Dance Or Die
Janelle MonŠe Lyrics

Cyborg, android, d-boy, decoy, water, wisdom
The song begins with a list of various things that seem unconnected, but may hold greater importance later on

Tightrope, vision, insight, stronghold, heartless
Another list of things that may or may not be related, but they set the tone for the upcoming lyrics and the issues that will be addressed in the song

Ice cold, mystery, mastery, solar, battery
The final list of the song's introduction, potentially hinting at a greater message weaved into the lyrics to come

Some will pull the gun because they want to be stars
The pressure of fame and the desire for adoration can lead some to do harm

Snatching up your life into the blink of an eye
Danger can strike at any moment, leaving one's life in peril in mere seconds

And if you see your cloning on a street walking by
The potential of just another version of oneself can be unsettling and alarming

Keep you running for your life cause only one will survive
The lyrics allude to the survival of the fittest mentality that lurks in the streets

War is in the streets and it's an eye for an eye
The streets are littered with danger and one must fight to survive

Run on for your life or you can dance you can die
With danger lurking at every turn, one can either continue to run in fear or dance as if it's their last moment on Earth

She's praying in the sand like she's the last samurai
Drawing parallels with last samurais who fought until the end, showing a sense of resilience despite the danger

It's a stick up stick up and a pick up pick up
A phrase used during robberies, representing the danger and unpredictability that lurks in the streets

Telling lies and telling lies will put your face on fire
Lies can bring forth consequences that affect one's wellbeing

Run and tell your friends to never dream, never win
A bleak message that suggests not to dream due to the harsh reality of danger in the streets

Ghettos keep a crying out to streets full of zombies
The ghetto represents a world of its own, with its own set of challenges and inhabitants that trudge like zombies

Kids are killing kids and then the kids join the army
A call out into the continuous cycle of violence and how children are often victims and perpetrators of that violence

Rising and a waking, yes sir here comes the sun
A positive message of hope, acknowledging that despite the darkness, there is a dawn that follows the night

March into the war and with the kick of the drum
An acknowledgment of the militaristic nature of life, with war being a common theme in the streets

The wiser simians have got the bombs and the guns
An allusion to the fact that the powerful and oppressive often hold the reins of power in society

So you might as well keep dancing if you're not gonna run
Acknowledging the futility in running from the dangers of life, one may as well dance and enjoy their time on Earth, rather than live in fear

I'm gonna lay myself so far way down right in your chops
A phrase that represents getting down to business, fighting for one's own survival in the face of danger

Modern day example of the wolf vs flock
A metaphor for the fight between the individual and the collective, where one must fight for their own survival

Freedom necessary and it's by any means
The song alludes to the fact that freedom is worth fighting for by any means necessary

Frozen they were stolen all the kings and queens
A reference to the oppression of those in power, who often take or steal their power rather than earn it

Sudanese and congolese who put the roll in the rock
Possibly an allusion to the survival of African cultures despite oppressive forces

It's a minute to the dawn and yet the sun ain't back
Despite the hopeful message earlier, the fact is that change takes time and is often slow to come

Angel, blossom, gunshot, dodging, dream, bright, beat
A list of seemingly disconnected words, set for the upcoming lyrics

Light, breathe, live, help, give, focus, trance, wake up, dance!
Another list of words that bare relevance later in the song, suggesting a greater message and meaning to the song

I'm praying for the man sitting without much time
A reminder that time is fleeting, and one must strive to make a difference as long as they have the chance

May he understand the clock will never rewind
A call to understand the impact of our actions and to embrace change with an urgency

Wisen him and sharpen him and give him a motto
A message to educate and empower those in power, with the hopes of fostering change

Hate no more, said he must hate no more
Letting go of hate is one of the first steps to changing oneself and the world around them

You see the daylight comes into the kingdom
A message of hope that change is possible

But the kingdom's full of ignorant men
Despite the hope, there are still many who resist change and perpetrate ignorance

Just keep rebelling away, you gotta dream it away
A message to keep fighting for change and to keep one's dreams alive, despite the ongoing challenges

Because the weatherman you seein' ain't creating the weather
A call out into the fact that change comes from those who act, and not those who dictate

This man wants to see another jubilation
A reminder that despite the challenges, there are those who still seek the joy of life

And that man wants us in emancipation
There are those who seek freedom and equality for all

And then there is the man who wants a stronger nation
And finally, there are those in power, who seek a larger stake in the world

You see we really got to and I think that we ought to
A message of urgency: We must act, and we must act NOW

Protect the mind from degradation
Protecting one's mental fortitude is critical in times of adversity

Sow in the seeds of education
Education is a key factor in fostering a brighter tomorrow

They run from us, are we that dangerous?
An allusion to the fact that those in power may feel threatened by those who seek change

There's a war in all the streets and yes the freaks must dance or die!
A defiant message that those fighting for change must continue to push forward and not live in fear

A long long way to find the one
A message of perseverance, to not give up despite the long journey ahead

We'll keep on dancing 'til she comes
Despite the challenges, one must continue to dance and live life to the fullest

These dreams are forever
A reminder that the dreams one holds are a reflection of themselves

Oh these dreams are forever
A repetition of the previous line, emphasizing its importance

And if you wanna wake the sun
A message of empowerment, that one can awaken even the most stubborn of forces

Just keep on marching to the drums
A call to action, to keep fighting and pushing forward

These dreams are forever
Reaffirmation that one's dreams are eternal

Oh these dreams are forever
A repetition of the previous line, emphasizing its importance