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.
Diallo
Wyclef Jean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴
I'll be glad when I get inside the house
Oh, I dropped my keys
Oh what tis bright light?
My God they must gonna rob me
Who these people with them all at they gonna rob me
I'm gonna take out my wallet to make sure they just get the money
Nothing else..
I feel so much better
I will show them, I have my ID
so they know I am good people
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I fear no evil for thou art with me thou ride with me
J-J-Jah! Ras-tafari
I can't forget you knotty dreads, y'all up in here
I gotta respect that, youknowhatI'msayin?
Night is in the air
Enemy.. on the borderline
Who'll be the next to fire
forty-one shots by Diallo's side?
You said he reached sir
but he didn't have no piece sir
But now he rest in peace sir
in the belly of the beast sir
You guys are vampires
in the middle of the night
Suckin on human blood
Is that your appetite?
You said he reached sir
but he didn't have no piece sir
But now he rest in peace sir
in the belly of the beast sir
Have you ever been shot
forty-one times?
Have you ever screamed
and no one heard you cry?
Have you ever died
only so you can live?
Have you ever lived
only so you can die again, then be born again
from these enemies, on the borderline
Who'll be the next to fire
forty-one shots by Diallo's side?
You said he reached sir
but he didn't have no piece sir
But now he rest in peace sir
in the belly of the beast sir
You guys are vampires
in the middle of the night
Suckin on human blood
Is that your appetite sir?
You said he reached sir
but he didn't have no piece sir
But now he rest in peace sir
in the belly of the beast sir
Diallo, Diallo - similar to Steven Biko
Diallo, Diallo - you told me the murder was an error
Diallo, Diallo - but every man will be judged
Diallo, Diallo - according to his words
Have you ever been held
against your will?
Taken to a dark place
where not even scientists can reveal?
So what is for Ceasar
let it be for Ceasar
Cause we don't want no peace
We want equal rights and justice.. for
Diallo, Diallo - similar to Steven Biko
Diallo, Diallo - you tell me that the murder was an error
Diallo, Diallo - but every man will be judged
Diallo, Diallo - according to his words
You know what?
You told me - that I wouldn't understand man
Tonight some cry - in the streets a burial
Survival of the fittest - only the strong will survive
How can I survive - with forty-one shots by my side?
You guys are murderers
in the middle of the night
Killin innocent people
is that your appetite? Ohhh
You said he reached sir
but he didn't have no piece sir
But now he rest in peace sir
in the belly of the beast sir
You guys are vampires
in the middle of the night
Suckin on human blood
Is that your appetite?
You said he reached sir
but he didn't have no piece sir
But now he rest in peace sir
in the belly of the beast sir - lick a shot for
Diallo, Diallo - similar to Steven Biko
Diallo, Diallo - I can hear your spirit callin, I can hear it
Diallo, Diallo - Ten thousand chariots with no riders
Diallo, Diallo - They on they way to America, I hear the tribe singin
They're sayin -
Diallo Diallo, tuye' Diallo
Diallo Diallo, tuye' Diallo
Diallo Diallo, tuye' Diallo
Diallo Diallo, tuye' Diallo
Diallo Diallo, tuye' Diallo
Diallo Diallo, tuye' Diallo
Diallo Diallo, tuye' Diallo
Diallo Diallo, tuye' Diallo
Diallo Diallo, tuye' Diallo
Diallo Diallo, tuye' Diallo
Diallo Diallo, tuye' Diallo
Diallo Diallo, tuye' Diallo
Diallo Diallo, tuye' Diallo
Diallo Diallo, tuye' Diallo
Se menm jen yo te tuye Matim Luther King
Amadou Diallo..
Now there ain't but 20,000 police in the whole town
Can you dig it? Can you dig it? CAN YOU DIG IT?!?!
Wyclef Jean's "Diallo" begins with an innocent-sounding story of a man walking home and getting nervous, thinking that he is going to be robbed by some people who are standing nearby in the dark. After concluding that it was just a group of police officers, he feels relieved and confident to show them his ID. However, soon, the song talks about a much darker reality. Diallo, the subject of the song, an African immigrant, was infamously killed by four New York City police officers, who fired 41 shots at him when he reached for his wallet. The officers were acquitted, and Diallo was controversially portrayed as a possible criminal who feared the police. The song criticizes the police for their brutality and also references other incidents of police brutality, such as the killing of Steven Biko. The lyrics suggest that the police are like vampires, seeking to satisfy their inherent appetite for blood by killing innocent people.
The lyrics of the song also touch upon feelings of helplessness and fear that arise from police violence. The lyrics suggest that anyone could become a victim at any moment, even if one is innocent. The lyrics unquestionably show the distress of the African American community towards police violence, making Diallo a powerful symbol of police brutality.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DUPLESSIS, JEAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ayodejifafowora3776
I remember my dad would always play this song every morning when taking me to primary school in the early 2000s and the tune litererily burned into my head. Years later, I would still hum the melody of this song but I just never knew the name of the song until today when I finally stumbled into it on YouTube. Now listening to it as a 27 year old man makes me feel so nostalgic. I love every bit of this song as it reminds me of a time in my life when everything made sense. I would definately return here and listen to this masterpiece for every like this comment recieves... have a blessed day. ❤
@Step_Up_with_Xammie
We Re in same page
@awudumohammed6901
Same page as well
@Ghostfacelou
Every Nigerian knows this song by default for some reason lmao
@Mukkeg
Do you know what the song is about?
@humblelyon3466
Come Back 👍👌
@harryanderson9775
Who is listening to this in 2024
@ghostghost1945
Listening to dialo from Africa zambia 🇿🇲
@samuelsaidu7114
2024 still listening to this song. Before I never knew what’s the song about, until now. Rest in Power Diallo.
@otuke3897
The immortalization of Diallo by Wyclef Jean, As long as this track gets played, Diallo will never be forgotten. Long Live Diallo!!!!