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.
Heaven's In New York
Wyclef Jean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd treat it like my first
Go out the way I came in
So innocent so pure with no thoughts of insecurity
Live life to the fullest be what I wanna be
Last day on earth
I tell my momma don't cry I'll see my daddy in paradiseWhere the blind can see, the mute can talk, the crippled can walk
But for now Heaven's in New York
[Chorus]
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
Heavens in New York
Oh oh oh oh
First thing I'd do is go back in time take the twin towers, put it back in the skyline
Tell my girl two wrongs still don't make a right
Make love for the last time under the candlelight
Pick up my hommies at the gentleman club after that hit
Club and Reminisce about the High School Days
Man I sucked as a quarterback remember getting sacked man almost broke my back yeah
If it was my last day on earth
I'd treat it like my first
Go out the way I came in
So innocent so pure with no thoughts of insecurity
Live life to the fullest be what I wanna be
Last day on earth I tell my girl don't cry I'm with my daddy in paradise
Where the blind can see, the mute can talk, the crippled can walk
But for now Heaven's in New York
[Chorus]
I tell the man get the people a tax break
Kids stop shootin' I cant sing in no more ways
I cant take the money with me so I caught a movie
Favorite actress Angelina Jolie
Favorite Singer has to be Marley
Turn Up the Bass
And move to his styling's
Cant leave without reading my daughter a bedtime story the heavens is calling
If it was my last day on earth
I'd treat it like my first
Go out the way I came in
So innocent so pure with no thoughts of insecurity
Live life to the fullest be what I want to be
Last day on earth I tell my homies don't cry I'm with my daddy in paradise
Where the blind can see, the mute can talk, the crippled can walk
But for now
Heaven's in New York
[Chorus]
Welcome to New York City
Even though I walk through the Valley of Shadow of Death I fear No evil
For you are with me so tell my loves ones please don't cry
Cause if doves can fly so can I
If it was my last day on earth
I'd treat it like my first
Go out the way I came in
So innocent so pure with no thoughts of insecurity
Live life to the fullest be what I want to be
Last day on earth I tell my homies don't cry I'm with my dad in paradise
Where the blind can see, the mute can talk, the crippled can walk
But for now
Heaven's in New York
[Chorus]
Even though I walk through the Valley of Shadow of Death I fear
No evil for you are with me so
Tell my loves ones please don't cry
Cause if doves can fly so can I
If it was my last day on earth
I'd treat it like my first
Go out the way I came in
So innocent so pure with no thoughts of insecurity
Live life to the fullest be what I want to be
Last day on earth I tell my homies don't cry I'm with my daddy in paradise
Where the blind can see, the mute can talk, the crippled can walk
But for now Heaven's in New York
Where the blind can see, the mute can talk, the crippled can walk
But for now
Heaven's in New York
[Chorus x3]
Welcome To
New York City...
Heaven's In New York City
The lyrics to Wyclef Jean's "Heaven's In New York" envision the artist's last day on earth, treating it as innocent and pure as his first day of life. He talks about experiencing life to the fullest and being with his loved ones in paradise after he's passed away. The song conveys the idea that despite the challenges and struggles of life, heaven is a place of peace, growth, and happiness. Wyclef Jean also expresses his desire for a better world, where violence and hatred are replaced with love and positivity. He sings about his aspirations to make a change, such as advocating for tax breaks for the people and finding a way to stop gun violence.
The song mentions New York City as a symbol of heaven, where people are free from the constraints of reality and can live the best version of themselves. The lyrics are introspective, looking at life from a different perspective and realizing the importance of the present moment. Wyclef Jean's "Heaven's In New York" emphasizes the value of life and the importance of appreciating every second of it.
Line by Line Meaning
If it was my last day on earth
If today was the last day of my life
I'd treat it like my first
I would approach it with the same innocence and wonder as the day I was born
Go out the way I came in
Leave this world just as I entered it
So innocent so pure with no thoughts of insecurity
Without any doubts or insecurities, as a pure and innocent soul
Live life to the fullest be what I wanna be
Seize the day and live life to the fullest, being who I truly want to be
Last day on earth
My final day on this planet
I tell my momma don't cry I'll see my daddy in paradise
I console my mother not to cry, assuring her that I'll be reunited with my deceased father in heaven
Where the blind can see, the mute can talk, the crippled can walk
Describing heaven as a place where disabilities and limitations no longer exist
But for now Heaven's in New York
For now, New York City is like heaven to me
[Chorus]
Recurring chorus
First thing I'd do is go back in time take the twin towers, put it back in the skyline
If I could go back in time, I would bring back the Twin Towers to New York City's skyline
Tell my girl two wrongs still don't make a right
I would tell my significant other that two wrongs don't make a right
Make love for the last time under the candlelight
Spend my final moments making love with my partner under the romantic ambiance of candlelight
Pick up my hommies at the gentleman club after that hit
Pick up my friends from a nightclub and reminisce about our high school days
Club and Reminisce about the High School Days
Spend time with friends at a club and recall the memories of our high school days
Man I sucked as a quarterback remember getting sacked man almost broke my back yeah
Recalling a time when he played as a quarterback in high school and was injured in a game
I tell my girl don't cry I'm with my daddy in paradise
Comforting his significant other by telling her not to cry because he'll be with his father in paradise
I tell the man get the people a tax break
Asserts the need for a tax cut for the people
Kids stop shootin' I cant sing in no more ways
Urges children to stop violence and shooting so that he can't continue to sing such messages
I cant take the money with me so I caught a movie
Acknowledges that he can't take his wealth with him, so he decided to watch a movie
Favorite actress Angelina Jolie
Stating his favorite actress is Angelina Jolie
Favorite Singer has to be Marley
Stating that his favorite singer is Bob Marley
Turn Up the Bass
Increasing the volume of the music bass for a better experience
And move to his styling's
Dance to Bob Marley's music style
Cant leave without reading my daughter a bedtime story the heavens is calling
Prioritizing reading a bedtime story to his daughter before leaving, despite the call of heaven
Even though I walk through the Valley of Shadow of Death I fear No evil
Even when he confronts the prospect of dying, he has no fear of the experience
For you are with me so tell my loves ones please don't cry
Declaring that his loved ones need not cry because he knows he won't be alone
Cause if doves can fly so can I
Inspired by doves flying, he believes he, too, can soar
Welcome to New York City
Welcoming people to New York City
Heaven's In New York City
Describing how New York City feels like heaven to him
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JERRY DUPLESSIS, WYCLEF JEAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind