Electric Avenue
Wyclef Jean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴Oh no
Oh no
Say we gonna rock down through electric avenue
And then we'll take it higher (higher)
Say we gonna rock down the Brooklyn avenues
And then we'll take it higher (higher)
Oh no
Oh no
Yo Yo
Slick like Rick James when I hit
Super Freak chicks, I don't miss
Miss wit yo nose, my flows make you sick
Two chicks for me, none for you like twix
Play with niggas head like clef's guitar picks
Went from bottom pits to makin' hits and
Hollow tips and shootin' lips (right)
Handle my business, make sure it sits
Ride through the tunnels, fuck the guest lists
Light up the block with roman candlesticks
Known to blow shows with pyrotechnics
Rappin' bout yo wips while yo cat demands hits
Buyin' shorty gifts with checks from
Your record sound like a demo that was yet not mixed
Your whole styles broke and it should be fixed
Times runnin' out as my Rolex ticks
Don't get caught on the av, it's too electric
Say we gonna rock down through electric avenue
And then we'll take it higher (higher)
Say we gonna rock down through the Brooklyn avenues
And then we'll take it higher (higher)
Oh no
Oh no
I dedicate this to my peeps who roam the streets
God bless they souls, may they rest in peace
They'res those who finance and those who choose to lease
Whatever suits you better on the terms of your lease
Different strokes for different folks, god, I refuse to going back and
being
Broke, Lord
He got struck wit lightin', he got hit hard
Faces 20 to life maximum
His whole life is scarred
The preacher's son and I came off the Santa Maria
Ten cases of malt I caught the diarrhea
Load the refugees on the aircraft carrier
Some say dirty cash
we never heard of ya
(you don't know me? and don't know me?)
Say we gonna rock down through electric avenue
And then we'll take it higher (higher)
Say we gonna rock down through the Brooklyn Avenues
And then we'll take it higher (higher)
Oh no
Oh no
Alright alright
Watch yo back, watch yo side, swimmin wit sharks
String you like a harp while they playin' Mozart
No credentials, get nowhere like Ozlo
Sent to frisco, like the regal begal
Suave like rico, on fire like pyro
Frantic like scytso, rougher than Brillo
He caught the wrap like Donnie Brosko
Out in the streets there is violence
Down in Brooklyn there is violence
Down there in Queens there is violence
And there's a lot of work to be done (Lord)
Down there in the ghetto there's violence
In Miami there is violence
And there's a lot of work to be done (Lord)
Say we gonna rock down through refugee avenue
And then we'll take it higher (higher)
Say we gonna rockd own through Haiti avenue
And then we'll take it higher (higher)
(refugee all stars, yeah, yeah)
Overall Meaning
The song "Electric Avenue" by Wyclef Jean features a series of powerful, socially conscious verses about life in the inner city. The opening lines of the chorus declare that "we gonna rock down through Electric Avenue," suggesting a journey through the tough streets of an urban environment. But the lyrics also promise that the journey will lead to something higher, something better: "we'll take it higher." Throughout the song, Jean uses vivid imagery to describe the realities of inner-city life, from the violence and poverty to the strength and resilience of the people who live there.
Jean's verses are filled with cultural references and wordplay, showing off his skill as a rapper. He compares himself to the legendary musician Rick James and boasts of his ability to handle any challenge. He speaks of people who "finance" and "lease" their lives, a stark contrast between the haves and the have-nots. And he mentions the Santa Maria, the ship on which Christopher Columbus sailed to the Americas, using it as a symbol for the history of colonization and oppression.
The song's chorus is a memorable earworm, with its repetition of "oh no" and the upbeat promise of taking things higher. But it's the verses that make "Electric Avenue" a powerful statement on urban life and the need for change.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh no
Expressing concern, trouble, or apprehension
Say we gonna rock down through electric avenue
We're going to have a great time going through Electric Avenue
And then we'll take it higher (higher)
Things are going to get even better after going through Electric Avenue
Say we gonna rock down the Brooklyn avenues
We're going to have a great time going through the Brooklyn Avenues
And then we'll take it higher (higher)
Things are going to get even better after going through the Brooklyn Avenues
Oh no
Expressing concern, trouble, or apprehension
Yo Yo
Calling someone's attention
Slick like Rick James when I hit
I'm smooth like Rick James when I start rapping
Super Freak chicks, I don't miss
I attract beautiful women and never miss out on their company
Miss wit yo nose, my flows make you sick
Your style is outdated, but people love my music
Two chicks for me, none for you like twix
I'm more successful with women than you are
Play with niggas head like clef's guitar picks
I mess with people's minds and emotions like Wyclef's guitar playing
Went from bottom pits to makin' hits and
I started with nothing, but now I'm successful
Hollow tips and shootin' lips (right)
I'm not afraid to speak my mind and rap about risky topics
Handle my business, make sure it sits
I take care of my responsibilities and ensure everything is perfect
Ride through the tunnels, fuck the guest lists
I don't need to be on a guest list to get where I'm going
Light up the block with roman candlesticks
I create a spectacle with fireworks
Known to blow shows with pyrotechnics
I'm famous for my explosive stage performances
Rappin' bout yo wips while yo cat demands hits
You're obsessed with showing off your material possessions while your music is terrible and not popular
Buyin' shorty gifts with checks from
You're trying to impress women by spending money you don't have
Your record sound like a demo that was yet not mixed
Your music sounds like an unfinished demo with poor sound quality
Your whole styles broke and it should be fixed
You need to fix your style because it's outdated
Times runnin' out as my Rolex ticks
Time is running out for you, but I have all the time in the world
Don't get caught on the av, it's too electric
Be careful on the avenue because it's electrifying and dangerous
I dedicate this to my peeps who roam the streets
I'm dedicating this song to my friends who spend time in the streets
God bless they souls, may they rest in peace
I pray for their souls to rest in peace
They'res those who finance and those who choose to lease
There are people who have money and those who don't
Whatever suits you better on the terms of your lease
Choose what's best for you based on your financial situation
Different strokes for different folks, god, I refuse to going back and
People have different tastes and preferences, but I refuse to be poor again
being Broke, Lord
I don't want to be poor again
He got struck wit lightin', he got hit hard
He's been hit hard by life
Faces 20 to life maximum
He's looking at 20 years to life in prison
His whole life is scarred
His entire life has been negatively impacted
The preacher's son and I came off the Santa Maria
I'm like the preacher's son, but I arrived in a different way
Ten cases of malt I caught the diarrhea
I drank too much malt liquor and got sick
Load the refugees on the aircraft carrier
Get the refugees safely out of the country
Some say dirty cash
Some people question my money's origin
we never heard of ya
We've never heard of you or your music
Watch yo back, watch yo side, swimmin wit sharks
Be careful because danger is all around
String you like a harp while they playin' Mozart
They'll play Mozart while they harm you
No credentials, get nowhere like Ozlo
You won't get anywhere without credentials like Oslo
Sent to frisco, like the regal begal
Sent to San Francisco, like being exiled
Suave like rico, on fire like pyro
I'm smooth and charming like Rico and explosive like pyrotechnics
Frantic like scytso, rougher than Brillo
I'm frantic like someone with multiple personalities but tough like a Brillo pad
He caught the wrap like Donnie Brosko
He got caught up in a bad situation like Donnie Brasco
Out in the streets there is violence
There is violence in the streets
Down in Brooklyn there is violence
There is violence in Brooklyn
Down there in Queens there is violence
There is violence in Queens
And there's a lot of work to be done (Lord)
There's a lot of work that needs to be done to fix our communities
Down there in the ghetto there's violence
There is violence in the ghetto
In Miami there is violence
There is violence in Miami
Say we gonna rock down through refugee avenue
We're going to have a great time going down Refugee Avenue
And then we'll take it higher (higher)
Things are going to get even better after going down Refugee Avenue
Say we gonna rockd own through Haiti avenue
We're going to have a great time going down Haiti Avenue
And then we'll take it higher (higher)
Things are going to get even better after going down Haiti Avenue
(refugee all stars, yeah, yeah)
This song is for all the refugees and the great music they make
Contributed by Cameron W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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