America
K´naan Lyrics
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Oh this takes me home,
It makes me think about sitting outside of my old home
When I was younger and singing something like
Gabaryaray shuxaano
Maro Shabeel eh xirato
Maro qafiif eh huwato
Magacayga waa Sharaf
Sharaf, Xaaji weyaan
Aqalada xiriirta
Dhinac baa ka jooga
Ala yaa usheega?
Tinta ushaleeya?
Naa hoey Zamzamey!
Sabaax nuurey!
Adoo kilkiley
Iyo
Kaloon badanay!
Adoo xajka jira
Xasuus badhanay!
Saxiibtaa
Caasho, cashaq baa dhilay
Ugu dhambaystina
Aniga iyo geel uba
Ugu banaan bixin
Waa aniga orodneey!
Nabad dheynee!
Mareekan waa laga soo waayey
Mareekan waa laga soo waayey
Mareekan waa laga soo waayey
Waa aniga orodneey!
Nabad dheynee!
Mareekan waa laga soo waayey
Mareekan waa laga soo waayey
Mareekan waa laga soo waayey
Waa aniga orodneey!
Nabad dheynee!
Mareekan waa laga soo waayey
Mareekan waa laga soo waayey
Mareekan waa laga soo waayey
There are certain things fresh,
And certain things mesh,
I got my own sound I don't sound like the rest,
And even my attire and my choice of dress,
And not long ago I don't spoke English
My point is police pull me over a lot
They wonder what kind of rap sheet I got.
And sometimes I take a young girl out to eat,
And hold the door open oh your so sweet,
Of course my affection's super illustrated
And I like to give don't reciprocate it
Unless you could give me someone innovated
Well lets cook it up we dont refrigerate it
But back to the country of the educated
Where people get robbed and they celebrate it,
Waa aniga orodneey!
Nabad dheynee!
Mareekan waa laga soo waayey
Mareekan waa laga soo waayey
Mareekan waa laga soo waayey
Waa aniga orodneey!
Nabad dheynee!
Mareekan waa laga soo waayey
Mareekan waa laga soo waayey
Mareekan waa laga soo waayey
Waa aniga orodneey!
Nabad dheynee!
Mareekan waa laga soo waayey
Mareekan waa laga soo waayey
Mareekan waa laga soo waayey
Maraken,
My country tis of thee
Sweet land for robberies
Dos smokin' S-U-V's
Grab me an army green
Fat and frills
Thrills and spills
Eat and sleep
Hump and kill
Shop til you drop
Work til you dead
Get all you can
Then get in the wear
Outta my face
On your knees
Sleep in the mansion
Shut out the streets
Make that cake
Woop that trick
Lick my swagger
Suck my sick
Get high get low get sticky get rich
Get yo own show get down get quick
You slow you blow you broke your fix
Terror dome, home swag home
Terror dome, home swag home
Home swag home
Home swag home
There are some things pure while certain things blur
Dilute it with the lie and you believe when it occur
Falsified information got my people in the stir
We have to be in search of something equal to the cure
Straight out the door, I come to give you more
Lay the law keep it raw, when I speak it from the core
Get underneath your skin like especially with the claw
Conflicted with the rich cause I kick it with the poor
I laugh in the face of adversity
Sound clashed with the bass cause its natural to me
But if you pay attention to the past you will see
Not long ago you black they'd hang your ass from a tree
Certain things things change, while some stay the same
Some are recluse others are lovers of the game
I'm trying to walk the lane,the siratul mustaqim
(Arabic for 'the straight path') was the cane
Instead of doing things they keep you covered in the flame.
Nanananana that shit was cool in English,
But let me get that Somali verse.
Gabaryaray shuxaano
Maro Shabeel eh xirato
Maro qafiif eh huwato
Magacaaga ii sheeg?
Magacayga waa Sharaf
Sharaf, Xaaji weyaan
Aqalada xiriirta
Dhinac baa ka jooga
Ala yaa usheega?
Tinta ushaleeya?
Naa hoey Zamzamey!
Sabaax nuurey!
Adoo kilkiley
Iyo
Kaloon badanay!
Adoo xajka jira
Xasuus badhanay!
Saxiibtaa
Caasho, cashaq baa dhilay
Ugu dhambaystina
Aniga iyo geel uba
Ugu banaan bixin
Waa aniga orodneey!
Nabad dheynee!
Mareekan waa laga soo waayey
Mareekan waa laga soo waayey
Mareekan waa laga soo waayey
Waa aniga orodneey!
Nabad dheynee!
Mareekan waa laga soo waayey
Mareekan waa laga soo waayey
Mareekan waa laga soo waayey
Waa aniga orodneey!
Nabad dheynee!
Mareekan waa laga soo waayey
Mareekan waa laga soo waayey
Mareekan waa laga soo waayey
In K'naan's song America, he reflects on his experiences as a Somali immigrant to the United States. The song begins with K'naan reminiscing about his childhood in Somalia, singing lines in Somali language that roughly translate to "Where is your name? My name is Sharaf, Sharaf, Mr. Honorable. I live in the small town. Where do you live? Are you a traveler?" The nostalgic tone of these lines contrasts with the subsequent ones in English, where K'naan shares his encounters with racial profiling by the police and scenes of materialism and greed in America. He observes how people in the country celebrate their wealth and status, and even crimes such as robbery. The song's central theme is the conflict between K'naan's cultural identity and his experience in America, where he often feels like a stranger and an outsider.
Throughout the song, K'naan uses poetic devices such as alliteration and repetition to emphasize certain themes and feelings. For example, the repeating line "Mareekan waa laga soo waayey" in the chorus translates roughly to "America has been found." This is a poignant statement for K'naan, who undoubtedly felt a mix of excitement and apprehension upon arriving in the United States. Additionally, K'naan's use of Somali language and culture in the song provides a unique perspective on the immigrant experience, one that is not often heard in popular music.
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Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, THE ROYALTY NETWORK INC.
Written by: Donald Breedlove, Napoleon Crayton, Oscar Richardson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind