WAGWAN – English Lyrics

• By: Central Cee
• Album: ALL ROADS LEAD HOME

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into Central Cee's "WAGWAN" to experience a vibrant blend of UK drill and authentic storytelling. This track is a masterclass in modern British slang and a powerful narrative of ambition, trust, and the journey from the streets to global recognition. Learn how Central Cee masterfully uses language to depict his reality and connect with listeners worldwide, making this song a compelling entry point into the nuances of UK rap culture.

[English]

(Gusto)

Yo

I'm on Miami beach with a sweet one, tan, she wanna learn, so I teach some slang

Like what's goin' on, bae? How are you doin'? I'm from London, so I speak with a twang

It's taxmanK and the police too, I don't watch them yutes, I don't beef with the gang

But there's certain people I wanna see get blammed, if you fuck with them boys, don't reach for my

Sold sweets in school, that a T from Poundland, bro fly them and the pound still land

Big Naira and Victoria Island, stack pillin', I want pounded yam

Kinda surprised 'bout the venue size, I perform for 25 thousand fans

Keep the clout, I'm out for the bands, keep countin' the days, baby, I'll be back

Wagwan? I ain't seen shawty in a minute

She asked how I am, I said, "Calm", she said I'm the man, I said, "Innit?"

Posted up with my dawg at yard, if you got a friend for my friend, then bring it

When I was broke, heart cold like December, but now I'm up, my step got a spring in

Baby, turn it around and spin it, I'm tryna bend your back and then dig it

I ain't unknown in the T, man did it, park the Sprinter outside of the club

Tell bro, "Will you jump out quick and fill it?"

Say you're a good girl, said that you're timid

I think she a freak and don't wanna admit it, I think she a freak and don't wanna ad

Now it's private room, we don't go shop floor, I was poor, now it's champagne glasses spillin'

You only spent one day with us chillin', now you don't wanna live same way you were livin'

I get gyal, I don't rape no women

Free all the get-backs sat in the jail, they ain't learnin' a skill, but they barber trimmin'

Trust no one, I seen pastor sinnin'

You honestly think if I go put a 100K on the table, my dawg won't kill him?

DSP, I'm with packs, I rap, he traps, but he got the same car I'm whippin'

Written the 16 bars or lyrics, got rich without father figures

No drama 'cause the karma spinnin', it's not Carti' on my arm, it's a Richard

Wagwan? I ain't seen shawty in a minute

She asked how I am, I said, "Calm", she said I'm the man, I said, "Innit?"

Posted up with my dawg at yard, if you got a friend for my friend, then bring it

When I was broke, heart cold like December, but now I'm up, my step got a spring in

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
beach /biːtʃ/ A1	noun - a sandy shore beside a body of water
slang /slæŋ/ B1	noun - informal language used by a particular group
police /pəˈliːs/ A2	noun - the civil force responsible for maintaining public order
gang /ɡæŋ/ B1	noun - a group of friends or associates, often with criminal connotations
pound /paʊnd/ A2	verb - to hit heavily or repeatedly
island /ˈaɪ.lənd/ A1	noun - a piece of land surrounded by water
stack /stæk/ B1	verb - to arrange things in a pile or series
venue /ˈvɛn.juː/ B2	noun - the place where an event takes place
perform /pərˈfɔːrm/ B1	verb - to present a form of entertainment or to carry out an action
fan /fæn/ A1	noun - a person who admires a particular performer or activity
clout /klaʊt/ C1	noun - influence or power, especially in social media contexts
band /bænd/ C1	noun - slang for a large sum of money (e.g., a thousand dollars)
shawty /ˈʃɒt.i/ C1	noun - slang for an attractive young woman
calm /kɑːm/ A1	adjective - peaceful and relaxed
friend /frɛnd/ A1	noun - a person attached to another by affection or loyalty
broke /broʊk/ B1	adjective - having no money
spring /sprɪŋ/ A2	noun - a coil of metal that returns to its shape after being compressed
trap /træp/ B2	noun - slang for a place where illegal drugs are sold or stored
karma /ˈkɑːrmə/ B2	noun - the idea that good or bad actions bring corresponding results
champagne /ʃæmˈpeɪn/ B1	noun - sparkling wine from the Champagne region of France

Key Grammar Structures

• I'm on Miami beach with a sweet one, tan, she wanna learn, so I teach some slang

  ➔ Present simple + informal contraction "wanna" (want to) and coordination with "so"

  ➔ The verb "wanna" is a contraction of "want to" used in informal speech.

• Like what's goin' on, bae? How are you doin'?

  ➔ Informal dropping of "g" in -ing forms (going → goin') and use of tag question "How are you doin'?"

  ➔ "goin'" drops the final "g" of "going" to create a colloquial style.

• if you fuck with them boys, don't reach for my

  ➔ First‑conditional imperative: "if + present simple, imperative"

  ➔ The clause "if you fuck with them boys" uses the present simple to set a condition, followed by the imperative "don't reach for my".

• when I was broke, heart cold like December, but now I'm up, my step got a spring in

  ➔ Contrastive conjunction "but" linking past simple with present perfect/present simple; ellipsis of "my heart was"

  ➔ The word "but" introduces a contrast between the past state "when I was broke" and the present state "now I'm up".

• She asked how I am, I said, "Calm", she said I'm the man, I said, "Innit?"

  ➔ Indirect speech reporting questions and statements; use of present simple after "asked"; colloquial tag "Innit?"

  ➔ "She asked how I am" uses the present simple "am" after a reporting verb "asked".

• I think she a freak and don't wanna admit it

  ➔ Zero‑copula omission ("she is" → "she") and contraction "don't wanna" (do not want to)

  ➔ The copular verb "is" is omitted before "a freak", a common feature in informal English.

• I ain't unknown in the T, man did it, park the Sprinter outside of the club

  ➔ Double negative with "ain't" + adjective; colloquial "ain't" meaning "am not/ is not"

  ➔ "ain't" is a non‑standard contraction for "am not / is not", creating a double negative with "unknown".

• Written the 16 bars or lyrics, got rich without father figures

  ➔ Past‑participle clause without an explicit subject (ellipsis); perfect‑aspect meaning "I have written"

  ➔ "Written the 16 bars or lyrics" omits the subject "I" and the auxiliary "have", a common lyrical ellipsis.

• Trust no one, I seen pastor sinning

  ➔ Past simple of "see" used as "I seen" (non‑standard) and imperative "Trust"; colloquial omission of "have" in perfect construction

  ➔ "I seen" replaces the standard "I have seen"; the auxiliary "have" is dropped in informal speech.