Fu-Gee-La by Fugees Lyrics Meaning – Unveiling the Anthem of Resistance and Resiliency
Lyrics
We used to be number ten
Now we permanent one
In the battle lost my finger, mic became my arm
Pistol nozzle hits your nasal, blood becomes lukewarm
Tell the woman be easy naah squeeze the charmin’
Test Wyclef, see death flesh get scorned
Beat you so bad make you feel like you ain’t wanna be born
And tell your friends stay the hell out of my lawn
Chicken George became dead George stealin’ chickens from my farm
Damn, another dead pigeon
If you’re mafiosos, then I’m bringin’ on Haitian Sicilians
Nobody’s shootin’, my body’s made of hand grenade
Girl bled to death while she was tongue kissing a razor blade
That sounds sick maybe one day I’ll write the horror
Blackula comes to the ghetto, jacks an Acura
Stevie Wonder sees crack babies becoming enemies of their own families
Armageddon come you know we soon done
Gun by my side just in case I gotta run
A boy on the side of Babylon, trying to front like he’s down with
Mount Zion (yeah)
Ooh la la la
It’s the way that we rock when we’re doing our thing
Ooh la la la
It’s the natural law that the refugees bring
Ooh la la la la la la lalala la lah
Sweet thing (yeah)
She love me like she never before, ayy
Yeah in saloons we drink Boone’s and battle goons till high noon
Bust rap toons on flat spoons, take no shorts like poon poon’s
See hoochies pop coochies, for Gucci’s and Lucci
Find me in my Mitsubishi, eatin’ sushi, bumpin’ fugees
Hey hey hey
Try to take the crew and we don’t play play
Say say say
Like Paul McCartney, not hardly
Oddly enough
I can see right through your bluff
Niggas huff and they puff but they can’t handle us, we bust
‘Cause we fortified, I could never hide, seen “Cooley high”
Cried when Cochise died
I’m twisted, black listed by some other negroes
Don’t remove my Polos on the first episode
Ha ha you shouldn’t diss refugees, and
Ha ha ha ha, you whole sound set’s bootie, and
Ha ha ha ha, you have to respect Jersey, ’cause I’m superfly when
I’m super-high on the fu-gee-la
Ooh la la la
It’s the way that we rock when we’re doing our thing
Ooh la la la
It’s the natural law that the refugees bring
Ooh la la la la la la lalala la lah
Sweet thing
Yeah, Yeah (yeah, yeah)
She love me like she never before, ayy
I sit ninety degrees underneath palm trees
Smokin’ beadies as I burn my calories
Brooklyn roof tops become Brooklyn teepee
Who that be, enemies, wanna see the death of me
From Hawaii to Hawthorne, I run marathons, like
Buju Banton, I’m a true champion, like
Farakkhan reads his daily Qu’ran it’s a phenomenon
Lyrics fast like Ramadan
What’s goin’ on
Armageddon come you know we soon done
Gun by my side just in case I gotta run
A boy on the side of Babylon, trying to front like he’s down with
Mount Zion
What’s goin’ on
Armageddon come you know we soon done
Gun by my side just in case I gotta run
A boy on the side of babylon, trying to front like he’s down with
Mount Zion
Ooh la la la
It’s the way that we rock when we’re doing our thing
Ooh la la la
It’s the natural Law that the Refugees bring
Ooh la la la la la la lalala la lah, sweet thing
She love me like she never before, ayy
Ooh la la la
It’s the way that we rock when we’re doing our thing
Ooh la la la
It’s the natural law that the refugees bring
Ooh la la la la la la lalala la lah, sweet thing
Yeah, yeah (yeah, yeah)
She love me like she never before, ayy
The Fugees, a group that masterfully blends soulful melodies with gritty commentaries on society’s underbelly, hit a nerve with ‘Fu-Gee-La,’ offering more than just a catchy refrain. This classic track, with its undeniably infectious hook, is a narrative trove that unpacks the group’s ethos, experiences, and the wider socio-political landscape they navigated.
Peering beyond the smooth veneer of its chorus, ‘Fu-Gee-La’ is an unveiled ode to the trio’s roots, a battle cry from the margins and a testament to survival. They weave together personal struggles with broader themes of cultural identity, systemic inequities, and the resilience of the displaced.
A Cryptic Opening: The Fugees’ Battle Cry
The song opens with a pronouncement of ascension – from number ten to permanent one – hinting at a triumph over adversity. The metaphorical loss of a finger and the mic as a prosthetic arm serve as powerful symbols of sacrifice and adaptation in the pursuit of mastery and expression. The Fugees are more than musicians; they’re fighters in the cultural arena where their words are their weapons.
Their lyrical bravado continues with imagery of violence and survival, intertwining the threats they encounter with a steadfast refusal to be cowed. The visceral scenarios painted with ‘blood becomes lukewarm’ and ‘body’s made of hand grenade’ suggest an existence fraught with danger, yet they remain defiant and indomitable.
The Refrain’s Seductive Invitation
The chorus, with its alluring ‘ooh la la las’, draws listeners into a celebration of the Fugees’ modus operandi. This seductive invitation is a savvy contrast to the verses’ intensity – a dynamic hook that captures the joyous spirit with which they approach their art amid the surrounding turmoil.
Within this entrancing refrain lies a declaration of the natural law the refugees bring – a law of authenticity, resilience, and creative force. As the trio’s harmonious vocals intertwine, they craft an auditory respite from the strife-riddled narratives, embodying the complexity of finding beauty amidst hardship.
Exposing the Layers: The Hidden Meaning
Each verse peels back another layer, revealing the Fugees’ intent to tackle issues head-on. From cultural references like ‘Chicken George’ to the depiction of social decay with ‘crack babies’, they portray a reality where heritage is both pride and target, where community struggles against societal fractures.
The contrast between chilling scenarios such as ‘girl bled to death’ and the allusions to resistance fighters and legendary leaders serves to highlight the duality of the human condition. The Fugees assert their alignment not just with reggae and soul, but with a global struggle for equity and justice.
Verses of Vision: Memorable Lines and Sharp Commentary
Notable lines such as ‘Try to take the crew and we don’t play play’ and ‘you shouldn’t diss refugees’ underscore the group’s unshakeable unity and solidarity with the marginalized. Through strong, concise words, they send a bold message to any who would underestimate them.
References to pop culture – ‘seen “Cooley High”/ Cried when Cochise died’ – are not merely for name-dropping. These touchstones of black culture serve to root the group in their identity and experiences, even as they navigate and critique wider societal norms.
Sonic Alchemy: Blending Genres and Generations
Musically, ‘Fu-Gee-La’ traverses diverse landscapes – hip-hop, reggae, soul – mirroring the group’s personal diasporas. Their ability to interlace these genres into a coherent and dynamic track demonstrates the Fugees’ versatility and mirrors the melting pot of immigrant narratives.
The song remains an enduring bridge between generations and genres. Its ability to resonate years after its release speaks to the universality of its themes and the timeless quality of its production. In ‘Fu-Gee-La’, the Fugees captured a moment, crafted an anthem, and delivered a message just as potent today as it was at its inception.
