Keinan Abdi Warsame (born 1978), known professionally as K'naan, is a Somal… Read Full Bio ↴Keinan Abdi Warsame (born 1978), known professionally as K'naan, is a Somali-Canadian poet and hip-hop artist. The Coming To America Songfacts states that born in Mogadishu, Somalia, he spent his childhood there during the Somali Civil War, which began in 1991. K’naan’s grandfather, Haji Mohammad, was a poet and his aunt, Magool, one of Somalia's most famous singers. The young Somalian acquired an early interest in hip-hop from the records that were sent to him from America by his father. K’naan describes growing up in Somalia amidst the ongoing warfare on his song "Coming To America". At age 13 he left for New York City with his mother and brother and finally settled in the Rexdale neighbourhood of Toronto.
In 2001 K'naan performed in Geneva at the 50th anniversary of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
In 2005, he performed with DobaCaracol during the Live 8 concert in Barrie, Ontario. His full-length debut album, The Dusty Foot Philosopher, was released in 2005.
His song "Soobax" (pronounced "So-Bah") is now featured in the best selling video game FIFA Football 2006, made by Electronic Arts and he has toured the world with the cup.
K'naan participated in the Breedlove Odyssey Tour with Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Pharoahe Monch and Jean Grae. He also participated in the "Welcome To Jamrock" tour along with Damian Marley.
The Dusty Foot Philosopher received a 2006 Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year, and was nominated for the inaugural Polaris Music Prize. He also featured in a song by M1, titled "Till We Get There".
The song "In the Beginning" from the album The Dusty Foot Philosopher was featured in the 2008 Comedy "Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay"
He also toured with Stephen Marley on Stephen's "Mind Control" tour.
His latest album "Troubadour" was released in 2009 featuring guests artists such as Damian Marley, Adam Levine, Kirk Hammett, Mos Def, and Chali 2NA.
A remixed version of K'naan's single "Wavin' Flag" was chosen as the Coca-Cola anthem for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
K'naan won the 2010 Juno Awards for Canada's Artist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year.
In 2001 K'naan performed in Geneva at the 50th anniversary of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
In 2005, he performed with DobaCaracol during the Live 8 concert in Barrie, Ontario. His full-length debut album, The Dusty Foot Philosopher, was released in 2005.
His song "Soobax" (pronounced "So-Bah") is now featured in the best selling video game FIFA Football 2006, made by Electronic Arts and he has toured the world with the cup.
K'naan participated in the Breedlove Odyssey Tour with Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Pharoahe Monch and Jean Grae. He also participated in the "Welcome To Jamrock" tour along with Damian Marley.
The Dusty Foot Philosopher received a 2006 Juno Award for Rap Recording of the Year, and was nominated for the inaugural Polaris Music Prize. He also featured in a song by M1, titled "Till We Get There".
The song "In the Beginning" from the album The Dusty Foot Philosopher was featured in the 2008 Comedy "Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay"
He also toured with Stephen Marley on Stephen's "Mind Control" tour.
His latest album "Troubadour" was released in 2009 featuring guests artists such as Damian Marley, Adam Levine, Kirk Hammett, Mos Def, and Chali 2NA.
A remixed version of K'naan's single "Wavin' Flag" was chosen as the Coca-Cola anthem for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
K'naan won the 2010 Juno Awards for Canada's Artist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year.
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Dreamer
K'naan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴
Yeah, believe it or not
What kept me alive is my dreams
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
We alive man, it's okay to feel good
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
Lock me up now, it's okay to feel good
I got a friend named Flow
Who got a friend named Blow
With a finger named Clap
That'll leave you on the side like a Kangol hat
He ain't have no choice, he was born this way
These streets pull your number like a phone display
And you gotta be defensive with your life
You gotta be like Bush and take pre-emptive strikes
And the boys from the hood are always hard
Let alone in Mogadishu it's a mastered art
If you bring the world hoods to a seminar
We from the only place worse then Kandahar
Well, that's kinda hard
But we still like to party and hardy hard
Something good happens we say, 'Mashallah'
Something bad happens, 'Que Sera Sera'
I close my eyes and all I can see is you dancing with me
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
We alive man, it's okay to feel good
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
Lock me up now, it's okay to feel good
I'm a dreamer
It's okay to feel good, yeah, it's the truth
Ay, yo' check it out
What would it take for a boy about my age
To hear cheers in his head upon that stage
And the cheers that would drown out
The tears from my brown eyes?
