /ˈnoʊ.tɪs/ A2	verb - to become aware of something
notice /ˈnoʊ.tɪs/ A2	noun - attention; warning
inside /ˌɪn.saɪd/ A2	adjective / preposition - within the outer surface of something
grave /ɡreɪv/ B2	noun - a burial place for a dead body adjective - serious or important
buried /ˈbɛr.iːd/ C1	adjective / verb (past participle) - placed in the ground and covered with earth
never /ˈnɛv.ər/ A2	adverb - at no time; not ever

Key Grammar Structures

• I've been drinking more alcohol for the past five days

  ➔ Present Perfect Continuous

  ➔ The "I've been drinking" indicates an action that started in the past and continues into the present. It emphasizes the duration and ongoing nature of the action.

• Did you check on me?

  ➔ Simple Past Question

  ➔ The structure "Did + subject + verb" forms a question in the simple past tense, asking if an action was completed at some point in the past.

• Now, did you look for me?

  ➔ Simple Past Question

  ➔ Similar to the previous line, this is another example of a question in the simple past tense. The phrasal verb "look for" means to search for someone.

• I walked in the room, eyes are red, and I don't smoke banga

  ➔ Simple Past, Simple Present (stative)

  ➔ "I walked" is simple past, describing a completed action. "eyes are red" is simple present describing a state of being. "I don't smoke" is present simple, showing a habit or regular action that does not happen.

• 'Cause I put a smile on my face, a facade you can never face

  ➔ Relative Clause (you can never face)

  ➔ "you can never face" is a relative clause modifying "facade". It explains which facade she is talking about.

• And if you don't know me well, well, oh

  ➔ Conditional Sentence (Type 1)

  ➔ This is a type 1 conditional sentence: "If + simple present, will + base form". Although "will" is not explicitly stated, the following sentence explains the likely outcome if the condition is met.

• You won't see how buried I am inside my grave, inside my grave

  ➔ Passive Voice (am buried)

  ➔ "am buried" is in the passive voice, indicating that the subject (I) is the receiver of the action, not the performer. It implies that someone or something has buried the speaker metaphorically.

• I say make You no leave me diko

  ➔ Subjunctive Mood (implied)

  ➔ The use of "make" followed by the base form of the verb "leave" implies a subjunctive mood, expressing a wish or a request. In standard English, it might be 'I say that You not leave me'. However, it shows the dialect and the speaker's request.