Wham Rap '86
Wham! Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hey everybody take a look at me,
I've got street credibility,
I may not have a job,
But I have a good time,
With the boys that I meet "down on the line"

I don't need you
So you don't approve,
Well, who asked you to?
Hey, jerk you work
This guy's got better things to do
Hell
I ain't never gonna work, get down in the dirt
I choose, to cruise
Gonna live my life, sharp as a knife
I've found my groove and I just can't lose
I'm style from head to toe
Cool cat flash gonna let you know
I'm a soul boy, I'm a dole boy,
Take pleasure in leisure, I believe in joy!

[Chorus]
Wham!
Bam!
I am!
A man!
Job or no job
You can't tell me that I'm not
Do!
You!
Enjoy what you do?
If not
Just stop!
Don't stay there and rot!

Party nights, and neon lights
We hit the floors, we hit the heights
Dancing shoes, and pretty girls
Boys in leather kiss girls in pearls!
Hot, damn! everybody, let's play!
So they promised you a good job, no way!
One, two, three, rap!
See'mon everybody, don't need this crap!

[Chorus]

If you're a pub man
Or a club man
Maybe a jet black guy with a hip hi-fi
A white cool cat with a trilby hat
Maybe leather and studs is where you're at
Make the most of every day
Don't let hard times stand in your way
Give a wham give a bam but don't give a damn
'cause the benefit gang are gonna pay!

Now reach up high and touch your soul
The boys from wham! will help you reach that goal
It's gonna break your mama's heart (so sad)




It's gonna break your daddy's heart (too bad)
Just throw the dice and take

Overall Meaning

a slice
And celebrate life, and celebrate strife


"Wham Rap '86" by Wham! is a catchy song that embodies the spirit of the 80s. The first verse introduces the singer as someone who may not have a job but enjoys life with the boys he meets "down on the line". The verse also speaks about the singer's disregard for society’s expectations and their need for approval. It declares that he's not going to work and get down in the dirt because he chooses to cruise and live his life sharp as a knife, signifying the singer's unique sense of style.


The chorus is the most iconic part of the song, with the word "Wham!" being shouted twice, followed by "Bam!" The chorus expresses the idea of living life to the fullest and enjoying what you do. The second verse emphasizes party nights and neon lights, with dancing shoes and pretty girls. The song takes on a more rebellious tone as it declares to not let hard times stand in your way and that the Benefit Gang are going to pay, signifying the government welfare system.


Line by Line Meaning

Hey everybody take a look at me,
Listen up and pay attention to who I am and what I'm about.


I've got street credibility,
I'm someone you can trust and rely on in my neighborhood.


I may not have a job,
I may be unemployed, but that doesn't mean I'm not happy.


But I have a good time,
I enjoy life and live it to the fullest, regardless of my job status.


With the boys that I meet "down on the line"
I hang out with my friends who also don't have jobs and we make the most of our time together.


I don't need you,
I don't rely on your approval to live my life the way I want it.


So you don't approve,
Even if you disapprove, it doesn't matter to me.


Well, who asked you to?
I didn't ask for your input or opinion on my life choices.


Hey, jerk you work
I'm not interested in working like you do, and that's okay.


This guy's got better things to do
I have other activities and passions that bring me joy instead of just working.


Hell
I'm certain about my choices and will stick to them even if others disagree.


I ain't never gonna work, get down in the dirt
I refuse to do the hard and dirty work that many jobs require.


I choose, to cruise
I choose to enjoy my life at my own pace, without the pressure to work.


Gonna live my life, sharp as a knife
I'm going to live my life with precision and purpose, despite not having a job.


I've found my groove and I just can't lose
I've found what truly makes me happy and I won't let anyone take that away from me.


I'm style from head to toe
I have my own sense of style that reflects who I am as a person.


Cool cat flash gonna let you know
I'm confident in my appearance and will show it off to the world.


I'm a soul boy, I'm a dole boy,
I'm proud of being someone who enjoys soul music and is receiving government benefits.


Take pleasure in leisure, I believe in joy!
I find pleasure in my free time and believe in living a joyful life.


