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.
Gone Till November
Wyclef Jean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I ask myself why, oh why
See, you must understand, I can't work a 9 to 5
So I'll be gone 'til November
Said I'll be gone 'til November, I'll be gone 'til November
Yo, tell my girl, yo, I'll be gone 'til November
I'll be gone 'til November, I'll be gone 'til November
Yo, tell my girl, yo, I'll be gone 'til November
I see you cryin', but girl, I can't stay
I'll be gone 'til November, I'll be gone 'til November
And give a kiss to my mother
When I come back, there'll be no need to clock
I'll have enough money to buy out blocks
Tell my brother, "Go to school in September"
So he won't mess up in summer school in the summer
Tell my cousin, Jerry, wear his condom
If you don't wear condom, you'll see a red lump
Woh oh oh oh
You sucker MC's, you got no flow
I heard your style, you're s-o s-o
Every time I make a run, girl, you turn around and cry
I ask myself why, oh why
See, you must understand, I can't work a 9 to 5
So I'll be gone 'til November
Said I'll be gone 'til November, I'll be gone 'til November
Yo, tell my girl, yo, I'll be gone 'til November
I'll be gone 'til November, I'll be gone 'til November
Yo, tell my girl, yo, I'll be gone 'til November
January, February, March, April, May
I see you cryin', but girl, I can't stay
I'll be gone 'til November, I'll be gone 'til November
And give a kiss to my mother
I had to flip nuttin' and turn it into somethin'
Hip-hop turns to the future rock when I smash a punk
Commit treason, then I'll have a reason to hunt you down
It's only right, it's rappin' season
Yeah, you with the loud voice, posin' like you're top choice
Your voice, I'll make a hearse out of your Rolls Royce
Besides, I got my girl to remember
And I'll commit it that I'll be back in November
Every time I make a run, girl, you turn around and cry
I ask myself why, oh why
See, you must understand, I can't work a 9 to 5
So I'll be gone 'til November
Said I'll be gone 'til November, I'll be gone 'til November
Yo, tell my girl, yo, I'll be gone 'til November
I'll be gone 'til November, I'll be gone 'til November
Yo, tell my girl, yo, I'll be gone 'til November
January, February, March, April, May
I see you cryin', but girl, I can't stay
I'll be gone 'til November, I'll be gone 'til November
And give a kiss to my mother
I know the hustle's hard, but we gotta enterprise, the carnival
Wyclef Jean's "Gone Till November" explores the challenges and sacrifices of being a musician, as Wyclef sings about having to leave his loved ones behind while he goes on tour. The song opens with Wyclef addressing his girlfriend, who seems to be unhappy with his frequent departures. He asks her why she always cries when he leaves, but he also reminds her that he cannot work a 9-to-5 job like most people. This highlights the contrast between the life of a musician and that of a regular employee.
The chorus of the song features Wyclef singing that he'll be gone until November, reminding his loved ones that he'll be away for a while. The following verse sees Wyclef giving instructions to his family members about what to do in his absence. He wants his brother to focus on his studies so that he doesn't have to attend summer school, and he reminds his cousin to use protection during sex to avoid contracting a sexually transmitted infection.
In the last verse of the song, Wyclef takes a swipe at other rappers who imitate his style, suggesting that they have no originality. He also makes it clear that he's leaving his loved ones behind because he needs to pursue his career as a musician. "Gone Till November" is a heartfelt song that showcases the challenges and sacrifices that come with being a musician, while also expressing love and concern for family members who are left behind.
Line by Line Meaning
Every time I make a run, girl, you turn around and cry
Whenever I have to leave, you get upset
I ask myself why, oh why
I wonder why this is happening
See, you must understand, I can't work a 9 to 5
I can't have a typical job
So I'll be gone 'til November
I'll be away for a few months
Said I'll be gone 'til November, I'll be gone 'til November
I won't be back for a while
Yo, tell my girl, yo, I'll be gone 'til November
Let my girlfriend know that I'll be gone for a while
January, February, March, April, May
Listing off months
I see you cryin', but girl, I can't stay
I can't stay, even if you're upset
And give a kiss to my mother
Send my love to my mom
When I come back, there'll be no need to clock
I'll be successful enough to not have to work
I'll have enough money to buy out blocks
I'll be wealthy enough to purchase properties
Tell my brother, "Go to school in September"
Advise my brother to attend school in the fall
So he won't mess up in summer school in the summer
So he doesn't have to take make-up classes in the summer
Tell my cousin, Jerry, wear his condom
Give my cousin advice to use protection
If you don't wear condom, you'll see a red lump
Without protection, he could get an STD
Woh oh oh oh
Vocals
You sucker MC's, you got no flow
Insulting other rappers
I heard your style, you're s-o s-o
Mocking other rappers
I had to flip nuttin' and turn it into somethin'
I had to turn nothing into a success
Hip-hop turns to the future rock when I smash a punk
I'm bringing a new sound to hip-hop
Commit treason, then I'll have a reason to hunt you down
If you betray me, I'll retaliate
It's only right, it's rappin' season
It's time for me to show off my skills
Yeah, you with the loud voice, posin' like you're top choice
Calling out another rapper
Your voice, I'll make a hearse out of your Rolls Royce
Threatening to end their career
Besides, I got my girl to remember
I have someone to come back to
And I'll commit it that I'll be back in November
I promise to return in November
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: George O'dowd, John Lennon, Jonathan Moss, Michael Craig, Paul Mccartney, Philip Pickett, Roy Hay, Wyclef Jean
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mysteriousmoon5978
This song has taunted me for 23 years (I am 31 now). I first heard it in 1997 when I was 7/8 years old. I was on a school trip to Henley Fort in Guildford. The only lyric which stuck with me was 'WHY OH WHY' and the tune. I've hummed it to people angrily hoping they could tell me what it is. No help. So for 23 years its been in my head but I never found out what it was. Untill today!! 23 years PEOPLE!!
@jamesdavis1201
Happy the torment is over & the joy has begun. Peace.
@Musa_90
I know the feeling. Thats happened with me on a few other songs before
@benreilly5951
Glad you find it. Been there, done that and still looking for other classic tunes.
@Warrior_Resisting_Colonialism
Your mistake was probably trying to get others of your own age to figure out what it was, when you should have targeted people 15-20 years older than you and they could have told you sooner. I'm a metal head but I remember hearing this one on the radio. If you think that's bad, I've been on the lookout for a 70's cartoon since I was little and all I know about it was there was a little boy who found a secrete passageway and he went exploring. Now in my 40's and still can't find that cartoon movie that captivated little 6 or 7 year old me. I know the feeling! It may seem trivial sure but I bet it feels so liberating. Congrats!
@benreilly5951
@@Warrior_Resisting_Colonialism agree with you on this. I had to ask my brother about The Art of Sound. As soon as I hummed the beat to him he knew exactly what the tune was. If I didn't I'd still be humming the song like a clueless fool. Thank God for older brothers and of course elders in general.
@jay_ok
Anyone else just randomly remembered this song?
@ChannelZero1031
"Lifestyles of the rich and famous, some die WITH a name, some die nameless."
FACTS.
@lie2297
I had a weird flash of Dee singing this in my head and had to listen to it
@whatisahandleplz
Same😂