uh huh uh huh uh huh oh this takes me home, it makes me think about sitting outside of my old home when I was younger and singing something like
[Chorus I (with translation)] gabar yaroo subhaano [Young beautiful girl] maro shabeelo hirato [wearing tiger-patterned] maro qafiifa huwato [light, thin clothing] maga’aaga ii sheeg [Tell me your name] magaeygu waa sharaf [she says: My name is Sharaf] sharaf haaji weeyan [Sharaf Haaji, it is] aqalada hariirta [Those beautiful houses] dhina baan ka jooga [I live beside] alla ya u sheega [Somebody please tell them] tinta u shanleeya [give them a clue] nahoy zamzamey [of you, Zamzam] sabaah nuurey [who shines like the morning light] adoo kin kin iyo [like the scales] kaluun badaneey [of a colorful fish] adoo hajka jira [while you were gone on Hajj] xasuus badaneey [had many memories] sahiibtaa asho ashaq baa dilay [Your friend, Aisha died of love] ugu dambeyntiina [at long last (I realized)] aniyo geeluba [both I and the camels] wa u banaanbahnay [need love]
[Chorus II - x2 (with translation)] wanagii orodnee [Remember us fleeing] nabad barinee [searching for peace?] mareykan waa laga soo waayay [3x] [In America, none was found]
There are certain things fresh, and certain things mesh, I got my own sound I dont sound like the rest, and even my attire and my choice of dress, and not long ago I don’t spoke English my point is police pull me over a lot they wonder what kind of rap sheet I got. and sometimes I take a young girl out to eat, and hold the door open oh your so sweet, of course my affection’s super illustrated and I like to give don’t reciprocate it unless you could give me someone innovated well lets cook it up we dont refrigerate it but back to the country of the educated where people get robbed and they celebrate it,
[Repeat Chorus II x2]
[Mos Def:] Maraken, my country tis of thee sweet land for robberies dos smokin SUV’s grab me an army green fat and frills thrills and spills eat and sleep hump and kill shop til you drop work til you dead get all you can then get in the wear outta my face on your knees sleep in the mansion shut out the streets make that cake woop that trick lick my swagger suck my sick get high get low get stcky get rich get yo own show get down get quick you slow you blow you broke your fix terror dome, home swag home terror dome, home swag home home swag home home swag home
[Chorus II - x2 ("America" repeated)]
[Chali 2na:] There are some things pure while certain things blur dilute it with the lie and you believe when it occur falsified information got my people in the stir we have to be in search of something equal to the cure straight out the door, I come to give you more lay the law keep it raw, when I speak it from the core get underneath your skin like especially with the claw conflicted with the rich cuz i kick it with the poor I laugh in the face of adversity sound clashed with the bass cuz its natural to me but if you pay attention to the past you will see not long ago you black they’d hang your ass from a tree but certain things things change, while some stay the same some are recluse others are lovers of the game I’m trying to walk the lane, the serahtal mustakeen [arabic for "straight path"] instead of doing things that keep you covered in the flame.
[Chorus II - x2 ("America" repeated)]
Nanananana that shit was cool in English, but let me get that Somali verse.