SWAMP – English Lyrics

• By: BROCKHAMPTON
• Album: SATURATION II

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into BROCKHAMPTON's "SWAMP," a track that perfectly encapsulates the group's innovative sound and lyrical depth. This song is a fantastic entry point for understanding contemporary English slang and diverse narrative styles in hip hop, offering a rich tapestry of introspective and ambitious verses delivered by various members, making it special for its raw honesty and complex production. Learning the language through "SWAMP" will expose you to dynamic storytelling and a blend of cultural references unique to the band's collective experience.

[English]

Fuckin' commas up from the outside

From the outside, from the outside

Fu-fuckin' dollars up from the outside

From the outside, from the outside

They been talkin' down on me (huh) what ya say?

They been talkin' down on me (huh) what ya say?

They been talkin' down on me (huh) what ya say?

They been talkin' down on me (huh) what ya say?

My daddy taught me how to sell dope

Turn grams into elbows

Light it up when the L rolled

Black mask, used to kick doors

Weren't no bullets in the guns though

Niggas still never argued

Raid the house like the task force

Me and my niggas like drug dogs

Find the dope then we take off

Fuck my girl with my chain on

Then she tatted my name on it

Yellowstone, I was raised on it

Actavis in my baby bottle

Baby stroller was an Impala

Niggas like to talk down on me

When I see 'em, I don't hear about it

Fuckin' commas up from the outside

From the outside, from the outside

Fu-fuckin' dollars up from the outside

From the outside, from the outside

They been talkin' down on me (huh) what ya say?

They been talkin' down on me (huh) what ya say?

They been talkin' down on me (huh) what ya say?

They been talkin' down on me (huh) what ya say?

Never would've met my friends if not for satellites

Yeah, I'll cuff her even if she do not suck me right

Always planned to be a rapper when I failed at life

Luckily professor failed me at the proper time

Shh-shh, shh, I say "Please" all the time, bitch

Shh-shh, shh, I like white collar crime, bitch

Shh-shh, shh, money digital broke and

Shh-shh, shh, Ghana prince in your messages

I know you hate me for leavin'

Then let's go crazy together

When I tell ya all the things that I'm thinkin'

So that we could get better

But you wanna put my heart on the stretcher

I don't got insurance for this pressure

Wanna find the benefits, I can't measure

Tryin' not to run out on my temper

I can see the ash and the ember

That was made from emotional texture

I don't know why I took this endeavor

Don't identify with oppressors

Don't identify with surrender

All of my old friends fair-weather

Gotta treat my heart like a treasure

'Cause all I know is no one else will

Fuckin' commas up from the outside

From the outside, from the outside

Fu-fuckin' dollars up from the outside

From the outside, from the outside

They been talkin' down on me (huh) what ya say?

They been talkin' down on me (huh) what ya say?

They been talkin' down on me (huh) what ya say?

They been talkin' down on me (huh) what ya say?

You do not know me, don't speak of my homies, you are a phony

Quit pinnin' shit on me, you gon' bring out the old me

You don't wanna know what I wanna do when y'all talk down on my name

I don't wanna see you in the street 'cause I might catch a case

People smile when they face to face (woo, woo, woo!)

Then turn their back and switch up words you say (ah, ah, ah!)

Runnin' to the papers everyday (woo, woo, woo!)

I'm runnin' to the paper anyway (ah, ah, ah!)

Fuckin' commas up from the outside

From the outside, from the outside

Fu-fuckin' dollars up from the outside

From the outside, from the outside

They been talkin' down on me (huh) what ya say?

They been talkin' down on me (huh) what ya say?

They been talkin' down on me (huh) what ya say?

They been talkin' down on me (huh) what ya say?

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
sell /sel/ A2	verb - to give something to someone in exchange for money
kick /kɪk/ A2	verb - to strike with the foot verb - to force open
raid /reɪd/ B1	verb - a surprise attack by police or soldiers noun - an attack or raid
dollars /ˈdɑːlər/ A2	noun - the basic monetary unit of the United States
talk /tɔːk/ A1	verb - to communicate verbally
rolled /roʊld/ A2	verb - past tense of roll
measure /ˈmeʒər/ B1	verb - to determine the size, amount, or degree of something
temper /ˈtempər/ B2	noun - a person's state of mind seen in terms of their reactions within a given context
texture /ˈtekstʃər/ B2	noun - the feel, appearance, or consistency of a surface or substance
identify /aɪˈdentɪfaɪ/ B1	verb - to recognize or establish as being a particular person or thing
treasure /ˈtreʒər/ B1	noun - a valuable possession
pressure /ˈpreʃər/ B1	noun - the force exerted per unit area
crazy /ˈkreɪzi/ A2	adjective - mentally deranged, extremely enthusiastic
stretcher /ˈstretʃər/ B2	noun - a frame with a canvas or netting on which a painting is stretched
endeavor /ɪnˈdevər/ C1	noun - an attempt to achieve a goal
oppressors /əˈpresərz/ C1	noun - people who oppress others
surrender /səˈrendər/ B2	noun - the action of ceasing resistance to an opponent or force
phony /ˈfoʊni/ B2	adjective - not genuine; fraudulent

Key Grammar Structures

• Fuckin' commas up from the outside

  ➔ Gerund as subject/object

  ➔ The gerund 'Fuckin'' functions as the beginning of the action, similar to a noun. It's the subject of the sentence.

• My daddy taught me how to sell dope

  ➔ Infinitive of purpose ('to sell')

  ➔ 'To sell' expresses the purpose of the action 'taught'.

• Light it up when the L rolled

  ➔ Conditional clause (implied if) and relative clause

  ➔ 'When the L rolled' functions as a time-based condition and implied 'if'. The relative clause structure 'the L *that* rolled' is possible.

• Weren't no bullets in the guns though

  ➔ Double negative

  ➔ The use of 'weren't' (negative) and 'no' (negative) creates a double negative. Although grammatically incorrect in formal English, it's common in informal speech.

• Me and my niggas like drug dogs

  ➔ Simile

  ➔ The phrase 'like drug dogs' is a simile, comparing the speaker and his friends to drug dogs.

• When I see 'em, I don't hear about it

  ➔ Conditional clause (implied if) and contracted form ('don't')

  ➔ 'When I see 'em' implies a condition (if I see them) and uses the contracted form 'don't'.

• Never would've met my friends if not for satellites

  ➔ Third conditional (mixed) and prepositional phrase 'if not for'

  ➔ This sentence uses a mixed conditional (past unreal + present unreal). 'If not for' acts as a condition.

• I don't got insurance for this pressure

  ➔ Informal/Non-standard grammar

  ➔ This sentence uses the colloquial 'got' instead of 'have' to express possession, typical of informal speech.

• Gotta treat my heart like a treasure

  ➔ Contracted form and simile

  ➔ 'Gotta' is a contraction of 'got to', and 'like a treasure' is a simile.

• You do not know me, don't speak of my homies, you are a phony

  ➔ Imperative sentences, contracted form ('don't')

  ➔ The sentences are imperatives giving direct commands. Also, uses the contracted form 'don't'.