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.
You
Wyclef Jean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let's go
So, so you think you can tell
Heaven from hell
Blue skies from pain
Can you tell a green field
From a cold steel rail
Do you think you can tell
Did they get you to trade
Your heroes for ghosts
Hot ashes for trees
Hot air for a cool breeze
Cold comfort for change
Did you exchange
A walk-on part in the war
For a lead role in the cage
Whether you listenin' to hip hip-hop
Or you tuning to rock
Refugees on your box
We gonna take over your blocks
Let's go
How I wish, how I wish you were here
We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl
Year after year
Runnin' over the same old ground
What have we found?
The same old fears
Wish you were here
(Yeah)
Whether you listenin' to rock
Or you're pumpin' the hip hip hop
Refugees on your box
Critics don't mistake this for just any cover tune
I'ma take y'all to the dark side of the moon
Kickin' in my mom's room, this song was just a thought
A young refugee labeled, just come with a passport
Dad used to tell me about the American dream
My dream was waking up in the projects
A young teen listening to hip hop
My brother tune me into rock
Put me up on Pink Floyd, a band from the British blocks
Whether you pumpin' the hip hip hop
Or you're tuning to rock
Refugees on your box
We gonna take over the blocks
From NJ to BK to the UK
In "Wish You Were Here," Wyclef Jean covers Pink Floyd's classic song of the same name, injecting his own unique blend of hip-hop and rock music. The song begins with Wyclef picking up his guitar and practicing before launching into a series of philosophical questions about life's big mysteries. He asks if people can tell heaven from hell, or if they can distinguish between a smile and a veil. He wonders if people have given up their heroes, traded hot ashes for trees, and settled for cold comfort.
The chorus is a direct reference to Pink Floyd's original song, with Wyclef singing, "How I wish, how I wish you were here. We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year, running over the same old ground, what have we found? The same old fears, wish you were here." He continues to push musical boundaries throughout the song, blending elements of rock and hip-hop to create a distinct sound that is all his own. In the second verse, Wyclef reflects on his own upbringing and how it led him to appreciate both genres of music, saying that he was introduced to rock music by his brother, who turned him on to Pink Floyd.
Overall, the song is a tribute to Pink Floyd, but it also showcases Wyclef's own unique talents as a musician who can blend genres and create something completely new. It speaks to the human experience of longing for connection and understanding in a world that can often feel confusing and overwhelming.
Line by Line Meaning
So, so you think you can tell
You seem to believe that you can perceive
Heaven from hell
Distinguish between heaven, representing paradise, and hell, representing a place of torment.
Blue skies from pain
Distinguish between blue skies, representing happiness, and pain, representing sadness.
Can you tell a green field
Can you discern a green field, representing nature, growth, and life.
From a cold steel rail
Recognize a cold steel rail, representing industry and death.
A smile from a veil
Identify a fake smile or hidden truth behind an apparent smile.
Do you think you can tell
Do you believe you have the ability to identify things?
Did they get you to trade
Were you convinced to exchange
Your heroes for ghosts
Your role models for people who do not exist or are dead.
Hot ashes for trees
Negative consequences for positive things.
Hot air for a cool breeze
Inflated or empty promises compared to actual relief or comfort.
Cold comfort for change
The false reassurance instead of real transformation.
Did you exchange
Did you swap.
A walk-on part in the war
A small or insignificant role in a conflict or a fight.
For a lead role in the cage
For a more prominent place, but one that is limiting your freedom.
How I wish, how I wish you were here
How I desire that you were present, especially in times of solitude or contemplation.
We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl
We are two aimless, confused people seeking a purpose in a crowded and oppressive environment.
Year after year
Repeatedly, incessantly.
Runnin' over the same old ground
Going around in circles without making progress.
What have we found?
What achievement or discovery do we have to show for our efforts?
The same old fears
Recurring apprehensions or concerns.
Critics don't mistake this for just any cover tune
Critics should not perceive this song as a mere rendition of the original.
I'ma take y'all to the dark side of the moon
I will lead you to the unexplored, unseen, or mysterious facets of existence.
Kickin' in my mom's room, this song was just a thought
This song began as a vague idea in my mother's room.
A young refugee labeled, just come with a passport
A young person with limited opportunities who is seeking asylum and freedom.
Dad used to tell me about the American dream
My father shared his belief in the concept of a life of freedom, equality, and opportunity for all.
My dream was waking up in the projects
My aspiration was to escape a difficult, impoverished environment and live a better life.
A young teen listening to hip hop
A teenager who is passionate about hip hop music.
My brother tune me into rock
My sibling introduced me to rock music.
Put me up on Pink Floyd, a band from the British blocks
Introduced me to Pink Floyd, which is a band from the United Kingdom.
From NJ to BK to the UK
From New Jersey to Brooklyn to the United Kingdom.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: David Gilmour, Roger Waters
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@DjAlizay
Weensey brought me here 🤣 BACKYARD BAND 🐐💎🙏🏽
@moe.jones1
This the first time I ever heard this. Backyard band sent me
@OLD4EYES83
Weensy!!!!
@KhyriTheDappa
I'm from the dmv and I learned today that backyard band got keep it gangsta from this song. Wow.
@tyhill2
Same
@mr.fowler1684
Yoooo I just learned today!!!
@angelwaldron1331
Byb for life 🔥
@Zrain23
I loved this whole cd!!!!
@sambanelly4219
Wyclef Jean and Jerry Wonda Production.🇭🇹💯
@blackgirlmusic1
Best album of him ever!! :'*