As one of the founding members of Fugees, Lauryn Hill has spit her truthful… Read Full Bio ↴As one of the founding members of Fugees, Lauryn Hill has spit her truthful lyrics unlike any female rap artist in history. Being as informative as she is inspiring, Lauryn has received monumental success with her solo albums going multi-platinum.

Her classic, critically acclaimed debut album Miseducation of Lauryn Hill went outside of the box for female rappers of her kind, making listeners think about greater causes in their community and how to be a powerful female without selling yourself short. The album also proved to be a huge landmark in rap, as it combined rap, r&b and neo-soul into a unique and beautiful mixture, full of different religious stories and concepts.

Although she retired after the success of her debut, mostly due to her child, Lauryn continued to make appearances at different shows (including at a concert with Drake in 2014). Shortly after announcing her official retirement, Lauryn returned to the scene to release MTV Unplugged 2.0, a live album where she explored with folk, departing from her rap/neo-soul style. Hill is also set to perform tracks from Miseducation in 2018 on its 20th Anniversary.

In a world where sex sells, Lauryn proved that her brand of empowering and soulful music is everlasting.

I've Got Life
Ms. Lauryn Hill Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Nina Simone
I ain't got no home, ain't got no shoes
Ain't got no money, ain't got no class
Ain't got no friends, ain't got no schooling
Ain't got no hurt, ain't got no job
Ain't got no money, no place to stay
Ain't got no

Lauryn Hill
Programmed inequity, it's in the nervous system
Listen, watch the words, how they twist 'em
Two thirds of the world turned victim
Subtle energy, they capture and block chi
The unseen violence behind the democracy
Some call it hypocrisy, turn freeman into property
And logically justify not treatin' 'em properly
Invisible ink in the constitution
Meant to preserve the institution, unequal distribution
Of wealth, goods and services
Revolvin' door, no floor, just anxiety and nervousness
Trapped in circuses
Herds of us, not understandin' our purposes
When appetites and psychological types
Get caught in the hype, it's tight from morning till night
I'm demanding my rights, women's suffrage then black suffrage
Or Jim Crow, the KKK, American terrorism
Murders and beatings on television
It's in the cells now, you thought that was yesterday?
But the compression stays, trauma still got most afraid
Stuck in the memory, fear gives birth to lethargy
Generations of children in jeopardy
History written in jealousy, scribes full of heresy
Full of barbarians, ch-ch-check out my melody
Musical therapy, reprogram
Africa full of coal tan, Coltrane was a cold man
Black genius in a cold land tryna be the whole man
Heal the homeland, pastime for our own land
Where a grown man can be a grown man
The system has benefit for robbery is robbery
You can't run from it, God is a natural monopoly
Divine creator stuck in monotony
Bureaucracy, psyche on poverty
Self-esteem broken like pottery
No more, not me, codename anomaly
'Cause there's just no match for the prodigy
Sovereignty, the god in me
Walking university, living cosmology
Without apology

Nina Simone
I've got life, I've got laughs
I've got headaches and toothaches
And bad times too like you, you, you

Lauryn Hill
Okay, the more you suppress life the stronger it gets
With death life the longer it gets
I know it's hard to admit
That you follow some bullshit
Swallow the wrong pill looking for mr bill
Repression, oppression: same thing (Same thing)
Fear the shadow that's the main thing (Main thing)
They keep running from
Every action yields an equal and opposite one
Yes that means the consequence comes
Fields of cumbersome back breaking labor
Can't be healed with just a cummerbund
I was homecoming queen call me number one
Yep that's another one, now give the drummer some
Tell every mother's son expression can be far more powerful than a hundred guns
See my Kalashnikov lyrics with the safety off
Now dance around these niggas like Baryshnikov
Street sweeper my words are my keeper
It's in the ether [?]
It's done let loose your tongue
Gifted, black and young
Watch these devils run
They knew a change was gonna come
Sinner man looking for a place to run
Tell the truth in tongues' enemy reduced by one's
Thousands 2 can put 10,000 in flight
Speak truth to power every 24 hours

