Sherane a.k.a Master Splinter’s Daughter – English Lyrics

• By: Kendrick Lamar
• Album: good kid, m.A.A.d city

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the vivid storytelling of Kendrick Lamar to learn authentic African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and the art of narrative songwriting. This track is special for its movie-like structure, making it a perfect study in how to build tension and atmosphere through lyrics.

[English]

Lord God, I come to you a sinner

And I humbly repent for my sins

I believe that Jesus is Lord

I believe that You raised him from the dead

I would ask that Jesus come to my life

And be my Lord and Savior

I receive Jesus to take control of my life

And that I may live for him from this day forth

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for saving me with your precious blood

In Jesus' name, amen

...

I met her at this house party on El Segundo and Central

She had the credentials of strippers in Atlanta

Ass came with a hump, from the jump she was a camel

I want to ride like Arabians, push an '04 Mercedes-Benz

"Hello, my name is Kendrick," she said, "No, you're handsome"

Whispered in my ear, disappeared, then found her dancin'

Ciara had played in the background

The parade music we made had us all wearin' shades now, cool

"Where you stay?" She said, "Down the street from Dominguez High"

Okay, I know that's borderline Compton or Paramount

"Well, is it Compton?" "No," she replied

Then quickly start battin' her eyes

I strictly had wanted her thighs around me

17 with nothin', but pussy stuck on my mental

My motive was rather sinful, "What you tryna get into?"

She didn't tell, just gave me her Nextel

Dropped the number, we chirped the whole summer, and, well

The summer had passed, and now I'm likin' her

Conversation we havin' probably enticin' her

Who can imagine? Maybe my actions'll end up wifin' her

Love or lust, regardless, we'll fuck 'cause the trife in us

It's deep-rooted, the music of bein' young and dumb

Is never muted, in fact, it's much louder where I'm from

We know a lot 'bout each other, her mother was a crack addict

She live with her granny and her younger two brothers

Her favorite cousin Demetrius is irrepetible

Family history of gangbangin' did make me skeptical

But not enough to stop me from gettin' a nut

"I wanna come over, what's up?"

That's what I told her soon as this episode

Of Martin go off, I'm tryna get off

I was in heat like a cactus

My tactics of bein' thirsty probably could hurt me

But fuck it, I got some heart

Grabbed my mama keys, hopped in the car, then, oh boy

So now I'm down Rosecrans in a Caravan

Passin' Alameda, my gas meter in need of a pump

I got enough to get me through the traffic jam

At least I hope, 'cause my pockets broke as a promise, man

I'm thinkin' 'bout that sex

Thinkin' 'bout her thighs or maybe kissin' on her neck or maybe what position's next

Sent a picture of her titties, blowin' up my texts

I looked at 'em and almost ran my front bumper into Corvette

Enthused by the touch of a woman, she's a masseuse

And I'm a professional pornstar when off the Goose

I had a fifth in the trunk like Curtis Jackson for ransom

I'm hopin' to get her loose like an Uncle Luke anthem

I'm two blocks away, two hundred and fifty feet

And six steps from where she stay, she wavin' me 'cross the street

I pulled up, a smile on my face, and then I see

Two niggas, two black hoodies, I froze as my phone rang

Please leave your message for three-two-three

Record your message after the tone

Kendrick, where you at?

Damn, I'm sittin' here waitin' on my van

You told me you was gon' be back in 15 minutes

I gotta go up to the county buildin', man, these kids ready to eat

I'm ready to eat, shit

I gotta get them food stuffs, come on now

You on your way or what?

I hope you ain't out there messin' with them damn hoodrats out there, shit

'Specially that lil' crazy-ass girl, Sherane

And plus you got school tomorrow

You keep fuckin' around in them streets, you ain't gon' pass to the next grade

11th grade (is that Kendrick on the phone?)

Your daddy callin' about some damn dominoes (let me holler at him)

He want to holler at you too, go ahead, Kenny, go'n, shit

Hello? Yak, where my motherfuckin' dominoes at? (Kenny), What?

I'm on his voicemail, damn fool (oh), shit

Yak, where my motherfuckin' dominoes at?

This the second time I asked you to bring my fuckin' dominoes

Just give me the damn phone, shit, don't hang up, damn, let me (keep losin' my goddamn dominoes)

Kendrick, when you get this message, man, call me back (we gon' have to go in the backyard)

I need to know when you gon' bring back my damn car (and squab, homie)

This man fussin' 'bout some damn dominoes

It ain't all that serious, fuck, damn dominoes

Shit, I'ma miss my damn appointment, fuck

Fuck some damn dominoes, nobody wanna hear that

Nobody wanna hear your ass

Matter fact, cut my motherfuckin' oldies back on

You killin' my motherfuckin' vibe

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
repent /rɪˈpɛnt/ C2	verb - To feel or express sincere regret or remorse about one's wrongdoing or sin.
credentials /krɪˈdɛnʃəlz/ C1	noun - Qualifications, achievements, or aspects of a person's background that indicate their suitability.
handsome /ˈhænsəm/ A2	adjective - Good-looking; usually referring to a man.
borderline /ˈbɔːrdərlaɪn/ B2	adjective - On the boundary of a specific state or quality.
mental /ˈmɛntl/ B1	noun - Slang for one's state of mind or focus.
motive /ˈmoʊtɪv/ B2	noun - A reason for doing something.
sinful /ˈsɪnfl/ C1	adjective - Wicked or immoral.
entice /ɪnˈtaɪs/ C1	verb - To attract or tempt by offering pleasure or advantage.
skeptical /ˈskɛptɪkl/ B2	adjective - Not easily convinced; having doubts.
tactics /ˈtæktɪks/ B2	noun - An action or strategy carefully planned to achieve a specific end.
thirsty /ˈθɜːrsti/ A2	adjective - Figuratively: showing intense desire or desperation.
enthused /ɪnˈθjuːzd/ B2	adjective - Feeling or expressing strong excitement.
masseuse /mæˈsɜːrz/ B2	noun - A person who provides massage professionally.
ransom /ˈrænsəm/ C1	noun - A sum of money demanded for the release of a captive.
professional /prəˈfɛʃənl/ B2	adjective - Relating to or connected with a profession.

Key Grammar Structures

• I would ask that Jesus come to my life

  ➔ Subjunctive mood

  ➔ The "subjunctive mood" is used after the verb 'ask' to express a wish or demand, often omitting the 'should' for emphasis.

• Maybe my actions'll end up wifin' her

  ➔ Phrasal verb construction with gerund

  ➔ The phrase "end up" is followed by a gerund (-ing) to describe the final result of a series of events.

• Family history of gangbangin' did make me skeptical

  ➔ Emphatic auxiliary 'did'

  ➔ The use of "did" before the main verb 'make' serves to add emphasis to the statement.

• My tactics of bein' thirsty probably could hurt me

  ➔ Modal verb of possibility 'could'

  ➔ The modal "could" indicates a future possibility or a potential outcome.

• You told me you was gon' be back in 15 minutes

  ➔ Informal future contraction 'gon''

  ➔ "gon'" is a common slang contraction of 'going to', used to denote future actions in colloquial speech.

• I'm thinkin' 'bout that sex

  ➔ Present continuous tense

  ➔ The structure "am/is/are + verb-ing" is used to describe an action happening currently or a thought process in the moment.

• I'm hopin' to get her loose like an Uncle Luke anthem

  ➔ Infinitive with 'to'

  ➔ The verb 'hope' requires an "infinitive with 'to'" to follow it when expressing a desired future action.

• You keep fuckin' around in them streets

  ➔ Demonstrative pronoun as adjective

  ➔ In slang, "them" is often used instead of "those" to modify the noun "streets".