Lil' Lil'
Black Eyed Peas feat. Kim Hill Lyrics
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Lapit mga kaibigan at makinig kayo
Ako'why may dala-dalang, balita galing sa bayan ko
Nais kong ipamahagi ang mga kwento
Ang mga pangyayaring nagaganap
Sa lupang pinangako
Check it out,
Listen closely yo, I got a story to tell
A version of my ghetto where life felt for real
Some would call it hell but to me it was heaven
God gave me the grace, amazin' ways of living
How would you feel if you had to catch your meal?
Build a hut to live and to eat and chill in.
Having to pump the water outta the ground
The way we put it down utilizing what is around
Like land for farming, river for fishing
Everyone helpin' each other whenever they can
We makin' it happen, from nothin' to somethin'
That's how we be survivin' back in my homeland
[Chorus]
Yo, its been a while but,
I been back home to my homeland, (check it out) to see what's going on
Man it feels good to be back at home
And it's been a decade, on the journey all alone
I was fourteen when I first left Philippines
I've been away half my life, but it felt like a day
To be next to my mom with her home cooked meal
Meant I felt complete, my emotions I feel!
Now life has changed for me in the U.S
But back at home man, life was a mess
I guess sometimes life's stresses gets you down
On your knees, oh brother I wish I could have helped you out
[Chorus]
The chorus of Black Eyed Peas' "Lil' Lil'" is sung in Tagalog and invites the listener to listen closely to the story of the artist's hometown, where he wishes to share the events taking place. The song is a personal reflection of the artist's experience growing up in a ghetto in the Philippines, where life was tough but fulfilling. He describes the daily struggles of building huts for shelter, fishing for food and pumping water out of the ground. Despite the harsh living conditions, he emphasizes the sense of community and resilience that helped them to survive.
In the second verse, the artist reflects on his journey to the United States, where life has changed significantly for him. However, visiting his hometown after a decade brought back memories and emotions that he had long forgotten. He talks about feeling complete when next to his mom with her home-cooked meal. The song ends with a message of hope, encouraging people from all walks of life to listen to each other's stories and help each other out.
Overall, "Lil' Lil'" is a powerful and personal reflection of the artist's upbringing and his appreciation for the sense of community he experienced in his hometown. It is a reminder that even in the toughest of circumstances, human connections and perseverance can help us survive and thrive.
Line by Line Meaning
Lapit mga kaibigan at makinig kayo
Come closer my friends and listen carefully
Ako'why may dala-dalang, balita galing sa bayan ko
I am bringing news from my hometown
Nais kong ipamahagi ang mga kwento
I want to share the stories
Ang mga pangyayaring nagaganap
Of what is happening
Sa lupang pinangako
In the promised land
Every place got a ghetto this is my version
Every place has areas of poverty, and this is my experience of it
Check it out, Listen closely yo, I got a story to tell
Pay attention, I have a tale to share
A version of my ghetto where life felt for real
My personal experience of poverty and hardship
Some would call it hell but to me it was heaven
Others may see it as a terrible place, but I found comfort there
God gave me the grace, amazin' ways of living
I found strength and resilience through faith
How would you feel if you had to catch your meal?
Imagine having to hunt or fish for your food
Build a hut to live and to eat and chill in.
Having to construct your own shelter and place to eat and relax
Having to pump the water outta the ground
The difficulty of acquiring clean water
The way we put it down utilizing what is around
We made the most of what we had available
Like land for farming, river for fishing
Using the land and water for subsistence
Everyone helpin' each other whenever they can
A community that supported each other
We makin' it happen, from nothin' to somethin'
Creating a better life from scratch
That's how we be survivin' back in my homeland
This is how people live and thrive in my country
Yo, its been a while but, I been back home to my homeland, (check it out) to see what's going on
It's been some time since I've been back to my country, but I returned to see how things are
Man it feels good to be back at home
There's a sense of comfort and familiarity being back
And it's been a decade, on the journey all alone
It's been ten years since I left, and I had to make the journey alone
I was fourteen when I first left Philippines
I was just a teenager when I set out for a new life
I've been away half my life, but it felt like a day
Even though I've been gone for so long, it feels like it was just yesterday
To be next to my mom with her home cooked meal
Being with family and enjoying a homemade meal is priceless
Meant I felt complete, my emotions I feel!
Everything felt right and I was overwhelmed with emotions
Now life has changed for me in the U.S
My life has transformed since moving to America
But back at home man, life was a mess
Things were difficult and chaotic in my country
I guess sometimes life's stresses gets you down
The struggles of life can bring you down
On your knees, oh brother I wish I could have helped you out
Feeling a desire to help those who struggle in poverty
Lapit mga kaibigan at makinig kayo
Come closer my friends and listen carefully
Ako'why may dala-dalang, balita galing sa bayan ko
I am bringing news from my hometown
Nais kong ipamahagi ang mga kwento
I want to share the stories
Ang mga pangyayaring nagaganap
Of what is happening
Sa lupang pinangako
In the promised land
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, TUONO MUSIC % SOUTH HUDSON MUSIC, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: WILL ADAMS, ALLAN APLL PINEDA, MICHAEL FRATANTUNO, GEORGE PAJON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@benproudfoot1409
Hey, everybody. I’m Ben, the filmmaker and creator of the ALMOST FAMOUS series. Happy to answer any questions!
@marvinrichards8633
Did y’all reach out to the current edition of the BEP for a comment or perspective? It definitely would have been interesting given Will.i.am’s latest comments.
@benproudfoot1409
@Marvin Richards We did reach out to will.i.am’s team before publication but did not get a comment back in time.
@reggeesexpressions
Did you ever think this piece would blow up as it did?
@benproudfoot1409
@Are El and Carlos Socorro-Garner No! I actually wasn’t sure it was a good idea and Executive Producer Abby Davis urged me to call Kim because she so believed in the story.
@reggeesexpressions
And how about the resurgence! Completely washing her start off their legacy is crazy. You did say he didn’t reach out in time, did you get what he said in response to this off the record
@aidashahirasuhadi9809
she really is a woman ahead of her time. she sticks to her voice and her integrity is astounding.
@TheRealRazhel
Ahead of her time? People have been doing that since forever.
@IagainstI.
@Razhel and what have you done again? Stop being a hater
@bachelorofstuff
@IagainstI What they meant is that integrity wasn't invented in the 90s, dummy. The fact that this lady is having a moment right now thanks to the NYT is symptomatic of the times we live in, as there is a demand for stories like hers. There's nothing 'ahead of the times' about it - that's just a stupid choice of words by the original poster for whom English may not even be their first language.