Q.U.E.E.N. – English Lyrics

• By: Janelle Monáe, Erykah Badu
• Album: The Electric Lady

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into Janelle Monáe's "Q.U.E.E.N." featuring Erykah Badu, a vibrant exploration of identity and empowerment. This song reclaims the word 'freak' and encourages listeners to embrace their unique qualities. Learn about social justice, black culture, and queer identity through Monáe's powerful lyrics and infectious beats. Discover how this song became an anthem for self-love and a call to challenge societal norms.

[English]

I can’t believe all of the things they say about me

...

Walk in the room they throwing shade left to right

...

They be like “Ooh she serving face”

...

And I just tell ‘em cut me up and get down

...

They call us dirty ‘cuz we break all your rules down

...

And we just came to act a fool is that all right

...

They be like “Ooh let them eat cake”

...

But we eat wings and throw them bones on the ground

...

Am I a freak for dancing around

...

Am I a freak for getting down

...

I’m coming up don’t cut me down

...

Yeah I wanna be wanna be

...

Is it peculiar that she twerk in the mirror

...

And am I weird to dance alone late at night

...

And is it true we’re all insane

...

And I just tell ‘em “No we ain’t” and get down

...

I heard this life is just a play with no rehearsal

...

I wonder will this be my final act tonight

...

And tell me what’s the price of fame

...

Am I a sinner with my skirt on the ground

[Hook]

...

Am I a freak for dancing around

...

Am I a freak for getting down

...

I’m coming up don’t cut me down

...

Yeah I wanna be

Wanna be

...

Yeah i wanna be wanna be

...

I can’t take it no more

Baby we in tuxedo groove

...

Monae and E Badu

...

Crazy in the black and white

We got the drums so tight

Baby here comes the freedom song

...

Too strong we moving on

Baby there’s melody

...

Show you another way

...

This joints for fight unknown

...

Come home and sing your song

...

But you gotta testify

...

Because the booty don’t lie

No no the booty

While you’re selling shit, we’re gonna keep selling hope

While you’re selling shit, we’re gonna keep selling hope

While you’re selling shit, we’re gonna keep selling hope

While you’re selling shit, we’re gonna keep selling hope

...

“Are we a lost generation of our people

Add us to equations but they’ll never make us equal

She who writes the movie owns the script and the sequel

So why ain’t the stealing of my rights made illegal

They keep us underground working hard for the greedy

But when it’s time pay they turn around and call us needy

My crown too heavy like the Queen Nefertiti

Gimme back my pyramid I’m trying to free Kansas City

Mixing masterminds like your name Bernie Grundman

Well I’m gonna keep leading like a young Harriet Tubman

You can take my wings but I’m still goin’ fly

And even when you edit me the booty don’t lie

Yeah keep singing and I’mma keep writing songs

I’m tired of Marvin asking me “What’s Going On

March to the streets ‘cuz I’m willing and I’m able

Categorize me I defy every label

...

And while you’re selling shit, we’re gonna keep selling hope

We rising up now you gotta deal you gotta cope

Will you be electric sheep

Electric ladies will you sleep

Or will you preach

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
shade /ʃeɪd/ B2	noun - Public criticism or an insult, often delivered subtly (from the idiom 'throwing shade').
freak /friːk/ B1	noun - A person, animal, or plant that is abnormal in appearance or behavior, especially one that is a cause of curiosity or amusement.
peculiar /pɪˈkjuːliər/ B2	adjective - Unusual and strange, sometimes in an unpleasant way.
insane /ɪnˈseɪn/ B2	adjective - Mentally ill; mad; extremely foolish or unreasonable.
rehearsal /rɪˈhɜːrsl/ B1	noun - A practice or trial performance of a play, concert, or other work, typically in preparation for a public performance.
sinner /ˈsɪnər/ B2	noun - A person who commits a sin.
groove /ɡruːv/ B1	noun - A rhythmic pattern in music; a state of enjoying oneself or performing well.
testify /ˈtestɪfaɪ/ B2	verb - To state or declare something, especially in support of a claim or fact; to give evidence as a witness.
booty /ˈbuːti/ B1	noun - (Slang) A person's buttocks.
hope /hoʊp/ A2	noun - A feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.
generation /ˌdʒenəˈreɪʃən/ B1	noun - All of the people born and living at about the same time, regarded collectively.
equations /ɪˈkweɪʒənz/ B2	noun - A problem or situation in which several factors must be considered; a statement that two mathematical expressions are equal.
script /skrɪpt/ B1	noun - The written text of a play, film, or broadcast, used to control the narrative.
sequel /ˈsiːkwəl/ B1	noun - A published, broadcast, or recorded work that continues the story or develops the theme of an earlier one.
greedy /ˈɡriːdi/ B1	adjective - Having an excessive desire for wealth or possessions.
needy /ˈniːdi/ B1	adjective - (Of a person or group) lacking the necessities of life; impoverished.
pyramid /ˈpɪrəmɪd/ B1	noun - A monumental structure with a square or triangular base and sloping sides meeting at an apex, especially one built of stone as a royal tomb in ancient Egypt.
defy /dɪˈfaɪ/ B2	verb - To openly resist or refuse to obey.
label /ˈleɪbl/ B1	noun - A classifying phrase or name applied to a person or thing, especially one that is restrictive or inaccurate.