Come on back stage, you see the screams
Ain't the screams from gunshot streams
In my dreams, these screams are from hot teens
And I'm barely thirteen, I pack dirty
Old Russian firearm that shoots thirty
Just then I hear the bus engine
I'm transcending, I'm crowd surfing
I can't see the time burning
I'm not hurting with my mahogany pen
I'm on a world tour with Mohammad and them
And we'd be overseas and not in these trees
Where my peeps stay alive like the Bee Gees
And the likes of JZ would save my steeze
Singing handily brought Hip Hop peace
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
We alive man, it's okay to feel good
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
Lock me up now, it's okay to feel good, I'm a dreamer
Sometimes we just like to have fun
Man, we like to forget all the fighting
All the guns and the tires burning
Back on the verse, imagine crack was in birth
Imagine the earth wasn't hurt, imagine no homeland alerts
Imagine no record locater
So I wouldn't have to get a criminal waiver
Imagine the peace wasn't in my briefs
Instead peace could stretch across the seas
So finally we could just rest and ease, no refugees
And you, well, you could dress in a book
And I can read your body with less then a look
I got a dream girl in my mind that's the hook
An intellectual, sexual and still can cook
Yeah, and I feel good right now
I feel good right here, you feel good right now?
You feel good?
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
We alive man, it's okay to feel good
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
Lock me up now, it's okay to feel good
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
We alive man, it's okay to feel good
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
Lock me up now, it's okay to feel good
Yeah, we not down and out just because the times are hard
Yeah, shout out to the struggler's in my country
The hardest place on earth right now but still
I still know how to get down, I still know how to vibe out
I still know how to talk to a pretty girl, take it easy now, yeah
What kept me alive is my dreams
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
We alive man, it's okay to feel good
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
Lock me up now, it's okay to feel good
I got a friend named Flow
Who got a friend named Blow
With a finger named Clap
That'll leave you on the side like a Kangol hat
He ain't have no choice, he was born this way
These streets pull your number like a phone display
And you gotta be defensive with your life
You gotta be like Bush and take pre-emptive strikes
And the boys from the hood are always hard
Let alone in Mogadishu it's a mastered art
If you bring the world hoods to a seminar
We from the only place worse then Kandahar
Well, that's kinda hard
But we still like to party and hardy hard
Something good happens we say, 'Mashallah'
Something bad happens, 'Que Sera Sera'
I close my eyes and all I can see is you dancing with me
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
We alive man, it's okay to feel good
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
Lock me up now, it's okay to feel good
I'm a dreamer
It's okay to feel good, yeah, it's the truth
Ay, yo' check it out
What would it take for a boy about my age
To hear cheers in his head upon that stage
And the cheers that would drown out
The tears from my brown eyes?
Come on back stage, you see the screams
Ain't the screams from gunshot streams
In my dreams, these screams are from hot teens
And I'm barely thirteen, I pack dirty
Old Russian firearm that shoots thirty
Just then I hear the bus engine
I'm transcending, I'm crowd surfing
I can't see the time burning
I'm not hurting with my mahogany pen
I'm on a world tour with Mohammad and them
And we'd be overseas and not in these trees
Where my peeps stay alive like the Bee Gees
And the likes of JZ would save my steeze
Singing handily brought Hip Hop peace
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
We alive man, it's okay to feel good
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
Lock me up now, it's okay to feel good, I'm a dreamer
Sometimes we just like to have fun
Man, we like to forget all the fighting
All the guns and the tires burning
Back on the verse, imagine crack was in birth
Imagine the earth wasn't hurt, imagine no homeland alerts
Imagine no record locater
So I wouldn't have to get a criminal waiver
Imagine the peace wasn't in my briefs
Instead peace could stretch across the seas
So finally we could just rest and ease, no refugees
And you, well, you could dress in a book
And I can read your body with less then a look
I got a dream girl in my mind that's the hook
An intellectual, sexual and still can cook
Yeah, and I feel good right now
I feel good right here, you feel good right now?
You feel good?
