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.
Something About Mary
Wyclef Jean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
DMX, Limp Bizkit, Sheryl Crow amongst many
Yo, just before I got on stage this chick came on to me
She offered me sumthin
It looked kinda strange, it was in a bag
I said "Yo, girl let me talk to you real quick"
Yo
I don't sniff cocaine 'cause it mess up my brain
For sexual stimulation I never did no ecstasy
I don't pop pills, I never did no LSD
but I wouldn't mind a kiss from Ms. Mary
'Cause
She's homegrown and you can hold her in her backyard
She's homegrown and you can get a kiss in her backyard
I remember when I was a young boy
I waited for my grandad, "So daddy can I get a puff?"
He looked at me, he says "Son, man, you're too young kid"
"When you get older now and you understand that"
"I let you get one kiss from Ms. Mary"
'Cause
She's homegrown and you can grow her in her backyard
She's homegrown and you can hold her in her backyard
If she allows you to you can roll her up
She's homegrown and you can kiss her in her backyard
She's homegrown - I like to be with you Ms. Mary - in your backyard
That's when she looked at me and she said
"Wyclef this' what I want you to do son"
Come on
Inhale - exhale
Exhale - inhale
Inhale - exhale
Now hold it now
Inhale - exhale
Inhale - exhale
Exhale - inhale
Now breath in my face
Marijuan' Marijuan'
She said that
She's homegrown and you can grow her in her backyard
She's homegrown, she said "'Clef, I'll kiss you in my backyard"
And my daddy don't need to know
She said that
I'm homegrown and you can grow me in your backyard
I'm homegrown and you don't need to worry for my backyard
That's when I said, "I'ma get in trouble, I gotta go girl"
This' what she said
Laa la-laa laa laa, strictly la-la, to take me higher, and higher (2X)
Laa la-laa laa laa, strictly la-la, to take me higher
I'm about to take it higher
I'm about to take it higher
I'm about to take it higher
I'm about to take it higher
Come on y'all, come on y'all, come on
Yo, I want for everybody sleeping on my guitar skills
It's about to beat on right about now
Turn my guitar up yo!
What up Jimi Hendrix, I'll see you baby
Yo, Carlos Santana, thanks for the lessons baby
Yo, Steve Rod, I ain't forgettin you man
To the godfather B.B. King
and to my man Eric Clapton
I think I'm forgettin somebody, man
The Artist, ha-haaaaa
Yo, Jerry Wonder, man,
you're playin that bass like Bootsie Collins, man
Don't hurt 'em baby boy
Uh, Wyclef, Jerry Wonder man, new Millenium man, I told ya
The lyrics to Wyclef Jean's song, "Something About Mary" reflect his admiration and temptation towards Ms. Mary, a euphemism for marijuana. The song begins with a dedication to performers at Woodstock '99, where Wyclef Jean was about to perform. The artist recalls being offered something in a bag by a woman; upon inspection, he realizes it is marijuana. He then proceeds to establish that he does not indulge in other drugs like cocaine, ecstasy or LSD, but is willing to indulge in marijuana because there is "something about Mary".
The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the artist's love and devotion towards marijuana. He even reminisces about a time when he was younger and his grandad refused to let him smoke marijuana, instead, allowing him one kiss from Ms. Mary. The chorus of the song repeatedly emphasizes the fact that Ms. Mary is "homegrown," implying that it is better and more authentic than anything else. The song ends with the artist playing a guitar solo and giving shoutouts to various music legends, including Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana, and B.B. King.
Overall, the song can be interpreted as a love letter to marijuana and the culture surrounding it. The artist portrays it as something that can bring people together and make them feel good, seemingly glorifying its use.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo, I'm a dedicate this to everybody that was at Woodstock '99
This song is dedicated to everyone who attended Woodstock '99.
DMX, Limp Bizkit, Sheryl Crow among many
Various music performers who were at Woodstock '99.
Yo, just before I got on stage this chick came on to me
A woman approached Wyclef Jean before he went on stage.
She offered me sumthin
The woman offered him something.
It looked kinda strange, it was in a bag
The object that the woman had was unusual and packaged.
I said 'Yo, girl let me talk to you real quick'
Wyclef Jean asked the woman to speak with him briefly.
I don't sniff cocaine 'cause it mess up my brain
Wyclef does not use cocaine because he believes it has harmful effects on his mind.
For sexual stimulation I never did no ecstasy
When it comes to sexual arousal, Wyclef has never used ecstasy.
I don't pop pills, I never did no LSD
Wyclef has never done LSD or pills.
but I wouldn't mind a kiss from Ms. Mary
However, he wouldn't mind a kiss from 'Ms. Mary'.
She's homegrown and you can hold her in her backyard
Ms. Mary is 'homegrown', and you can access her from her backyard.
I remember when I was a young boy
Wyclef remembers a time when he was a child.
I waited for my grandad, 'So daddy can I get a puff?'
He waited for his grandfather and asked him for a puff.
He looked at me, he says 'Son, man, you're too young kid'
However, his grandfather told Wyclef he was too young.
'When you get older now and you understand that'
His grandfather told him to wait until he was older.
'I let you get one kiss from Ms. Mary'
In exchange for waiting until he was older, his grandfather promised to let Wyclef have one kiss from Ms. Mary.
If she allows you to you can roll her up
If Ms. Mary allows it, you can roll her up.
That's when she looked at me and she said
The woman then looked at Wyclef.
'Wyclef this' what I want you to do son'
The woman directed a request towards Wyclef.
Come on
She then urged him to join in and do something.
Inhale - exhale
She instructed him to inhale and exhale in a specific manner.
Marijuan' Marijuan'
The woman repeats the word 'Marijuan'.
And my daddy don't need to know
Ms. Mary tells Wyclef that his father won't need to know about them.
That's when I said, 'I'ma get in trouble, I gotta go girl'
Wyclef then said that he must leave since they might get into trouble.
I'm about to take it higher
Wyclef is about to take the music higher.
What up Jimi Hendrix, I'll see you baby
Wyclef greets Jimi Hendrix, who is no longer alive.
Yo, Carlos Santana, thanks for the lessons baby
Wyclef thanks Carlos Santana for his advice.
Yo, Steve Rod, I ain't forgettin you man
Wyclef mentions Steve Rod.
To the godfather B.B. King
Wyclef gives a shoutout to B.B. King.
and to my man Eric Clapton
Wyclef also greets Eric Clapton.
I think I'm forgettin somebody, man
Wyclef feels like he's missing someone, but he's not sure who it is.
The Artist, ha-haaaaa
Wyclef remembers that he forgot to greet 'The Artist'.
Yo, Jerry Wonder, man
Wyclef greets his friend Jerry Wonder.
you're playin that bass like Bootsie Collins, man
Wyclef compliments Jerry's bass playing skill, comparing him with popular musician Bootsie Collins.
Don't hurt 'em baby boy
He advises Jerry not to physically harm anyone.
Uh, Wyclef, Jerry Wonder man, new Millenium man, I told ya
Wyclef announces his name and mentions his and Jerry's influence in the new millennium.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RALPH MIDDLEBROOKS, JAMES L. WILLIAMS, MARSHALL JONES, LEROY BONNER, CLARENCE SATCHELL, WILLIE BECK, MARVIN PIERCE, WYCLEF JEAN, JERRY DUPLESSIS, AUGUST MOON, TYRONE THOMAS
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