Pothole – English Lyrics

• By: Tyler, The Creator, Jaden Smith, Alexander Brettin
• Album: Flower Boy

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a linguistic journey with Tyler, The Creator's "Pothole." This song is a fantastic way to immerse yourself in English through its rich metaphors about life's challenges and personal ambition. You can learn expressive vocabulary related to overcoming adversity and understanding nuanced lyrical storytelling, all set to a smooth hip-hop beat that makes the language acquisition enjoyable and engaging.

[English]

Shit

My mother warned me that some niggas ain't my right hand

To trust her, only my heart and that elder white man

His name is Clancy, I fancy him, gotta give him props

He half the reason why dealerships even let me cop

So now I'm speedin' and tryna drive away from the fact

That she was right, so I triple left, tryna double back

The streets are filled with some clues, like how I ain't notice that?

(How I ain't see that?) Fuck it, I seen some familiar stuff in the cul-de-sac

I pull up, get out, what up? I wanna help

But what you want for some, some niggas really don't want for themself

Now do I stay? Do I go? That's my dilemma

And traffic is picking up, if I don't leave, I'ma get stuck (skrrt)

So I speed off, we talk barely, and it seems awkward

And I heard through some words that you off it

I got too much drive, don't wanna steer off path

And crash and get distracted

But I listen to that weatherman 'cause it might rain

Keep my windshield wipers prepared 'cause y'all threw so much shade

And I got jacket in trunk, but that's in the front

I also got power for both of us if you're ever in need of jump

Just let me know, my nigga

I had to switch the gears on 'em

Fishtail in the rearview mir' on 'em (skrrrrrt!)

I had to switch the gears on 'em

You know, swerve, left turn, steerin' wheel on 'em

Nigga that's a pothole, watch out for the pothole

Watch out for the pothole, watch out for the pothole

Look out for the pothole, watch out for the pothole

Watch out for the pothole, watch out for the pothole

Snakes in the grass, but I walk

I got some new boots, on the back it says GOLF

So I be prepared for their bites, they're all talk

I left the condom in the grass so fuck off

Watchin' Clarence in a mansion with nobody in it

Young successful nigga, ride McLaren with no windows tinted

I draw my piggies when I'm in it 'cause it feels amazin'

The irony is I stopped eatin' bacon

Don't get it twisted, nigga, I'm still hungry, oh he lonely

All my friends talk about their hoes and tenderonies

All I can show 'em is a couple cars and more things

That I've made in the couple past month, he's on, please

Everyone is a sheep, me, a lone wolf

Nobody gon' make a peep 'cause everyone wants some wool

Since everyone is a sheep, not everyone here is cool

Man I'd rather drown in a pool by myself than fuck with their fleece

See, man, T-Man fans be seesaw

Wind blows, they go, which way, who knows?

One day, "Fuck no," the next day, "Okay"

But fuck y'all, I know that T is four for four

I just want that garden and that Batmobile

Good health, success, time on earth worthwhile

Find somebody who love me and raise a couple of lizards

But my vehicle's good for now, that's in a couple of miles

Now keep it pushin', nigga

I had to switch the gears on 'em

Fishtail in the rearview mir' on 'em (skrrrrrt!)

I had to switch the gears on 'em

You know, swerve, left turn, steerin' wheel on 'em

Nigga that's a pothole, watch out for the pothole

Watch out for the pothole, watch out for the pothole

Look out for the pothole, watch out for the pothole

Watch out for the pothole, watch out for the pothole

...

Fuck, okay, next one

Do-do-do-do-do-do

Gotta watch out for the potholes

Ooh, said watch out for the potholes

Haha

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
warned /wɔːrnd/ B1	verb - to inform someone of a possible danger or problem.
fancy /ˈfænsi/ B1	verb - to like or admire someone or something.
dealerships /ˈdiːlərʃɪps/ B2	noun - a business that sells new or used vehicles.
speedin' /ˈspiːdɪn/ A2	verb - driving faster than the legal limit.
dilemma /dɪˈlemə/ C1	noun - a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or more alternatives.
awkward /ˈɔːkwərd/ B1	adjective - causing or feeling embarrassment or inconvenience.
distracted /dɪˈstræktɪd/ B1	adjective - unable to concentrate or focus.
windshield /ˈwɪndʃiːld/ A2	noun - the glass screen in front of the driver and passengers in a vehicle.
shade /ʃeɪd/ B1	noun - partial or total darkness caused by the obstruction of light. noun - disrespect or criticism.
trunk /trʌŋk/ A2	noun - the enclosed space at the rear of a car.
switch /swɪtʃ/ A2	verb - change from one state or condition to another.
gears /ɡɪrz/ B1	noun - each of the different mechanical ratios used in a gearbox to control the speed of a vehicle.
fishtail /ˈfɪʃteɪl/ B2	verb - to swerve from side to side, especially of a vehicle.
swerve /swɜːrv/ B1	verb - to turn or change direction suddenly.
pothole /ˈpɒthəʊl/ A2	noun - a hole in the surface of a road.
snakes /sneɪks/ A2	noun - long, limbless reptiles.
boots /buːts/ A1	noun - a type of footwear covering the foot and ankle.
condom /ˈkɒndɒm/ C1	noun - a thin sheath of rubber or plastic used to cover the penis during sexual intercourse to prevent pregnancy or the spread of sexually transmitted infections.
tinted /ˈtɪntɪd/ B1	adjective - colored or having a slight color.
irony /ˈaɪrəni/ C1	noun - the expression of one thing but meaning another.

Key Grammar Structures

• My mother warned me that some niggas ain't my right hand

  ➔ Subjunctive mood with 'that'

  ➔ The clause 'that some niggas ain't my right hand' is in the subjunctive mood, expressing a warning or advice.

• So now I'm speedin' and tryna drive away from the fact

  ➔ Present continuous with 'tryna'

  ➔ 'Tryna' is a colloquial contraction of 'trying to,' used here in the present continuous to describe an ongoing action.

• That's my dilemma

  ➔ Possessive pronoun

  ➔ 'My' is a possessive pronoun indicating ownership of the dilemma.

• If I don't leave, I'ma get stuck

  ➔ Contraction 'I'ma'

  ➔ 'I'ma' is a colloquial contraction of 'I am going to,' used to express future intention.

• I had to switch the gears on 'em

  ➔ Past simple with 'had to'

  ➔ 'Had to' is used to express necessity in the past.

• Watch out for the pothole

  ➔ Imperative mood

  ➔ The phrase is in the imperative mood, giving a direct command or warning.

• I left the condom in the grass so fuck off

  ➔ Past simple with 'left'

  ➔ 'Left' is the past simple form of 'leave,' indicating a completed action.

• Everyone is a sheep, me, a lone wolf

  ➔ Contrast using commas

  ➔ Commas are used to contrast 'everyone' with 'me,' emphasizing the difference.