The Beast
The Fugees Lyrics


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Warn the town the beast is loose

Conflicts with night sticks
Illegal sales districts
Hand-picked lunatics, keep poli-TRICK-cians rich
Heretics push narcotics amidst its risks and frisks
Cool cliques throw bricks but seldom hit targets
Private-DIC sell hits, like porno-flicks do chicks
The 666 cut W.I.C. like Newt Gingrich SUCKS DICK

Meanwhile the government brings Star Wars from Glocks to glockers
C.O.P. has an APB out on Chewbacca
Mista Mayor, can I say something in yo honor
Yesterday in Central Park they got the Jogger
Okay, okay
Let's get the confusion straight in ghetto Gotham
The man behind the mask you thought was Batman is Bill Clinton
Who soon retire, the roof is on fire
Connie Chung brung the bomb as it comes from Oklahoma
Things are getting serious, Kuumbaya
On a mountain Satan offered me, Manhattan help me Jah Jah
You can't search me without probable cause
Or that proper ammunition they call reasonable suspicion
Listen I bring friction to your whole jurisdiction
You planted seeds in my seat when I wasn't lookin
Now you ask me for my license registration
"WHERE THE FUCK" do I work
"WHAT THE FUCK" is my occupation
Well I'm an MC, I'm down with the Fugees
Mother Mary caught a flashback like Rodney now the cops got Lolly

The subconscious psychology that you use against me
If I lose control will send me to the penitentiary
Such as Alcatraz, or shot up like al Hajj Malik Shabazz
High class get bypassed while my ass gets harassed
And the fuzz treat bruh's like they manhood never was
And if you too powerful, you get bugged like Peter Tosh and Marley was
And my word does nothing against the feds
So my eyes stay red as I chase crazy bald heads, word up!

Warn the town the beast is loose

The chase is on I feel like the bad guy
Fifth gear 125 like New Jersey drive
Looked in my rear view mirror
Police was getting closer
Heard a roar in the sky
Looked up and saw the Blue Thunder
My inner conscious says throw your handkerchief and surrender
But to who
The star spangled banner ooh
Say can't you see cops more crooked than we
By the dawn's early night robbin' niggas for keys
Easy low key crooked military
Pay taxes out my ass but they still harass me

The streets of corruption got me bustin and cussin' in the Concrete Jungle
Thoughts being dribbled like that tall kid Mutumbo
Handled by Hannibal
Suitable to be a fugitive like Dr. Kimble
(Ay yo should I slow down?)
Nah kid go faster
Just cause they got a badge, they could still be impostors
Probable cause, got flaws like dirty draws
Meet me at the corner store so we can start the street wars





Warn the town the beast is loose

Overall Meaning

"The Beast" by The Fugees, is a song that speaks on a host of societal issues such as corruption in law enforcement, drug abuse, and poverty. The lyrics speak to the general atmosphere of mistrust and oppression that exists in America's impoverished regions. The line "Warn the town the beast is loose" serves as a warning to listeners of the animalistic nature of poverty and the struggle that comes with trying to survive in an unjust society. Of particular note is the verse that talks about Bill Clinton, which was written at a time (1996) where accusations of his wrongdoing were rampant.


The lyrics go on to highlight the constant harassment that Black men experience at the hands of the police, with the line "And the fuzz treat bruh's like they manhood never was." This coupled with a corrupt government and societal drug abuse creates an atmosphere of hopelessness that is perfectly captured in this song.


Line by Line Meaning

Warn the town the beast is loose
A warning to the people that the system is corrupt and the authorities are taking advantage of their power


Conflicts with night sticks
Police brutality and violence against the people


Illegal sales districts
Areas where drugs are being sold and people are getting rich


Hand-picked lunatics, keep poli-TRICK-cians rich
Politicians using powerful people for their benefit and keeping themselves wealthy


Heretics push narcotics amidst its risks and frisks
Drug dealers risking lives and freedom by selling drugs in areas where the police are actively looking for them


Cool cliques throw bricks but seldom hit targets
Gang violence and warfare that doesn't do much to solve the problem


Private-DIC sell hits, like porno-flicks do chicks
Hiring hitmen can be as easy and accessible as watching porn


The 666 cut W.I.C. like Newt Gingrich SUCKS DICK
Government officials, like Newt Gingrich, cut funding to important programs, like WIC, which provides assistance to pregnant women and children


Meanwhile the government brings Star Wars from Glocks to glockers
The government is using excessive force and military weapons against its own citizens


C.O.P. has an APB out on Chewbacca
The authorities are targeting people of color and treating them like fictional characters


Mista Mayor, can I say something in yo honor
Mocking politicians and their hypocrisy


Yesterday in Central Park they got the Jogger
Bringing up the false persecution of innocent people by the authorities


Okay, okay
A sarcastic and mocking tone, indicating the ridiculousness of the situation


Let's get the confusion straight in ghetto Gotham
Trying to clear up the confusion and bring awareness to the corrupt system


The man behind the mask you thought was Batman is Bill Clinton
Calling out the hypocrisy of politicians and their false personas


Who soon retire, the roof is on fire
The corrupt system is falling apart and things are getting out of control


Connie Chung brung the bomb as it comes from Oklahoma
Referencing the Oklahoma City bombing and the media's role in perpetuating fear and confusion


Things are getting serious, Kuumbaya
Despite the sarcastic tone, the situation is dire and in need of urgent attention


On a mountain Satan offered me, Manhattan help me Jah Jah
Feeling lost and in need of guidance in the midst of so much chaos


You can't search me without probable cause
Asserting one's rights and pushing back against the harassment of authorities


Or that proper ammunition they call reasonable suspicion
The authorities' so-called justification for their actions is not always reasonable or just


Listen I bring friction to your whole jurisdiction
Pushing back against the corrupt system and those responsible for it


You planted seeds in my seat when I wasn't lookin
The authorities have been scheming and manipulating behind the scenes


Now you ask me for my license registration
The authorities expect compliance and obedience despite their corrupt actions


"WHERE THE FUCK" do I work
Mocking the authorities and their invasive questioning


"WHAT THE FUCK" is my occupation
Asserting one's freedom and autonomy, despite the expectations of the authorities


Well I'm an MC, I'm down with the Fugees
Asserting one's identity and allegiance to a group of people who support and understand them


Mother Mary caught a flashback like Rodney now the cops got Lolly
Referencing police brutality and the persecution of innocent people, despite their lack of involvement in crime


The subconscious psychology that you use against me
The authorities use psychological tactics to control and manipulate the people


If I lose control will send me to the penitentiary
The authorities hold immense power over the people and can use it to oppress and punish them


Such as Alcatraz, or shot up like al Hajj Malik Shabazz
Referencing the imprisonment and assassination of notable black figures by the authorities


High class get bypassed while my ass gets harassed
The authorities target people of color and those with less power and resources


And the fuzz treat bruh's like they manhood never was
The authorities are abusive and emasculating towards men of color, stripping them of their dignity and humanity


And if you too powerful, you get bugged like Peter Tosh and Marley was
The authorities target powerful and influential people, even resorting to violence and assassination


And my word does nothing against the feds
The authorities hold all the power and the people's voices and words are ignored


So my eyes stay red as I chase crazy bald heads, word up!
Despite the odds, there are those who will resist and fight against the corrupt system




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LAURYN HILL, PRAS MICHEL, WYCLEF JEAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Limonène

(your music make me want to write :) )
Jprend un graphite.
Jmets des herbes dans la feuille.
Lick.
Seule jgratte, c'est que jparagraphine au son du rythme.
J'comprends pas s'qu'ils exhibent.
C'est, toxic nocif.
Wack shit.
Scribe, artiste moderne.
Jprends une page , splash.
J'recite comme un poète.
Aujourd'hui les gens vivent pour un j'aime mais personne cerne ma technique.
J'vie au travers le plomb que jparsème.
La dernière fois j'ai pris mon balcon pour une scène.
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C'est obscène.
Hors-scène, damn.
Wtf , same.
Men j'aime pas l'approche toxic.
Génération nocives.
Bientôt, j'achète un mic pour partir à la recherche des mini MCS.
Condom, sur mes headphone.
Jévitent les maladies auditives.



All comments from YouTube:

Stu Radley

The lyrical content is still as relevant as ever. The Fugees are timeless. I'm so lucky to be alive in the timeline where I get to experience this album.

Chris Tuttle

I know right its mad how relevant it still feels to this day.

CallMeQuaz

Funny how people say they're born in the wrong generation generation referring to the time when this kind of stuff came out - when they access to literally all of it at the fingertips at zero cost.

AI1

Hands down one of my favourite albums from the 90s!

Inuyasha

Never skip a song skits fire as fuck too classic yoga flame

J*Honor*

When I was 16 I Vibe so hard to this album and there was so much do real music back then

Swayne

This album 10/10

Alex Bank

Infinity bruh ngl

Split Personality

Especially with mad weed to smoke with all for yourself

not sure

Yes.

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