Ready Or Not
Drake; The Fugees; DJ Alexei Lyrics
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Gonna find you and take it slowly
Ready or not, here I come, you can't hide (ooh)
Gonna find you and make you want me (yo)
Now that I escape, sleepwalker awake (yeah)
Those who could relate know the world ain't cake
Jail bars ain't golden gates
When they meet their four-hundred pound mate
If I could rule the world (if I ruled the world)
Everyone would have a gun in the ghetto of course
When giddyuping on their horse (giddyup)
I kick a rhyme drinking moonshine
I pour a sip on the concrete, for the deceased
But no don't weep, Wyclef's in a state of sleep
Thinking 'bout the robbery that I did last week
Money in the bag, banker looked like a drag
I wanna play with pelicans from here to Baghdad
Gun blast, think fast, I think I'm hit
My girl pinched my hips to see if I still exist
I think not, I'll send a letter to my friends
A Born Again hooligan only to be king again
Ready or not, here I come, you can't hide
Gonna find you and take it slowly
Ready or not, here I come, you can't hide (ooh)
Gonna find you and make you want me (yo, yo, yo)
Yo, I play my enemies like a game of chess, where I rest
No stress, if you don't smoke sess, lest
I must confess, my destiny's manifest
In some Goretex and sweats I make treks like I'm homeless
Rap orgies with Porgy and Bess
Capture your bounty like Elliot Ness, yes
Bless you if you represent the Fu
But I'll hex you with some witch's brew
If you're doo-doo, voodoo
I can do what you do, easy, believe me
Fronting niggas give me hee-bee-gee-bees
So while you're imitating Al Capone, I'll be Nina Simone
And defecating on your microphone
Ready or not, here I come, you can't hide
Gonna find you and take it slowly
You can't run away
From these styles I got, oh baby, hey baby
Cause I got a lot, oh yeah
And anywhere you go (ooh)
My whole crew's gonna know baby, hey baby
You can't hide from the block, oh no
Ready or not, refugees taking over (ready or not)
The Buffalo Soldier, dreadlock Rasta
On the twelfth hour, fly by in my bomber
Crews run for cover, now they're under pushing up flowers
Superfly true lies, do or die (he's super fly)
Toss me high, only puff lye
With my crew from lakay
I refugee from Guantanamo Bay
Dance around the border like I'm Cassius Clay (yessir, yo)
Ready or not, here I come, you can't hide (ooh, yo, hey yo nobody move)
Gonna find you and take it slowly (yeah)
Ready or not, here I come, you can't hide (ooh, yo, hey yo nobody move)
Gonna find you and make you want me (whoa, yeah, c'mon)
Ready or not, here I come, you can't hide (you know the, you know the)
Gonna find you and take it slowly
Ready or not, here I come, you can't hide (ooh, yo, hey yo nobody move)
Gonna find you and make you want me (ooh)
Ready-
The Fugees' "Ready or Not" is a song about power, escape, and taking control. The opening lines, "Ready or not, here I come, you can't hide/Gonna find you and take it slowly," set the tone for the rest of the song. The singer is in charge, and they're going to take what they want, on their own terms. The rest of the song contains verses about overcoming obstacles and rising to the top, even in the face of adversity.
For instance, the line "now that I escape, sleepwalker awake" implies that the singer has overcome some kind of obstacle or difficult situation. They go on to describe how they would rule the world if given the chance, and how they'll never let anyone stand in their way. They even reference their own criminal activity, with lines like "thinking 'bout the robbery that I did last week/Money in the bag, banker looked like a drag."
Throughout "Ready or Not," the Fugees mix together elements of reggae, hip-hop, and soul music into a seamless blend. They also use different vocal styles and techniques to create a varied, dynamic sound. Wyclef Jean and Lauryn Hill switch off on lead vocals, while Pras Michel adds in ad-libs and harmonies. The song's instrumentation is similarly varied, incorporating everything from a reggae-inspired bassline to samples of gunshots and police sirens.
Overall, "Ready or Not" is a powerful, rootsy anthem that showcases the Fugees' unique musical talent and their ability to blend different musical styles in new and exciting ways.
Line by Line Meaning
Ready or not, here I come, you can't hide
I am coming for you and you can't escape me
Gonna find you and take it slowly
I will pursue you and take my time in doing so
Gonna find you and make you want me
I will make you desire my presence and attention
Now that I escape, sleepwalker awake
Having freed myself from a difficult situation, I am now fully aware
Those who could relate know the world ain't cake
Those who can identify with me understand that life is not easy
Jail bars ain't golden gates
Being locked up is not a desirable experience
Those who fake, they break
Those who pretend to be something they are not will eventually fail
When they meet their four-hundred pound mate
When someone meets their match in terms of strength or power
If I could rule the world (if I ruled the world)
If I had the power to govern the world
Everyone would have a gun in the ghetto of course
Residents of impoverished areas would have access to firearms
When giddyuping on their horse (giddyup)
When riding on horses
I kick a rhyme drinking moonshine
I rap while drinking illegal alcohol
I pour a sip on the concrete, for the deceased
I pour some alcohol on the ground as a tribute to those who have died
But no don't weep, Wyclef's in a state of sleep
Don't feel sorry for me, I'm resting
Thinking 'bout the robbery that I did last week
Reflecting on a recent theft I committed
Money in the bag, banker looked like a drag
Successfully acquiring cash, with the banker appearing unimpressive
I wanna play with pelicans from here to Baghdad
I desire to play with birds
Gun blast, think fast, I think I'm hit
Hearing a gunshot, quickly assessing the situation, and realizing I've been wounded
My girl pinched my hips to see if I still exist
My girlfriend physically checked to verify that I'm still alive
I think not, I'll send a letter to my friends
I don't believe I'm going to die, so I'll write a letter to my loved ones
A Born Again hooligan only to be king again
After experiencing a rebirth, I will regain my power and influence
Yo, I play my enemies like a game of chess, where I rest
I strategize against my opponents while relaxing
No stress, if you don't smoke sess, lest
There's no reason to worry, unless you're smoking marijuana
I must confess, my destiny's manifest
I admit that my future is predetermined
In some Goretex and sweats I make treks like I'm homeless
Wearing outdoor clothing, I walk around like I have no place to live
Rap orgies with Porgy and Bess
Having wild parties while listening to jazz music
Capture your bounty like Elliot Ness, yes
Capturing my target like the famous law enforcement agent Elliot Ness did
Bless you if you represent the Fu
I commend you if you represent The Fugees
But I'll hex you with some witch's brew
However, I'll curse you with a potion made of mysterious ingredients
If you're doo-doo, voodoo
If you're a failure, I'll perform magic to ensure that you stay that way
I can do what you do, easy, believe me
I'm capable of doing what you do, and it's not difficult
Fronting niggas give me hee-bee-gee-bees
People who pretend to be tough make me feel uneasy
So while you're imitating Al Capone, I'll be Nina Simone
While you're trying to be a gangster, I'll be a brilliant artist like Nina Simone
And defecating on your microphone
I'll outperform and humiliate you on your own instrument
You can't run away
You cannot escape
From these styles I got, oh baby, hey baby
I have a lot of skills and talents
Cause I got a lot, oh yeah
I have many abilities
And anywhere you go (ooh)
No matter where you travel
My whole crew's gonna know baby, hey baby
Everyone I know will become aware of you
You can't hide from the block, oh no
You cannot avoid the community
Ready or not, refugees taking over (ready or not)
The refugees will dominate, whether you're prepared or not
The Buffalo Soldier, dreadlock Rasta
A soldier with dreadlocks
On the twelfth hour, fly by in my bomber
During a critical moment, I will pilot my aircraft
Crews run for cover, now they're under pushing up flowers
Those who ran now lie dead
Superfly true lies, do or die (he's super fly)
Making outrageous claims, even if it means risking my life
Toss me high, only puff lye
Throwing me up in the air while smoking cannabis
With my crew from lakay
Alongside my friends from my neighborhood
I refugee from Guantanamo Bay
I'm an individual who escaped from a detention center
Dance around the border like I'm Cassius Clay (yessir, yo)
Dodging authorities who are trying to catch me, much like the boxer Muhammad Ali
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Nicholas John Ryan, Roma Shane Ryan, Thomas Randolph Bell, William Alexander Hart, Eithne Ni Bhraonain
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind