BubbleGoose
Refugee Allstars Lyrics


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When I was young, Mama bought me a guitar
A microphone and she said I'd go far
She said, "Just keep it raw, the lyrics hardcore"
Listen to my talk and get up, I'm on the corner with my

Hey kids, gather around, it's Wyclef and Melky Sedeck
I got a story to tell, here we go
Sit right back and hear a tale of a hustler 'round my way
He used to clock around the block from where my grandma stayed
Black BMW with rims to match, windows bulletproof
One night, he jumped out the car
And caught a bullet in his bubblegoose
He caught a bullet in his bubblegoose
He caught a bullet in his bubblegoose
You can be at the party gettin' loose
But you can catch a bullet in your bubblegoose

Hey yo, hey yo, my pen's in my hand, OK, what should I write next?
Oh yeah, and if you don't know, success brings stress
I'm vexed, my phone rings, collect caller from Jeff
The operator say, "If you accept, say yes"
"Yes, what's the deal, son?"
"Yo, I got bad news"
Yo, by the tone of his voice, I heard the I'll street blues
"The friends will make you, them too can break you
They plan an execution like Fu Manchu"
"Who?"
"You know the character from channel 5 kung-fu (wahoo)"
"Slow down, man, Jeff, I'm losin' you"
"Hey yo, your cousin Rohann..."
"Uh-huh"
"Who used to sell bang"
"Uh-huh"
"DT's found his hand in the back of Bennigans"
"What?"
"In a plastic bag with a note attached"
"Saying what?"
"A million and a half or he won't be back"
"So meet me by the Brooklyn Bridge, 12:00 sharp"
"If not, at the funeral, you gotta play the harp"
Yo, why they wanna start and make me play my part?
Don't they know like Sting, I can turn this murder into art?
I jumped into my car, there's gotta be a joke
Traffic's backed up, who's in town, the Pope?
S-s-s-s-someone blew the horn, I turned and looked left
To my surprise, it was my sis, Melky Sedeck

Sit right back and hear a tale of a hustler 'round my way
He used to clock around the block from where my grandma stayed
Black BMW with rims to match, windows bulletproof
One night, he jumped out the car
And caught a bullet in his bubblegoose
He caught a bullet in his bubblegoose
He caught a bullet in his bubblegoose
You can be at the party gettin' loose
But you can catch a bullet in your bubblegoose

You're shootin' in the opposite position
I'm thinkin', "Should I fire or hold back on ammunition
On your wig transition?"
My mission, like Take 6, is to spread love
But all you screwed mugs got me wearin' black gloves
You up in my face, I see the fear in your eyes
You gonna feel the pain like a grown man gettin' circumcised
Shalom, shalom, pardon my left
But my right hand's on your throat, massaging you to death
You provoke the cycle, call Michael
You're lookin' in the mirror, well, I'm in your window, oh oh
You hear me Urkel, your blood will turn purple
Like the color, you holler, bawlin' for your mother
No-one hears you even though you knock
You used to walk around the block with the daily rock
Things done changed since your spark got hot
Now you got your knot wocked with your very own Glock

Sit right back and hear a tale of a hustler 'round my way
He used to clock around the block from where my grandma stayed
Black BMW with rims to match, windows bulletproof
One night, he jumped out the car
And caught a bullet in his bubblegoose
He caught a bullet in his bubblegoose
He caught a bullet in his bubblegoose
You can be witcha girl gettin' loose
But you can catch a bullet in your goose
He caught a bullet in his bubblegoose
He caught a bullet in his bubblegoose




You can be at the party gettin' loose
But you can catch a bullet in your goose

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "BubbleGoose" by Refugee Allstars are a gritty portrayal of the reality of street life. The song is seen through the eyes of Wyclef Jean and Melky Sedeck, and they spin a tale of a hustler who used to move product around their neighborhood. The song opens with Wyclef reminiscing about his mother buying him a guitar, a microphone, and encouraging him to keep the lyrics raw and hardcore. He then drops into the dark story of a hustler who used to run drugs on his block in a black BMW with tinted windows and bulletproof rims. The hustler got shot one night, and the bullets ripped through his bubblegoose jacket, symbolizing the harshness of street life and the way it can end in tragedy.


The second verse is a vivid manifestation of the savage reality of street-life. Wyclef receives a collect call from Jeff, who reveals that someone has murdered his cousin Rohann, who used to sell drugs for him. The call includes a ransom note demanding a million and a half, or they'll kill Jeff, too. The verse portrays Wyclef's helplessness, anger, and sense of responsibility, and the difficulty of living in the streets. The bridge is a chant of the song's title that drives the chilling message home.


In the third verse, Wyclef describes the paranoia and becoming a victim of violence. He warns his enemies, who are afraid of him, to beware of their actions. He dispenses street justice with a vengeance, eyes filled with cold hatred. He concludes the bridge, and the song ends with the message that no one is immune to the dangers of street life, and anyone can get shot.


Line by Line Meaning

When I was young, Mama bought me a guitar
My mother gifted me a musical instrument when I was a child.


A microphone and she said I'd go far
My mother believed I had a talent for music and encouraged me to chase my dreams.


She said, "Just keep it raw, the lyrics hardcore"
My mother advised me to remain genuine and authentic in my music, keeping the lyrics true to my experiences.


Listen to my talk and get up, I'm on the corner with my
I am sharing my life story through music and inviting others to join me in expressing themselves.


Hey kids, gather around, it's Wyclef and Melky Sedeck
I am joined by fellow musicians Wyclef and Melky Sedeck to tell a story through music.


I got a story to tell, here we go
We are about to share a narrative through music.


Sit right back and hear a tale of a hustler 'round my way
We will be narrating the story of a hustler who lived in our community.


He used to clock around the block from where my grandma stayed
The hustler used to sell drugs in the area close to where my grandmother lived.


Black BMW with rims to match, windows bulletproof
The hustler drove a black BMW with matching rims and bulletproof windows.


One night, he jumped out the car
One night, the hustler got out of his car.


And caught a bullet in his bubblegoose
The hustler was shot and killed while wearing his Bubblegoose jacket.


You can be at the party gettin' loose
You may be enjoying yourself at a party.


But you can catch a bullet in your bubblegoose
But you are not immune to violence and can become a victim at any time.


Hey yo, hey yo, my pen's in my hand, OK, what should I write next?
I am contemplating my next lyrics.


Oh yeah, and if you don't know, success brings stress
I am aware that success can come with its share of challenges and struggles.


I'm vexed, my phone rings, collect caller from Jeff
I am frustrated as I receive a collect call from someone named Jeff.


The operator say, "If you accept, say yes"
The operator asks me to verbally accept the collect call from Jeff.


"Yes, what's the deal, son?"
I answer the call and ask what is going on.


"Yo, I got bad news"
Jeff informs me that he has bad news to share.


Yo, by the tone of his voice, I heard the I'll street blues
I can tell from Jeff's tone that he is about to deliver grim news.


"The friends will make you, them too can break you
Jeff warns me that those who elevate your status can also bring about your downfall.


They plan an execution like Fu Manchu"
Jeff references the character Fu Manchu to make a comparison between the planned execution and an iconic fictional villain.


"You know the character from channel 5 kung-fu (wahoo)"
Jeff alludes to the TV series Kung Fu and its character, Kwai Chang Caine.


"Slow down, man, Jeff, I'm losin' you"
I ask Jeff to slow down his story because I am struggling to follow along.


"Hey yo, your cousin Rohann..."
Jeff begins to detail the unfortunate fate of my cousin Rohann.


"Uh-huh"
I acknowledge Jeff and encourage him to continue.


"Who used to sell bang"
Jeff reminds me that Rohann was previously involved in selling illegal drugs.


"DT's found his hand in the back of Bennigans"
The police found Rohann's body behind the restaurant chain Bennigan's.


"In a plastic bag with a note attached"
Rohann's body was disposed of in a plastic bag with a note that tells of a ransom demand.


"Saying what?"
I ask Jeff what the note said.


"A million and a half or he won't be back"
The note demands a hefty ransom for Rohann's safe return.


"So meet me by the Brooklyn Bridge, 12:00 sharp"
The kidnappers instruct me to meet them at the Brooklyn Bridge at midnight.


"If not, at the funeral, you gotta play the harp"
Jeff threatens that if I do not meet their ransom demands, I will be playing the harp at Rohann's funeral.


Yo, why they wanna start and make me play my part?
I question why Jeff's associates want to involve me in their criminal enterprise.


Don't they know like Sting, I can turn this murder into art?
I remind them that I am a musician with the ability to create a powerful message from this tragedy.


I jumped into my car, there's gotta be a joke
I get into my car to make my way to the meeting place but cannot believe this is my reality.


Traffic's backed up, who's in town, the Pope?
I am confused about the traffic and imagine the Pope must be in town.


S-s-s-s-someone blew the horn, I turned and looked left
I hear a car horn and turn to see who it was.


To my surprise, it was my sis, Melky Sedeck
I am surprised to see my sister, Melky Sedeck, in the car honking at me.


You're shootin' in the opposite position
I am reacting in a manner that is counterproductive.


I'm thinkin', "Should I fire or hold back on ammunition
I consider whether it is wise to take action or not.


On your wig transition?"
I question if I should retaliate and how that would affect the situation.


My mission, like Take 6, is to spread love
I highlight that my musical mission is to spread a message of love, unlike the violence in this situation.


But all you screwed mugs got me wearin' black gloves
Despite my intentions, I must take precautions and wear black gloves to protect myself.


You up in my face, I see the fear in your eyes
I can see the fear in the eyes of those confronting me.


You gonna feel the pain like a grown man gettin' circumcised
I warn those who threaten me that they will feel immense pain, similar to that of a grown man undergoing circumcision.


Shalom, shalom, pardon my left
I greet those around me with a message of peace.


But my right hand's on your throat, massaging you to death
Despite my verbal message of peace, I must use violence to defend myself.


You provoke the cycle, call Michael
Those who escalate violence are responsible for the ongoing cycle of violence.


You're lookin' in the mirror, well, I'm in your window, oh oh
Those who resort to violence should be aware that they may face lethal retaliation.


You hear me Urkel, your blood will turn purple
I threaten those who threaten me with violence.


Like the color, you holler, bawlin' for your mother
Those who are violent now will regret their actions and seek refuge in their parents when they face retaliation.


No-one hears you even though you knock
Despite your desperation, you will be alone when facing the consequences of your violent actions.


You used to walk around the block with the daily rock
You used to sell drugs on the streets.


Things done changed since your spark got hot
Things have changed since your rise in drug dealing.


Now you got your knot wocked with your very own Glock
You have achieved financial success by selling drugs and now carry a gun to protect it all.


You can be witcha girl gettin' loose
You may be enjoying yourself with your significant other.


But you can catch a bullet in your goose
You are not immune to violence and can become a victim at any time.


He caught a bullet in his bubblegoose
The hustler was shot and killed while wearing his Bubblegoose jacket.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: SALAAM REMI, WYCLEF JEAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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