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Bus Search
Wyclef Jean Lyrics


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Ya I know those ain't flashing lights
Dam police lights man they pullin' the tour bus over once again
Alright this is gonna be a search
Everybody put your hands where I can see 'em

Smells funny in here, what you're lookin' at boy
Sir my name's not boy it's Wyclef Jean
Oh sir that's that Wyclef Jean guy
He is one of that versatile rapper musician like Smuck North

So we got ourselves a celebrity here
Yeah, long haired city boy like you
You gotta know some rock
Yes sir I play a little bit of rock

Hm, you boys carry a lot of equipment in this bus
Ashamed I have to rip it all out for nothin'
Play me some Pink Floyd son
Maybe I'll let you off

Overall Meaning

In the song Bus Search by Wyclef Jean, he talks about being pulled over by the police while on tour. The police officer approaches and demands that everyone in the bus put their hands up for a search. Wyclef Jean, who was on the bus, corrects the officer who referred to him as "boy" and introduces himself. The officer recognizes him as a celebrity and asks if he knows any rock music, specifically Pink Floyd, before proceeding to search the bus.


The song touches on the issue of racial profiling by law enforcement officers, as the officer assumes that the predominantly black occupants of the bus are involved in criminal activities despite no evidence to support this claim. Wyclef Jean is able to maintain his composure and refuses to be identified as "boy", asserting his identity and demanding that he is treated with respect. Additionally, the song highlights the emotional toll that constant harassment and profiling by police can have on an individual, even somebody as successful as Wyclef Jean.


Line by Line Meaning

Ya I know those ain't flashing lights
I am aware that those are not normal lights.


Dam police lights man they pullin' the tour bus over once again
The police lights are indicating that we are being stopped again.


Alright this is gonna be a search
They are going to search us.


Everybody put your hands where I can see 'em
The police officer is asking everyone to raise their hands where he can see them.


Smells funny in here, what you're lookin' at boy
The police officer is questioning the smell in the bus and addressing Wyclef Jean by calling him 'boy'.


Sir my name's not boy it's Wyclef Jean
Wyclef Jean is correcting the police officer by stating his proper name.


Oh sir that's that Wyclef Jean guy
The police officer now recognizes Wyclef Jean as a famous person.


He is one of that versatile rapper musician like Smuck North
The police officer is comparing Wyclef Jean to another versatile rapper and musician.


So we got ourselves a celebrity here
The police officer is acknowledging that Wyclef Jean is a celebrity.


Yeah, long haired city boy like you
The police officer is describing Wyclef Jean as a long haired city boy.


You gotta know some rock
The police officer is expecting Wyclef Jean to know about rock music.


Yes sir I play a little bit of rock
Wyclef Jean confirms that he has some knowledge of rock music.


Hm, you boys carry a lot of equipment in this bus
The police officer notices that there is a lot of equipment in the bus.


Ashamed I have to rip it all out for nothin'
Wyclef Jean is frustrated that the police officer is going to search their equipment for no reason.


Play me some Pink Floyd son
The police officer is demanding that Wyclef Jean plays Pink Floyd for him.


Maybe I'll let you off
The police officer is suggesting that he might let them go if they comply with his request.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JERRY DUPLESSIS, WYCLEF JEAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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