[Chorus]
A refrain expressing confidence and independence, rejecting anyone who tries to tell them how to live their life.


Party nights, and neon lights
I enjoy going out and having fun, being surrounded by bright lights and good company.


We hit the floors, we hit the heights
I enjoy dancing and going out to clubs and parties where I can be free and express myself.


Dancing shoes, and pretty girls
I enjoy dancing with beautiful women and often put on my best shoes for the occasion.


Boys in leather kiss girls in pearls!
Couples of different styles and backgrounds come together and enjoy each other's company.


Hot, damn! everybody, let's play!
I'm excited and ready to have a good time, encouraging others to join me.


So they promised you a good job, no way!
I'm skeptical of the promise of good jobs and choose to live my life without relying on them.


One, two, three, rap!
Let's get to the music and forget about the worries of the world.


See'mon everybody, don't need this crap!
I encourage everyone to join together and forget about the pressures of society telling us we need a job to be happy.


[Chorus]
A reaffirmation of the chorus, rejecting societal norms that demand a job to be happy.


If you're a pub man
If you're the kind of person who enjoys hanging out at local pubs,


Or a club man
Or the kind of person who enjoys going out to clubs,


Maybe a jet black guy with a hip hi-fi
Maybe you're someone who loves black music and has a cool sound system at home.


A white cool cat with a trilby hat
Or maybe you're a white person with a sense of style and a trilby hat.


Maybe leather and studs is where you're at
Or maybe you're into leather and studs and that's the style you love and embrace.


Make the most of every day
No matter what style or preferences you have, make the most of every day and live it to the fullest.


Don't let hard times stand in your way
Even when times are tough, don't let them stop you from enjoying life.


Give a wham give a bam but don't give a damn
Give it your all and enjoy life, but don't care about those who try to bring you down.


'cause the benefit gang are gonna pay!
And don't worry about money because the government benefits will cover it.


Now reach up high and touch your soul
Look deep inside yourself and find what makes you truly happy and fulfilled.


The boys from wham! will help you reach that goal
I, and the boys I hang out with, will encourage and support you in finding your own happiness.


It's gonna break your mama's heart (so sad)
Going against societal norms and not having a job may upset your parents' expectations.


It's gonna break your daddy's heart (too bad)
Even if it's difficult for them to accept, you should still pursue your own happiness.


Just throw the dice and take
Take a chance and go for what you truly want in life, even if it's not a conventional path.




Lyrics Β© Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANDREW RIDGELEY, ANDREW J. RIDGELEY, GEORGE MICHAEL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

David Landau

Summer 1986 I jammed to this on my Sony Walkman over and over and over again. Best. Summer. Ever.

Captain Knapton

Hell yeah ! I was 7 turning 8 and my mom gave me this tape as an early present and we played this album and tears for fears all night....it was so fun....

Leah

Wish I was alive when Walkman’s were the thing, not cell phones πŸ˜‚πŸ˜­

J

I was just starting high school. I had the Walkman and played this over and over....until I discovered long hair and Metallica.

cmmolthr

Walkman....the greatest thing ever at the time. Everyone seemed to have one back in the day!

Yakir Sabag

@Leah it’s not matter in what year you ware born
I’m 18 years old and I using Walkman over a year, it’s depending on you, if you want to use Walkman just use it
I’m using Sony’s format(MiniDisc)
I have this format and I spend the time using it every time I have
I have more then 7 Walkmans and one deck for this format
Just use it, in some point the smartphone won’t be part of your life as it now and after using Walkman

1 More Replies...

α„Œα„’α„Œ

George Michael's voice, face, talent, and (above all) humanity were gifts.πŸ›πŸŽπŸŽˆ

Julia

What a song! I love both versions, just incredible! Wham! Bam!πŸ’—

Yenney Rossi

Woow!! Magnifico rap , brano ed interpretazione ♦ Grazie infinite cari Wham! ,per averlo condiviso β˜… Complimenti e saluti!! β™₯

mrdannyjoblack

First time I had that mix was on a cassette, after cassettes went extent I've been looking for it for the last 20 years! Thanks mate! Used to drive my car with the volume high up at 2:39-3:14

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