Jean moved to Brooklyn, New York when he was nine, then to Northern New Jersey, where he began playing the guitar and studying jazz in his high school. In 1987, Jean, his friend (so close they told people they were cousins growing up) Prakazrel Michel (Pras) and his classmate, Lauryn Hill, formed a group called the Tranzlator Crew before becoming The Fugees. Wyclef worked as a cabdriver.
Recently he has been finding success as a collaborator - with his turn on Shakira's 2006 track 'Hips Don't Lie' hitting number one in many countries around the world.
In August of 2010, Jean announced his intent to seek the presidency of Haiti. This move came after his increasingly-high profile humanitarian work in the wake of the earthquake that devastated that nation.
Cheated
Wyclef Jean Lyrics
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Rolling Stones could not be here with you tonight, Led Zepplin couldn't
be here with you tonight, but we got Wyclef Jean in the house tonight.
Yo, I woke up on the other side of the bed. Tune into my rock station,
and someone say hip-hoppers can't play rock and roll, huh.
[Wyclef] (singing) Chorus:]
I cheated on you, you cheated on me,
and this is not the way that things are supposed to be,
so tell me girl, is this for real or just an illusion?
I pinch myself to make sure that Wyclef ain't dreamin'
[Wyclef] (singing) Verse 1:]
By the time you here this song, it'll be number 1 on your radioooooooooo.
You'll be drivin' from the beach,
and your boyfriend will say turn it down real loooooow.
You punch up the sun roof!
And you roll down the window, slam that pedal to the floooooooooor.
whatchin the whats wrong (?)
Shes havin a good jour (?) It said love don't let me no mooooore
(to all the girls I cheated on before)
[Wyclef] (singing) Chorus:]
I cheated on you, you cheated on me,
and this is not the way that things are supposed to be,
so tell me girl, is this for real or just an illusion?
I pinch myself to make sure that wyclef ain't dreamin'
I cheated on you, you cheated on me (To all the girls I cheated on before)
and this is not the way that things are supposed to be,
so tell me girl is this for real or just an illusion?
I pinch myself to make sure that Wyclef ain't dreamin'
[Wyclef (singing) Verse 2:]
I don't know much about philosophy, play though, all I rest I know (?)
all I know, when I met you,
in the streets, the air wasn't so cooooooooold.
It's like my whole world just changed.
I'm like a ball with no chain,
In the above lyrics by Wyclef Jean and Bono in the song "Cheated," the singer reflects on a troubled relationship where both parties have been unfaithful to each other. The song begins with a spoken intro, where Wyclef mentions that famous rock bands like the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin couldn't be present, but he is there to deliver his music. This statement sets the tone for the song, suggesting that despite obstacles, he is still committed to making music.
In the chorus, Wyclef and Bono sing about the infidelity in their relationship. They express their dissatisfaction with the situation, questioning if the affair is real or merely an illusion. Wyclef mentions pinching himself to confirm that he is not dreaming, highlighting the emotional confusion and disbelief he feels.
Verse 1 describes the aftermath of the cheating. The song is predicted to be a hit and it will be heard on the radio frequently. The singer imagines a scenario where the listener is driving with their boyfriend, and the song comes on. The boyfriend asks to turn it down, but the listener defiantly opens the sunroof and enjoys the music loudly, expressing a sense of liberation or rebellion. The lyrics also mention a potential conflict or disagreement between the couple, with unclear phrases like "watchin the whats wrong" and "havin a good jour" (possibly meaning "watching what's wrong" and "having a good day" respectively). It ends by acknowledging past mistakes, specifically addressing "all the girls I cheated on before."
The second chorus repeats the theme of both parties cheating and challenges the authenticity of the relationship. Again, Wyclef questions whether it is real or just an illusion. By figuratively pinching himself to check if he's dreaming, he is seeking confirmation of the truth.
Verse 2 introduces a perspective shift, where the singer admits his limited knowledge of philosophy but emphasizes that his reality changed when he met the person he cheated on. He describes the atmosphere or emotional state before the relationship as not being so cold. This implies that the relationship had a significant impact on him, as he compares himself to a ball without a chain, symbolizing newfound freedom or happiness.
Overall, "Cheated" explores the themes of infidelity and the emotional turmoil it brings. The lyrics express feelings of confusion, questioning the authenticity of the relationship, and contemplating personal changes that have occurred due to the infidelity.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: HAL DAVID, ALBERT HAMMOND, WYCLEF JEAN, SALAAM REMI, EDDISON SAISBURY, Albert Louis Hammond, Salaam Remi Gibbs, Wyclef Nel Jean
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind