Ready or Not
Zinc vs. Fugees Lyrics
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Gonna find you and take it slowly
Ready or not, here I come, you can't hide (ooh)
Gonna find you and make you want me (yo)
Now that I escape, sleepwalker awake (yeah)
Those who could relate know the world ain't cake
Jail bars ain't golden gates
When they meet their four-hundred pound mate
If I could rule the world (if I ruled the world)
Everyone would have a gun in the ghetto of course
When giddyuping on their horse (giddyup)
I kick a rhyme drinking moonshine
I pour a sip on the concrete, for the deceased
But no don't weep, Wyclef's in a state of sleep
Thinking 'bout the robbery that I did last week
Money in the bag, banker looked like a drag
I wanna play with pelicans from here to Baghdad
Gun blast, think fast, I think I'm hit
My girl pinched my hips to see if I still exist
I think not, I'll send a letter to my friends
A Born Again hooligan only to be king again
Ready or not, here I come, you can't hide
Gonna find you and take it slowly
Ready or not, here I come, you can't hide (ooh)
Gonna find you and make you want me (yo, yo, yo)
Yo, I play my enemies like a game of chess, where I rest
No stress, if you don't smoke sess, lest
I must confess, my destiny's manifest
In some Goretex and sweats I make treks like I'm homeless
Rap orgies with Porgy and Bess
Capture your bounty like Elliot Ness, yes
Bless you if you represent the Fu
But I'll hex you with some witch's brew
If you're doo-doo, voodoo
I can do what you do, easy, believe me
Fronting niggas give me hee-bee-gee-bees
So while you're imitating Al Capone, I'll be Nina Simone
And defecating on your microphone
Ready or not, here I come, you can't hide
Gonna find you and take it slowly
You can't run away
From these styles I got, oh baby, hey baby
Cause I got a lot, oh yeah
And anywhere you go (ooh)
My whole crew's gonna know baby, hey baby
You can't hide from the block, oh no
Ready or not, refugees taking over (ready or not)
The Buffalo Soldier, dreadlock Rasta
On the twelfth hour, fly by in my bomber
Crews run for cover, now they're under pushing up flowers
Superfly true lies, do or die (he's super fly)
Toss me high, only puff lye
With my crew from lakay
I refugee from Guantanamo Bay
Dance around the border like I'm Cassius Clay (yessir, yo)
Ready or not, here I come, you can't hide (ooh, yo, hey yo nobody move)
Gonna find you and take it slowly (yeah)
Ready or not, here I come, you can't hide (ooh, yo, hey yo nobody move)
Gonna find you and make you want me (whoa, yeah, c'mon)
Ready or not, here I come, you can't hide (you know the, you know the)
Gonna find you and take it slowly
Ready or not, here I come, you can't hide (ooh, yo, hey yo nobody move)
Gonna find you and make you want me (ooh)
Ready-
Zinc vs. Fugees's song "Ready Or Not" is a thought-provoking and dynamic hip-hop track. The lyrics contain a mix of social commentary, introspection, and braggadocio, delivered with precision by the Fugees. The central theme of the song is the relentlessness of life, and the way that individuals must constantly adapt and persevere in the face of adversity. The hook, "Ready or not, here I come, you can't hide, gonna find you and take it slowly," is a metaphor for this idea, suggesting that no matter how hard one tries to avoid the challenges of life, they will inevitably be forced to confront them head-on.
The verses of the song delve deeper into this idea, exploring topics like the struggles of life in the ghetto (where "everyone would have a gun" if the singer ruled the world), the harsh reality of prison ("jail bars ain't golden gates"), and the importance of staying true to oneself (as the singer boasts, "while you're imitating Al Capone, I'll be Nina Simone"). The lyrics are filled with vivid imagery and clever wordplay that make the song a joy to listen to.
Overall, "Ready Or Not" is a powerful example of the artistry and storytelling potential of hip-hop music. It challenges listeners to think critically about the world around them, while also providing an infectious beat and memorable hooks that invite repeated listens.
Line by Line Meaning
Ready or not, here I come, you can't hide
I'm coming for you, and you can't escape me
Gonna find you and take it slowly
I will catch you gradually, without rushing
Now that I escape, sleepwalker awake
Now that I am free, even those who were unaware will wake up to the harsh reality
Jail bars ain't golden gates
Being locked up is not a glamorous experience
Those who fake, they break
Those who pretend to be something they're not will ultimately break under pressure
If I could rule the world (if I ruled the world)
If I had ultimate power and control over everything
Everyone would have a gun in the ghetto of course
In impoverished neighborhoods, people would have the means to protect themselves
I wanna play with pelicans from here to Baghdad
I desire to travel and explore in unconventional ways
Thinking 'bout the robbery that I did last week
Reflecting on a recent criminal act committed
My girl pinched my hips to see if I still exist
My partner physically checked to see if I was real
Yo, I play my enemies like a game of chess
I manipulate those who oppose me methodically and strategically
Capture your bounty like Elliot Ness, yes / Yo, my play my enemies like a game of chess
I efficiently capture my goals, like Elliot Ness captured criminals, by carefully outmaneuvering my enemies
I must confess, my destiny's manifest
I am aware that my future is predetermined and inevitable
Rap orgies with Porgy and Bess
I engage in raucous, energetic rap performances
If you're doo-doo, voodoo / I can do what you do
If you're mediocre, I can easily surpass you
Ready or not, refugees taking over
I, and other refugees, are here to establish ourselves and make our voices heard
The Buffalo Soldier, dreadlock Rasta
I identify as a black soldier and Rastafarian
Superfly true lies, do or die (he's super fly)
I project an image of confidence and invincibility, even if it's not entirely true
I refugee from Guantanamo Bay
I am a survivor of cruel and unjust imprisonment
Dance around the border like I'm Cassius Clay
I am agile and agile-footed, like the famous boxer Muhammad Ali (formerly known as Cassius Clay)
Ready or not, here I come, you can't hide (ooh, yo, hey yo nobody move)
Be still, I'm about to make my move
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Nicholas John Ryan, Roma Shane Ryan, Thomas Randolph Bell, William Alexander Hart, Eithne Ni Bhraonain
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind