The White Shoes – English Lyrics

• By: Wale
• Album: The Album About Nothing

Lyrics & Translation

[English]

I had a lady once stop me on the street. I was wearing white shoes. And she says, "I'm glad you're sticking with the white shoes." She says, "It makes me feel good."

Take this good advice

If they're gonna judge you for life

Say we can't always be fly

We gon' be good long as them sneakers white

You'll be alright

Said, you'll be alright

Said, you'll be alright

Said, you'll be alright

Gucci S. Dots, whole hood had 'em

Ice cream 'fore the hype beasts that's into fashion

Yeah, being for real, yo, try being Pharrell

When your black ass in a back class, the fronting was real

No Lauren London, we was on a budget

You know, sharin' Old Navy, so the army could be fresh in public

Where the sneaker stores and laundromats get all the money

'Cause it ain't 'bout what you're doin' but how ya lookin'

When they love you for your status and your catalog

And everybody got a jersey to play along

Back then the hoes checkin' for your zapatos

So even dirty niggas had the foams, you know?

Take this good advice

If they're gonna judge you for life

Say we can't always be fly

We gon' be good long as them sneakers white

You'll be alright

Said, you'll be alright

Said, you'll be alright

Said, you'll be alright (Let's take 'em back, look)

Viotech trainers on the way to work

And we would quietly complain while Eric would lurk

That was the PG Plaza manager managin' us

Yeah, I'm standin' in Lucky 7's, but slingin' them Lugz

Still have them J's for the low, low, and I could get 'em early

But I'm not without a conscience, I see people out there hurtin'

Got 'em for Penny Foams that was bought at this very store

And I think that was my shift, then again, I'm not very sure

And that's a lot that can get to ya

When you're not sellin' drugs, but the outcome is similar

'Cause out come them niggas with pistols, tellin' you give 'em up

Now out come the moms with tissues 'cause you ain't give a fuck

Free lunch for everyone, income was very "uh"

On the 2nd and 16th, everyone would have every one

And Reebok would carry pump

And that's not the scary part

These niggas love white shoes so much, they'd be buried in them

...

I had a lady once stop me on the street. I was wearing white shoes. And she says, "I'm glad you're sticking with the white shoes." She says, "It makes me feel good."

You'll be alright

You'll be alright

You'll be alright

You'll be alright

Take this good advice

If they're gonna judge you for life

Say we can't always be fly

We gon' be good long as them sneakers white

You'll be alright

Said, you'll be alright

Said, you'll be alright

Said, you'll be alright

No matter how good or lavish us niggas got it

We just a bunch of ravenous addicts living for fancy haberdashery

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
shoes /ʃuːz/ A1	noun - a covering for the foot, typically made of leather, worn for protection
white /waɪt/ A1	adjective - of the color of milk or fresh snow, due to the reflection of all visible rays of light; the opposite of black. noun - a person with light-colored skin, especially of European origin.
good /ɡʊd/ A1	adjective - to be desired or approved of noun - that which is morally right; benefit or advantage
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death.
sneakers /ˈsniːkərz/ A2	noun - a type of shoe with a rubber sole and usually made of canvas or leather.
fly /flaɪ/ B1	adjective - stylish; fashionable; cool verb - to move through the air.
judge /dʒʌdʒ/ B1	verb - form an opinion or estimate of after considering the evidence or facts. noun - a public officer appointed to hear and decide cases in a court of law.
real /rɪəl/ B1	adjective - actually existing as a thing or occurring in fact; not imagined or pretended.
fashion /ˈfæʃən/ B1	noun - a popular trend, especially in styles of dress and ornament or manners of behavior. verb - make in a particular form
budget /ˈbʌdʒɪt/ B1	noun - an estimate of income and expenditure for a set period of time.
money /ˈmʌni/ A1	noun - a current medium of exchange in the form of coins and banknotes; collectively.
status /ˈsteɪtəs/ B2	noun - a person's social position relative to others.
jersey /ˈdʒɜːzi/ B1	noun - a close-fitting knitted shirt, typically made of wool or cotton.
dirty /ˈdɜːti/ A2	adjective - covered or marked with an unclean substance.
niggas /ˈnɪɡəz/ C2	noun - a term used among black people; used as an insult towards black people by non-black people
drugs /drʌɡz/ B1	noun - a medicine or other substance which has a physiological effect when introduced into the body.
income /ˈɪnkʌm/ B1	noun - money received, especially on a regular basis, for work or through investments.
addicts /ˈædɪkts/ B2	noun - a person who is addicted to a particular substance or activity.
haberdashery /ˈhæbədæʃəri/ C1	noun - men's clothing; accessories