Electric Avenue | Wyclef Jean Lyrics, Meaning & Videos

Say we gonna rock down through electric avenueAnd then we'll take it higher (higher)Say we gonna rock down through the Brooklyn avenuesAnd then we'll take it higher (higher)Oh noOh no I dedicate this to my peeps who roam the streetsGod bless they souls, may they rest in peaceThey'res those who finance and those who choose

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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