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
We alive man, it's okay to feel good
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
Lock me up now, it's okay to feel good
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
We alive man, it's okay to feel good
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
Lock me up now, it's okay to feel good
Yeah, we not down and out just because the times are hard
Yeah, shout out to the struggler's in my country
The hardest place on earth right now but still
I still know how to get down, I still know how to vibe out
I still know how to talk to a pretty girl, take it easy now, yeah
The song "Dreamer" by K'naan is a celebration of hope and perseverance, despite the challenges and struggles that the singer and his friends face on a daily basis. K’naan knows what it feels like to be a part of a minority group and live in a place where danger is an everyday reality. He knows the weight that fear can carry and the way it can keep you from living your life. The line "What kept me alive is my dreams" is perhaps the most significant of the song, as it highlights the importance of hope and the power of dreams to keep one going even in the darkest of times. K’naan speaks for himself, his friends, his community, and for all those who experience the same struggles as he does.
The song uses a lot of cultural allusions to reflect the diverse heritage of K'naan and his community. The line "Lock me up now, it's okay to feel good" is a reference to a Somali phrase that translates to "I am happy and dance with joy". The line "If you bring the world hoods to a seminar, we're from the only place worse than Kandahar" is a reference to a city in Afghanistan, known for its violent and volatile nature. The song is also a nod to K'naan's love of hip-hop, acknowledging its power to bring people together and promote peace.
Overall, "Dreamer" is a song that celebrates perseverance, resilience, and hope. It recognizes the strength and beauty of individual dreams as well as the power of community and collective struggle. The song is an invitation to join in the joy of living, even in the midst of hard times.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ALEMAYEHU ESHETE, BRIAN WEST, GERALD EATON, KEINAN WARSAME
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it
@mehmetsaylar599
I know i know im a hero
Lyrics;
Yeah, believe it or not
What kept me alive is my dreams
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
We alive man, it's okay to feel good
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
Lock me up now, it's okay to feel good
I got a friend named Flow
Who got a friend named Blow
With a finger named Clap
That'll leave you on the side like a Kangol hat
He ain't have no choice, he was born this way
These streets pull your number like a phone display
And you gotta be defensive with your life
You gotta be like Bush and take pre-emptive strikes
And the boys from the hood are always hard
Let alone in Mogadishu it's a mastered art
If you bring the world hoods to a seminar
We from the only place worse then Kandahar
Well, that's kinda hard
But we still like to party and hardy hard
Something good happens we say, 'Mashallah'
Something bad happens, 'Que Sera Sera'
I close my eyes and all I can see is you dancing with me
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
We alive man, it's okay to feel good
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
Lock me up now, it's okay to feel good
I'm a dreamer
It's okay to feel good, yeah, it's the truth
Ay, yo' check it out
What would it take for a boy about my age
To hear cheers in his head upon that stage
And the cheers that would drown out
The tears from my brown eyes?
Come on back stage, you see the screams
Ain't the screams from gunshot streams
In my dreams, these screams are from hot teens
And I'm barely thirteen, I pack dirty
Old Russian firearm that shoots thirty
Just then I hear the bus engine
I'm transcending, I'm crowd surfing
I can't see the time burning
I'm not hurting with my mahogany pen
I'm on a world tour with Mohammad and them
And we'd be overseas and not in these trees
Where my peeps stay alive like the Bee Gees
And the likes of JZ would save my steeze
Singing handily brought Hip Hop peace
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
We alive man, it's okay to feel good
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
Lock me up now, it's okay to feel good, I'm a dreamer
Sometimes we just like to have fun
Man, we like to forget all the fighting
All the guns and the tires burning
Back on the verse, imagine crack was in birth
Imagine the earth wasn't hurt, imagine no homeland alerts
Imagine no record locater
So I wouldn't have to get a criminal waiver
Imagine the peace wasn't in my briefs
Instead peace could stretch across the seas
So finally we could just rest and ease, no refugees
And you, well, you could dress in a book
And I can read your body with less then a look
I got a dream girl in my mind that's the hook
An intellectual, sexual and still can cook
Yeah, and I feel good right now
I feel good right here, you feel good right now?
You feel good?
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
We alive man, it's okay to feel good
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
Lock me up now, it's okay to feel good
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
We alive man, it's okay to feel good
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
Lock me up now, it's okay to feel good
Yeah, we not down and out just because the times are hard
Yeah, shout out to the struggler's in my country
The hardest place on earth right now but still
I still know how to get down, I still know how to vibe out
I still know how to talk to a pretty girl, take it easy now, yeah
@darki244
It's actually rere to find in new gen, the instruments are really well played, I like the intro so much. This is so good. It's not just a great song, but wholly,pure talent of spreading inspirational messages to every generation who has came across this masterpiece. It's really good.
@taco285
He is like other rappers in his backgroubd...yet he decided to take his experiences and make great music...knaan is the best!!
@Eisendahl
#1 reason I'm proud to be canadian.
@PeaceHippieChickk
k'naan has got to be my fave rapper because he's different to all the other mainstream rappers who rap about the same crap i hope he does well and keeps making music!
@16jlf
The lyrics are so intelligent and the clip is so thought out. PERFECT!
@mehmetsaylar599
I know i know im a hero
Lyrics;
Yeah, believe it or not
What kept me alive is my dreams
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
We alive man, it's okay to feel good
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
Lock me up now, it's okay to feel good
I got a friend named Flow
Who got a friend named Blow
With a finger named Clap
That'll leave you on the side like a Kangol hat
He ain't have no choice, he was born this way
These streets pull your number like a phone display
And you gotta be defensive with your life
You gotta be like Bush and take pre-emptive strikes
And the boys from the hood are always hard
Let alone in Mogadishu it's a mastered art
If you bring the world hoods to a seminar
We from the only place worse then Kandahar
Well, that's kinda hard
But we still like to party and hardy hard
Something good happens we say, 'Mashallah'
Something bad happens, 'Que Sera Sera'
I close my eyes and all I can see is you dancing with me
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
We alive man, it's okay to feel good
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
Lock me up now, it's okay to feel good
I'm a dreamer
It's okay to feel good, yeah, it's the truth
Ay, yo' check it out
What would it take for a boy about my age
To hear cheers in his head upon that stage
And the cheers that would drown out
The tears from my brown eyes?
Come on back stage, you see the screams
Ain't the screams from gunshot streams
In my dreams, these screams are from hot teens
And I'm barely thirteen, I pack dirty
Old Russian firearm that shoots thirty
Just then I hear the bus engine
I'm transcending, I'm crowd surfing
I can't see the time burning
I'm not hurting with my mahogany pen
I'm on a world tour with Mohammad and them
And we'd be overseas and not in these trees
Where my peeps stay alive like the Bee Gees
And the likes of JZ would save my steeze
Singing handily brought Hip Hop peace
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
We alive man, it's okay to feel good
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
Lock me up now, it's okay to feel good, I'm a dreamer
Sometimes we just like to have fun
Man, we like to forget all the fighting
All the guns and the tires burning
Back on the verse, imagine crack was in birth
Imagine the earth wasn't hurt, imagine no homeland alerts
Imagine no record locater
So I wouldn't have to get a criminal waiver
Imagine the peace wasn't in my briefs
Instead peace could stretch across the seas
So finally we could just rest and ease, no refugees
And you, well, you could dress in a book
And I can read your body with less then a look
I got a dream girl in my mind that's the hook
An intellectual, sexual and still can cook
Yeah, and I feel good right now
I feel good right here, you feel good right now?
You feel good?
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
We alive man, it's okay to feel good
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
Lock me up now, it's okay to feel good
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
We alive man, it's okay to feel good
I'm a dreamer but I ain't the only one got problems
But we love to have fun
This is our world, from here to your hood
Lock me up now, it's okay to feel good
Yeah, we not down and out just because the times are hard
Yeah, shout out to the struggler's in my country
The hardest place on earth right now but still
I still know how to get down, I still know how to vibe out
I still know how to talk to a pretty girl, take it easy now, yeah
@devilonroads_forever
Aye bruh! You ARE a hero <3
@somrazy3
i wish we had more people like Knaan in our country (somalia) :(
@maxieyellowbobpants
KNAAN IS THE GREATEST MUZIK ARTIST ALIVE :)))) HE CAME FROM STRUGGLE TO SOMTHING GREAT YOU HAVE TO GIVE UP TO THIS STRUGGLER MANGGGG THE BEST DUSTY FOOT PHILOSOPHER OUT DERE
@RuckFepublicans1
Great song! I look forward to the new full album, "Country, God, or the Girl"!