Nina Simone
I've got life, I've got laughs
I've got headaches and toothaches
And bad times too like you, you, you

Lauryn Hill
(Ay let me tell you)
Imperialism is a form of Jihad
They killed and enslaved millions for gold bullion, in the name of God
The children of mammon called it spiritual famine
Can we examine, how they stole bauxite, rubber, labor, diamonds and platinum?
The building blocks of society and economy, broke humanity to build the colonies
Using reverse psychology to keep us from knowing our quality
No more human tragedy, no more misrecognition, no more addiction
Let's accurately diagnose our condition
Listen, 400 years of the abuse and misuse of religion
Don't give me another person's prescription!
I need what I need, my deeds are my deeds
As a man thinketh so is he, Mezanmi
Take the land back, every child, woman and man back
Reevaluate history, expeditiously
Can't live my life in apostasy
Emulate the apostrophe hang with S, you can rock with me
I come in love and truth (Truth)
Look at what I went through
Now it's time to acknowledge just what I give you: Life

Nina Simone
I've got life, I've got laughs
I've got headaches and toothaches
And bad times too like you, you, you

Lauryn Hill
There's a whole lotta wrong to be righted, I get excited
I'mma kick this shit off like I'm on Manchester United
And my attention is undivided, so you can't divide and conquer me
I'm sitting comfortably in a SUV, up in my SUV taking artistic liberties
Making musical history, a lil' acupuncture, structural integration
My meditation, liberating a generation and beyond that I'm taking the bomb back
I'm splitting atoms for freedom, America needs more freed men
Able to talk right, not prone to greed men (It's just not what you need man)
Let your words and deeds line up, master the mind, young king man?
Put your signs up, intelligent designs up, plant your seeds
Keep your dimes up, 'cause no man knows when the time's up
It's elemental like Solomon in the temple, Ark of the Covenant
Accountable to a higher government
I'm looking for love (In all the wrong places)
Somebody tell me, where them brothas went, reclaim your wealth
No more giving the enemy help, no more sympathy for the devil, let 'em hang himself
Get all the billion Black people out of these bottles
Suffer while grown people get coddled, you know the novel

Nina Simone
I've got life, I've got laughs

I've got headaches and toothaches
And bad times too like you, you, you

Overall Meaning

The song "I've Got Life" by Ms. Lauryn Hill is a tribute to Nina Simone's original song of the same name. While Simone's lyrics show the helplessness of a person without home, shoes, money, or respect, Hill's lyrics touch upon important social and political issues like inequality, injustice, and oppression. She talks about the programming of inequity into the nervous system, the subtle energy that captures and blocks chi, the history of oppression of women and black people, and the suppression of truth and creativity. She calls for reevaluation of history and society, the liberation of the mind, the reclaiming of wealth, and the need for intelligent designs, while also acknowledging the good and bad times that come with life.

In contrast to Simone's original song, Hill's interpretation suggests that despite all the difficulties and adversities, life has the potential to be a force for good and change, and that through vocal expression and creative outlets, people can make the most of it.

Line by Line Meaning

Programmed inequity, it's in the nervous system
The systematic injustice is deeply ingrained in society

Listen, watch the words, how they twist 'em
Pay attention to how language is used to deceive and manipulate

Two thirds of the world turned victim
The majority of the global population is oppressed

Subtle energy, they capture and block chi
Negative forces drain and restrict our vital life force

The unseen violence behind the democracy
Democracy hides the hidden violence and injustice

Some call it hypocrisy, turn freeman into property
It's hypocritical to claim freedom while treating people as possessions

And logically justify not treatin' 'em properly
People rationalize mistreatment and inequality

Invisible ink in the constitution
Hidden biases and inequalities are written into the legal system

Meant to preserve the institution, unequal distribution
The system is designed to maintain an unfair distribution of resources

Of wealth, goods and services
Unequal access to financial resources and basic necessities

Revolvin' door, no floor, just anxiety and nervousness
There is no stability, only fear and uncertainty

Trapped in circuses
We are confined and controlled like circus animals

Herds of us, not understandin' our purposes
We are manipulated and unaware of our true potential

When appetites and psychological types
When desires and mentalities

Get caught in the hype, it's tight from morning till night
Being consumed by societal pressures and expectations

I'm demanding my rights, women's suffrage then black suffrage
I stand up for equal rights and social justice for all

Or Jim Crow, the KKK, American terrorism
Highlighting the racial oppression and violence in America's history

Murders and beatings on television
Violence against marginalized communities is broadcasted and normalized

It's in the cells now, you thought that was yesterday?
Racism and trauma still persist in society

But the compression stays, trauma still got most afraid
The impact of trauma continues to affect and control us

Stuck in the memory, fear gives birth to lethargy
Fearful memories lead to inaction and passivity

Generations of children in jeopardy
Future generations are at risk and in danger

History written in jealousy, scribes full of heresy
Past events are distorted and biased by those in power

Full of barbarians, ch-ch-check out my melody
Oppressive forces are ignorant and destructive

Musical therapy, reprogram
Music can heal and change our mindset

Africa full of coal tan, Coltrane was a cold man
Referencing the richness of African culture and the genius of John Coltrane

Black genius in a cold land tryna be the whole man
Acknowledging the struggles of black artists in a discriminatory society

Heal the homeland, pastime for our own land
We need to heal and reclaim our ancestral homeland

Where a grown man can be a grown man
Creating a society where individuals are respected and can be themselves

The system has benefit for robbery is robbery
The system itself is a form of robbery

You can't run from it, God is a natural monopoly
Escape or freedom from the system is impossible

Divine creator stuck in monotony
God is trapped within the mundane and oppressive system

Bureaucracy, psyche on poverty
The bureaucratic system perpetuates poverty and affects our psyche

Self-esteem broken like pottery
Our self-worth is shattered and fragile

No more, not me, codename anomaly
I refuse to conform and become a unique and revolutionary figure

'Cause there's just no match for the prodigy
The revolutionary force I possess is unmatched

Sovereignty, the god in me
Recognizing the divine power and freedom within oneself

Walking university, living cosmology
I embody wisdom and understand the interconnectedness of all things

Without apology
Unapologetically being true to oneself

Okay, the more you suppress life the stronger it gets
Resistance and oppression only make life more resilient

With death life the longer it gets
Death is a reminder of the preciousness and value of life

I know it's hard to admit
Acknowledging the difficulty in accepting certain truths

That you follow some bullshit
Realizing the falsehoods we have been led to believe

Swallow the wrong pill looking for mr bill
Seeking solutions and fulfillment in the wrong places

Repression, oppression: same thing
Repression and oppression go hand in hand

Fear the shadow that's the main thing
We are controlled and manipulated through fear

They keep running from
People continue to avoid facing the truth

Every action yields an equal and opposite one
Every action has consequences

Yes that means the consequence comes
We must take responsibility for our actions

Fields of cumbersome back breaking labor
Referring to the hardships of physical labor

Can't be healed with just a cummerbund
Superficial solutions cannot solve deep-rooted problems

I was homecoming queen call me number one
I am confident and successful in my own right

Yep that's another one, now give the drummer some
Continuing to surpass expectations and shine

Tell every mother's son expression can be far more powerful than a hundred guns
Advocating for the power of words and art to effect change

See my Kalashnikov lyrics with the safety off
My lyrics are weapons, unfiltered and powerful

Now dance around these niggas like Baryshnikov
Defying and surpassing societal expectations and stereotypes

Street sweeper my words are my keeper
Using my words to clean and bring change to the streets

It's in the ether
My message is everywhere

It's done let loose your tongue
Speak up and share your truth

Gifted, black and young
I am talented, black, and empowered

Watch these devils run
Challenging and overpowering oppressive forces

They knew a change was gonna come
Oppressors were aware of the inevitable change

Sinner man looking for a place to run
Those who have caused harm are trying to escape

Tell the truth in tongues' enemy reduced by one's
Speaking honestly reduces the power of those who oppose us

Thousands 2 can put 10,000 in flight
A united front can overcome any obstacle

Speak truth to power every 24 hours
Continuously confront and challenge those in power

Imperialism is a form of Jihad
Imperialism is a destructive form of warfare

They killed and enslaved millions for gold bullion, in the name of God
Using religion to justify atrocities and exploitation

The children of mammon called it spiritual famine
The pursuit of wealth has left a spiritual void

Can we examine, how they stole bauxite, rubber, labor, diamonds and platinum?
Questioning the theft of valuable resources from colonized lands

The building blocks of society and economy, broke humanity to build the colonies
The greed for resources led to the destruction of humanity

Using reverse psychology to keep us from knowing our quality
Manipulating us to doubt our worth and potential

No more human tragedy, no more misrecognition, no more addiction
Ending the sufferings and injustices that plague humanity

Let's accurately diagnose our condition
We need a truthful understanding of our situation

Listen, 400 years of the abuse and misuse of religion
Reflecting on centuries of religious exploitation and oppression

Don't give me another person's prescription!
Rejecting false solutions imposed by others

I need what I need, my deeds are my deeds
I will determine my own path and actions

As a man thinketh so is he, Mezanmi
Our thoughts shape our reality

Take the land back, every child, woman and man back
Reclaiming our homeland and rights for all

Reevaluate history, expeditiously
Reviewing history with urgency and scrutiny

Can't live my life in apostasy
Refusing to live in rejection of one's beliefs

Emulate the apostrophe hang with S, you can rock with me
Surround yourself with those who uplift and support

I come in love and truth
My message is one of love and honesty

Look at what I went through
Acknowledging the struggles and challenges faced

Now it's time to acknowledge just what I give you: Life
Recognizing the valuable contribution I bring to the world

There's a whole lotta wrong to be righted, I get excited
Eager and passionate about correcting the injustices

I'mma kick this shit off like I'm on Manchester United
Starting the fight for justice with the same intensity as a soccer team

And my attention is undivided, so you can't divide and conquer me
Remaining focused and united to resist manipulation

I'm sitting comfortably in a SUV, up in my SUV taking artistic liberties
Asserting independence and creative freedom

Making musical history, a lil' acupuncture, structural integration
Breaking boundaries and fusing different musical styles

My meditation, liberating a generation and beyond that I'm taking the bomb back
Using music as a tool for liberation and empowering future generations

I'm splitting atoms for freedom, America needs more freed men
Challenging the status quo and calling for more individuals to be free

Able to talk right, not prone to greed men
Promoting integrity and rejecting greed

Let your words and deeds line up, master the mind, young king man?
Aligning our actions with our beliefs and developing mental strength

Put your signs up, intelligent designs up, plant your seeds
Displaying and sharing intelligent ideas and cultivating change

Keep your dimes up, 'cause no man knows when the time's up
Being financially prepared for uncertain times

It's elemental like Solomon in the temple, Ark of the Covenant
Drawing wisdom from ancient texts and traditions

Accountable to a higher government
Answerable to a higher moral authority

I'm looking for love
Seeking love and connection

Somebody tell me, where them brothas went, reclaim your wealth
Questioning the whereabouts of black men and emphasizing the need to reclaim economic power

No more giving the enemy help, no more sympathy for the devil, let 'em hang himself
No longer aiding the oppressors and refusing to sympathize with them

Get all the billion Black people out of these bottles
Freeing black people from societal restrictions and stereotypes

Suffer while grown people get coddled, you know the novel
Challenging the idea of prioritizing certain individuals over others