The Reverend
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince Lyrics

Now brothers and sisters
Opening salutation to the audience

There comes a time in your life you've got to get up and get busy
Encouraging the audience to take action and not be idle

Can I get a witness?
Request for agreement or confirmation

(Yes, brother, yes!)
Affirmation from the audience

Now I don't know if you're prepared to embark upon this journey
Acknowledging the commitment required for the message being conveyed

But the time is running out
Urgent reminder that time is limited

Brother Jazzy, break it down
Directive to Jazzy Jeff to start the music

Liggedy-ladies and gentlemen, hello, and how are you doin all?
Friendly greeting and acknowledgement of the audience

Now there's a problem that we really have got to solve
Acknowledgement of a societal issue that needs to be addressed

In our society there's a big mess
Describing the issue as a big mess affecting society

People are having entirely too much stress
Recognizing the impact of stress on individuals

And me and Jeff, yo, we've been workin on
Acknowledging the work done by the artist and Jazzy Jeff

A way to ease your everyday burdens of
Offering a solution to the societal problem

Work and school, because we thought that we should
Identifying the issues of work and school and the decision to address them

Make a record that makes people feel good
Stating the purpose of the record as making people feel good

This is a remedy, simple and basic
Describing the solution as a simple and basic one

You work too hard, come on, face it
Acknowledging that people work too hard and need a break

You gotta treat yourself, you deserve it
Encouraging self-care and recognition of self-worth

Dance like a wild person, come on, you earned it
Encouraging the audience to dance and let loose

Young and old and old and young
Inclusive message for all ages to participate

Relax, come on, cool out, come and get some
Encouraging the audience to relax and enjoy the music

You gotta let yourself go get loose, it's
Encouraging the audience to let go and have fun

Cool - dance to the music
Encouraging the audience to dance to the music

Say ?J-e-f? this beat is def
Acknowledging Jazzy Jeff's beat as great

Can I get a witness, Jeff? (Yes)
Request for agreement from Jazzy Jeff

Are you ready to start things off yet?
Asking if Jazzy Jeff is ready to start the music

(-) Aight bet
Affirmation that Jazzy Jeff is ready to start the music

Clap your hands and dance, come on, let's do this
Encouraging the audience to participate and dance

Here is a hip-hop track with a new twist
Introducing the type of music being played

Designed to ignite a subliminal dance fuse
Describing the music as intended to make people dance

And even if you can't dance, you can't lose!
Assuring the audience that even non-dancers can enjoy the music

It's for everybody, you included
Stating that the music is inclusive and aimed at everyone

We hooked up a beat and a rhyme and e.q.-ed it
Describing the process of creating the music

We put it on a tape and took it to [Name]
Describing the process of taking the completed music to someone

And then we - yo Jeff, where's my beat at?
Asking Jazzy Jeff for the beat

Oh, there it is, back to the story line
Locating the beat and getting back to the music

The music and rhyme are designed to make you have a (good time)
Describing the intended effect of the music

At the party, or wherever you hear it pumpin
Identifying the places where the music can be enjoyed

Get up and twist or breakdance or shake somethin
Encouraging the audience to dance and enjoy themselves

Yo man, this groove is all of that!
Acknowledging that the music is great

And it's different from anything we've done, in fact
Noting that the music is distinct from previous work

I might even go as far as to say
Considering the music as being particularly good

This cut shines bright on the darkest day
Describing the music as a bright spot in difficult times

And sometimes you really need some light
Recognizing the importance of positivity in difficult times

Like when your teacher or boss ain't actin right
Giving an example of a difficult situation where the music can help

This will quench your thirst to chill, it hits the spot
Describing the music as satisfying and relaxing

Give em a taste, yo Jeff, let the beat rock
Encouraging Jazzy Jeff to play the music for the audience to enjoy

( *only the beat is heard* )
Indicating a section of the performance where only the beat is played

Now Brother Jazzy
Addressing Jazzy Jeff during a break in the music

Please enlighten us with a bassline
Requesting Jazzy Jeff to play a bassline

( *Jazzy Jeff lets the bassline play* )
Indicating a section of the performance where only the bassline is played

And for all the people assembled before us
Addressing the audience

Brother Jazzy, scratch
Asking Jazzy Jeff to scratch the music

( *Jazzy Jeff cuts* )
Indicating a section of the performance where Jazzy Jeff scratches the music

We're at the top, not the bottom or the middle
Describing the artist's success

We're the freshest, the deffest, the best, Jeff, cut it up a little
Boasting about their skills and asking Jazzy Jeff to showcase his turntablism

(Oh, I get it, you wanna dance!)
Humorous acknowledgement of the audience's desire to dance

Ahhhh... the time is now to get up and dance and move
Encouraging the audience to dance and move

And clap and jump and jam and feel the groove
Encouraging the audience to participate and enjoy the music

I want you wigglin and jigglin and stompin and shakin
Describing ways to dance and enjoy the music

And showin your approval for the records me and Jeff are makin
Indicating that dancing is a way to appreciate the artist's work

We got a brand new album out
Promoting the release of a new album

And dancin and shakin and movin is what it's all about
Stating that the album is intended to make people dance and move

We want everybody to get busy
Encouraging everyone to dance and enjoy the music

You're not down with the Rev, then get with it
Encouraging the audience to follow along with the artist's message and music

This is a new age, history turned a new page
Identifying the time period as a new era with new opportunities

They said that we would decay and I say who do they
Calling out critics who doubted the artist's longevity

Think they're dealing with, a couple of amateurs?
Asserting the artist's professionalism and skill

I'm willin to bet to where this jam hits
Confidence in the performance and reception of the music

At your job and at your school dance and also on the radio
Describing the different places where the music can be enjoyed

Winter inside the house, summer on the patio
Describing the different seasons where the music can be enjoyed

Let me get out of here before I lose it
Humorous acknowledgement of the artist's excitement and energy

But remember the motto, y'all: dance to the music
Closing statement urging the audience to dance and enjoy the music

Now now
Beginning of a closing statement

Ladies and gentlemen of the congregation
Addressing the audience in a respectful manner

We realize you are not in a position to get up and dance right now
Acknowledging that some audience members may not be able to dance

So we'd like to ask of you, if you're in your car, honk your horn
Offering an alternative way to participate if the audience is driving

Honk your horn to the rhythm
Instructing the audience to honk their horn in time with the music

We'd like to ask, if you're behind the desk at your job
Offering an alternative way to participate if the audience is working

We'd like you to tap your pen and pencil to the rhythm
Instructing the audience to tap their pen and pencil in time with the music

If you're walkin down the street
Offering an alternative way to participate if the audience is walking

You can be a little discreet
Instructing the audience to be subtle with their participation

And snap your fingers to the beat
Instructing the audience to snap their fingers in time with the music

But if you are in a position
Recognizing that some audience members can dance

To get up and dance
Encouraging audience members who can dance to participate

We'd like to ask you to wiggle and jiggle everything you got
Encouraging audience members who can dance to move and enjoy themselves

And get involved with it
Urging the audience to participate and enjoy the music

This has been the Reverend signin off
Closing statement as 'The Reverend'