Donald Glover “This Is America” Lyrics Translated Into English

[Intro:  Choir]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, go, go away
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, go, go away
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, go, go away
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, go, go away

Translation:

Seems pretty self-explanatory.

[Bridge:  Donald Glover]

We just wanna party
Party just for you
We just want the money
Money just for you
I know you wanna party
Party just for me
Girl, you got me dancin’ (yeah, girl, you got me dancin’)
Dance and shake the frame
We just wanna party (yeah)
Party just for you (yeah)
We just want the money (yeah)
Money just for you (you)
I know you wanna party (yeah)
Party just for me (yeah)
Girl, you got me dancin’ (yeah, girl, you got me dancin’)
Dance and shake the frame (you)

Translation:

Here in America, we absolutely love to party and chase money.  It doesn’t matter what’s going on the world ranging from racism to police brutality, nothing is more important than partying and getting money.  Men love to party.  Women love to party.  Kids love to party.  Everybody loves to party.

[Chorus:  Donald Glover]

This is America
Don’t catch you slippin’ up
Don’t catch you slippin’ up
Look what I’m whippin’ up
This is America (woo)
Don’t catch you slippin’ up
Don’t catch you slippin’ up
Look what I’m whippin’ up

Translation:

Here in America as we are on our never ending quest to get money and party, we have to be constantly vigilant of ever-present dangers no matter where we go…but, none of that danger is about to stop us from flaunting our worthless liabilities that we are sold to believe that actually provide something of substance to our lives and overall low self-esteem.

[Verse 1:  Donald Glover]

This is America (skrrt, skrrt, woo)
Don’t catch you slippin’ up (ayy)
Look at how I’m livin’ now
Police be trippin’ now (woo)
Yeah, this is America (woo, ayy)
Guns in my area (word, my area)
I got the strap (ayy, ayy)
I gotta carry ’em
Yeah, yeah, I’ma go into this (ugh)
Yeah, yeah, this is guerilla (woo)
Yeah, yeah, I’ma go get the bag
Yeah, yeah, or I’ma get the pad
Yeah, yeah, I’m so cold like yeah (yeah)
I’m so dope like yeah (woo)
We gon’ blow like yeah (straight up, uh)

Translation:

Here in America amongst all of this danger that we have to be constantly aware of, none of that is about to put a dent into our plans we continually perfect in an effort to show off how we are living to give the illusion that we are doing better than everybody else around us.  On our journey to crafting this illusion, the police stay abusing and misusing their powers but sadly, we’ve become desensitized to the actions of bad policing that we now just accept their bad actions as a way of life here in America.  Another fascinating aspect about America is how we absolutely cherish guns.  They are everywhere so in order for me to feel safe, I feel as though I need to carry a gun just in case I cross paths with another American who has a gun who may become a threat to my life.  With so many guns in this country being carried by so many people, one could somewhat equate America being a literal warzone full of guerilla fighters walking around.  But don’t let that deter you from your quest from getting as much money as you possibly can even if that quest possibly leads you down a path towards death or jail because you always have to remember, the illusion of getting money trumps everything which helps you build prestige amongst a bunch of people who more than likely provide absolutely no real value to your life other than being fascinated with your ability to act like you are getting more money that what you really are.

[Refrain:  Choir & Donald Glover]

Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, tell somebody
You go tell somebody
Grandma told me
Get your money, Black man (get your money)
Get your money, Black man (get your money)
Get your money, Black man (get your, Black man)
Get your money, Black man (get your, Black man)
Black man

Translation:

Black Americans are often taught at a very early age that nothing is more important that getting money.  This message is so loud and clear that even grandmothers tell their grandchildren about going all out to get money.  A lot of the times, it doesn’t even matter what you do to get money, illegal or legal, moral or amoral because sadly, so many black Americans either come from a state of financial struggle or know plenty of black people who are still financially struggling that the normal rally cry to either legit celebrate somebody’s endeavors or to simply look the other way is to tell this person “Get your money”.  No matter what you are doing in life, always get your money.

[Chorus repeated]

[Verse 2:  Donald Glover]

Look how I’m geekin’ out (hey)
I’m so fitted (I’m so fitted, woo)
I’m on Gucci (I’m on Gucci)
I’m so pretty (yeah, yeah)
I’m gon’ get it (ayy, I’m gon’ get it)
Watch me move (blaow)
This a celly (ha)
That’s a tool (yeah)
On my Kodak (woo, Black)
Ooh, know that (yeah, know that, hold on)
Get it (get it, get it)
Ooh, work it (21)
Hunnid bands, hunnid bands, hunnid bands (hunnid bands)
Contraband, contraband, contraband (contraband)
I got the plug in Oaxaca (woah)
They gonna find you like blocka (blaow)

Translation:

Amidst all the chaos and confusion, one of the ways I cope with avoiding the realities of the country I’m living in is to self-medicate off of drugs followed by another form of escapism of wasting money of fashion just so I can dress fresh to impress a bunch of people whom really can’t do anything for me…but I look good.  Even still, I must keep striving to reach a higher level of living, so I encourage you to watch how I go about doing so.  Oh yeah, please don’t confuse my cellphone with a gun.  Shout out to rapper Kodak Black.  I’m glad to see you know of him as well.  Now is the part of the song where I start giving myself motivation to go out there and make $100k by engaging in some sort of illegal activity that deals with a product coming from my business partner down in Oaxaca, Mexico.  Sadly, due to the nature of this product, I’m unfortunately putting myself at risk of being shot by somebody who probably wants to utilize this product in a similar manner as me so that they can make that $100k as well.

[Refrain repeated]

[Outro:  Young Thug]

You just a Black man in this world
You just a barcode, ayy
You just a Black man in this world
Drivin’ expensive foreigns, ayy
You just a big dawg, yeah
I kenneled him in the backyard
No probably ain’t life to a dog
For a big dog

Translation:

In this world, you’re just a black man at the end of the day.  You’re just another number.  Just another black man.  Yes, you may be driving expensive cars to where everybody views you as somebody of importance, but I can still make you bow down to respect me because the reality is, you are not willing to do the things I’m willing to do in this world thereby making me the more successful black man.