George was featured on Season 6 of Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry on HBO. He was the 2006 Youth Speaks Grand Slam Poetry Champion, 2006 Brave New Voices International Poetry Slam Champion, and performed in a record six consecutive Youth Speaks Grand Slam Finals. The last three of those audiences, all topping out at over 3,000, were the largest ever for poetry slams anywhere in the world. In 2009 Watsky was one of three poets who performed live on FOX at the NAACP Image Awards in honor of Russell Simmons’ lifetime achievement award.
George has made strides to bring his poetic sensibilities to the theater world. His one-man show So Many Levels has been presented in Boston, San Francisco, Vermont, and at the Hip Hop Theater Festival Critical Breaks series in New York City. He has also been featured at the San Francisco and Washington, DC arms of the Hip Hop Theater Festival. He played the title character and co-wrote a 2004 adaptation of Dante’s Divine Comedy for the Living Word Festival and his stage play Harold’s Fall or King Will is the recipient of the 2009 Rod Parker Playwriting Fellowship.
Skit #1
Watsky Lyrics
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He just thinks he's all cool, he thinks he's smarter than me
He thinks a lot of things!
You know, you know Brazilian ju jitsu right?
A self defense class?
Hey talk quiet though so they don't hear us
You know Brazilian ju jitsu class right? Self defense
Yeah
And after a while, he's gonna get his surprise attack
He's really gonna get it
Oh I'll tell you he's really gonna get a surprise attack
He won't even expect it!
The lyrics to Watsky's song Skit #1 portray a classic scenario of adolescent insecurity and the desire to defend oneself against a tormenter. The singer reveals that there is only one bully in his or her class who believes he or she is superior intellectually and socially. The singer counters this bully's perceived superiority by planning to take Brazilian ju jitsu classes, a form of self-defense, and then unleashing a surprise attack on him. The singer is confident that the bully won't even see the attack coming, suggesting that he or she feels empowered by the prospect of taking action against this aggressor.
The humor and irony of the lyrics come from the juxtaposition of the singer's bravado with the fact that he or she is still intimidated by this one bully. The singer may be taking self-defense classes, but he or she is still afraid to talk about it openly, suggesting that he or she is not yet completely comfortable with being assertive. At the same time, the singer's desire to stand up for him or herself is admirable and reflects a common impulse to fight back against those that bully and belittle.
Overall, the lyrics provide a glimpse into the psyche of an adolescent who is just starting to assert his or her independence and push back against those who would try to intimidate him or her.
Line by Line Meaning
There's like only one bully in my class
In my class, there is only one person who intimidates and harasses others
He just thinks he's all cool, he thinks he's smarter than me
The bully is under the impression that he is superior to me in terms of intelligence and coolness
He thinks a lot of things!
The bully has a high opinion of himself and his abilities
You know, you know Brazilian ju jitsu right?
I am assuming that you are aware of the martial art form known as Brazilian ju jitsu
A self defense class?
It is a type of class that teaches individuals how to protect themselves from physical harm
Hey talk quiet though so they don't hear us
Lower your voice as we don't want others to overhear our conversation
You know Brazilian ju jitsu class right? Self defense
I am referring to the class that teaches Brazilian ju jitsu as a means of self-defense
Yeah
Affirmative response to the previous statement
Well guess what, I'm taking them and
I have made the decision to enroll in the Brazilian ju jitsu class and
And after a while, he's gonna get his surprise attack
After I have become skilled in Brazilian ju jitsu, I plan to launch a surprise attack on the bully
He's really gonna get it
The bully will receive the full force of my retaliation
Oh I'll tell you he's really gonna get a surprise attack
The bully will experience the shock and surprise of my sudden counter-attack
He won't even expect it!
The bully will be caught off guard and unable to defend himself against my attack
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: George Watsky
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind