Year Of The Dragon
Wyclef Jean Lyrics

I remember comin' from Haiti growin' up in Brooklyn
I recall my upbringing in Brooklyn after immigrating from Haiti.

On Flatbush got my first sneakers tooken
My first sneakers were stolen from me on Flatbush Avenue.

Learn the game quick so I got my first device
I quickly learned the ways of life on the street and acquired my first device (likely a weapon).

Mom moved to Jers' so we could get a better life
My mother moved us to New Jersey with the hopes of providing us with a better life.

But little did she know a ghetto is a ghetto
Unfortunately, she was unaware that a ghetto is still a ghetto regardless of location.

Good times found myself like Jimmie Walker sayin' "Cello"
Despite the hardships, I still experienced good times and found reasons to celebrate.

Yellow cheese bus gettin' beatings if I cuss
I used to get beaten on the yellow school bus for cursing.

Lay away another day in stripped Lees and Le Tigres
I had to layaway clothing such as striped Lees and Le Tigres to afford them.

But the lyrical bomber momma tried to stop
My mother tried to stop me from pursuing a career in rap, as it was a dangerous path.

Paranoid cause this boy around my neighborhood got shot
I became paranoid because a boy from my neighborhood was shot.

Name plait hair, straight metal braces on my teeth
I had braids in my hair and wore metal braces on my teeth.

Fat laces on my feet when crack first hits the streets
I had thick shoelaces on my feet when crack cocaine first became prevalent in the streets.

I use to push up on a girl Salt 'N' Peppa Push It Push It
I used to flirt with a girl while listening to Salt-N-Pepa's "Push It."

D's in school cause the music was my focus
My grades suffered in school because my focus was on my music career.

Jokes in class but when I learned I didn't pass
I made jokes in class, but when I failed to learn the material, I knew I was in trouble.

I knew it was my ass with my mothers leather lash
I knew my mother would punish me harshly with her leather belt.

Belt buckle said Nelly Nel similar to Melle Mel
My belt buckle was similar to one worn by Melle Mel, a rapper.

Hits the third rail Beat Street made Gazzels sells
I reference the urban film "Beat Street," which helped popularize Gazelle sunglasses.

As the tale gets poetic watch the streets turn magnetic
The story turns poetic as the magnetic pull of the streets and their dangers become apparent.

Tawana Brawley's rape is alleged
I reference the case of Tawana Brawley, a young girl who claims she was raped by a group of men.

Hang out in hooky places watch streets corners turn to oasis
You can find solace in the unlikeliest of places, such as street corners and hooky spots.

Young men aspire to be Scarfaces
Many young men aspire to be like the character Scarface, a gangster who rose to power through violence and drug dealing.

In the year of the dragon lots of men disappear
During the year of the dragon, many men go missing or are killed.

Quiet as it's kept they won't be back next year
These missing men won't be returning next year, and their disappearances go unnoticed or unspoken.

Late at night the light was bright on the [ave]
In the dimly lit streets, the light from signs and streetlights shines bright and illuminates the area.

I went to pick up cash from my cousin little Kev
I visited my cousin Little Kev to collect some money.

He told me Joe had a dream in jail he got steamed
My cousin told me that his friend Joe had a nightmare while in jail and was very upset about it.

His wife became a fiend fuckin' little Raheem
Joe's wife became addicted to drugs and began having sex with another man named Raheem.

Damn, drugs will make you do terrible things
This situation is an example of how drugs can lead people to do terrible things.

He told me when he get out he's murdering by any means
Joe told my cousin that when he gets out of jail, he plans to murder by any means necessary.

The day came I saw him on the train
One day, I saw Joe on the train.

He pulled his gun and aimed and started firing like the son of Kane
Joe took out his gun and began shooting recklessly, similar to the biblical story of Cain.

I saw civilians runnin' for their life
People nearby were running to escape the gunfire.

Like the devil on judgement night running from Christ
This situation is like the biblical depiction of the devil running from Christ on judgement night.

Ice and Amaretto please as I fell to my knees
I ordered a drink made with ice and Amaretto, and then fell to my knees from being shot by Ferguson, the vigilante.

Clef it kind of remind me of this chick I once knew
I reflect on a girl I formerly knew.

Use to be a dime now she's strung out in Bellevue
This girl used to be attractive and desirable (a dime), but now she's at Bellevue, a psychiatric hospital for addiction treatment.

See the serpent played tricks run game like the Knicks
I compare the manipulative nature of a serpent to that of the New York Knicks basketball team.

Build you up just to lose the championship
Just like the Knicks, this girl would build up someone's hopes and then shatter them like losing a championship game.

I seen her reminisce over Wu-Tang could It Be that Simple
I saw her thinking back on music by the Wu-Tang Clan, perhaps wondering if life could be simpler.

She lost her Prince cause there were Thieves In the Temple
She lost her prince, or someone she held in high regard because there were thieves in the temple, or corrupt people around her.

Tragic depression made her lose all her teeth
Her depression was so severe that she lost all of her teeth.

Lost and turned out gave her body to the streets
She became lost and addicted to drugs, and resorted to selling her body on the streets.

Sweet Mary don't you weep
I reference the gospel song "Mary Don't You Weep" in a plea for comfort.

Still waters run deep
This phrase means that quiet or unassuming people may have a lot going on beneath the surface.

So be careful of the company you keep
This story serves as a warning to be cautious of the people you surround yourself with.