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.
Hey Girl
Wyclef Jean Lyrics
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I'm gonna miss you so much if you go.
And, Hey, Girl! I tell you no lie,
Something deep inside of me's going to die,
if you say so long, if this is goodbye. Oh!
Hey, Girl! This can't be true,
How am I supposed to exist without you?
What's gonna happen to me when you're gone.
How will I live. How can I go on.
How can I go on? Hey, Girl!
Hey, Girl! Now sit yourself down,
I'm not ashamed to get down on the ground,
Don't go away. Hey, Girl!
Don't go away. Hey, Girl!
Wyclef Jean's Hey Girl is a heartfelt ode to the pain of separation and the struggle of letting go of someone special. The lyrics convey the unrelenting desire to hold on to the person even after they have decided to leave. The song begins with an opening verse where the artist expresses his deep-seated feelings of missing the girl and his fear of losing her forever. He emphasizes the significance of the bond between them, which makes it hard to accept her departure. The chorus reiterates his angst, with the artist wondering how he will survive without her and how he will be able to move on.
As the song progresses, the emotional peak of the lyrics is reached when the artist pleads with her not to go away. He acknowledges that his pride has no place in the situation, and he is not ashamed to beg for her to stay. The song ends with a call for her to sit down and engage in conversation, which implies the desire to fix any issues and prevent her from leaving for good. The rawness of the feelings and the sincerity in the delivery make this song a powerful testament to the pain of losing someone we cherish deeply.
Overall, Hey Girl is a beautiful song that touches the heartstrings of anyone who has had to deal with the pain of separation. It is a poignant reminder of the importance of cherishing the people we love and fighting for them even when things get tough.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey, Girl! I want you to know,
I am expressing my feelings and want to make sure you are aware of them
I'm gonna miss you so much if you go.
I will feel a great sense of loss in your absence
And, Hey, Girl! I tell you no lie,
I am being honest and truthful with you
Something deep inside of me's going to die,
My inner self will be destroyed if you leave
If you say so long, if this is goodbye. Oh!
If you leave, it will be the end of our relationship and a heartbreaking moment for me
Hey, Girl! This can't be true,
I am in denial of the possibility of you leaving me
How am I supposed to exist without you?
I cannot imagine living without you and would struggle to cope with your departure
And, Hey, Girl! Now don't put me on,
I am pleading with you not to play games with my emotions
What's gonna happen to me when you're gone.
I am concerned about my well-being after you leave
How will I live. How can I go on.
My life will be difficult and unbearable without you
How can I go on? Hey, Girl!
I cannot handle the thought of moving on without you
Hey, Girl! Now sit yourself down,
I am asking you to take a moment and listen to me
I'm not ashamed to get down on the ground,
I am willing to put my pride aside and beg you to stay
Don't go away. Hey, Girl!
I am desperately pleading with you to not leave me
Don't go away. Hey, Girl!
I am reiterating how much I need you to stay
Lyrics © Ultra Tunes, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: CHRISTOPHER ANDREW CARRABBA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind