Edited by Azizi Powell
This is Part III of a three part pancocojams series that focuses on the English language vernacular saying "stay woke".
This post showcases a video performance of Childish Gambino's singing his award winning R&B song "Redbone". The chorus of that song repeats the African American vernacular saying "stay woke".
This song's lyrics and selected comments from a YouTube discussion thread about the use of a form of "the n word" is also included in this post.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/05/what-stay-woke-really-means-definitions.html for Part I of this series. Part I presents definitions for the saying "stay woke" and some documentation of that saying's use off-line and online in the United States.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2018/05/spike-lees-school-daze-wake-up-clip-and.html for Part II of this series. Part II showcases a YouTube video from Spike Lee's 1988 movie School Daze. I believe this "Wake Up!!!!" scene influenced the later vernacular meaning of "Stay woke!" This post also showcases Erykah Badu's song "Master Teacher" (Part 2) which is an early example of music's use of the vernacular meaning of "Stay woke"
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The content of this post is presented for linguistic, entertainment, aesthetic, and socio-cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Childish Gambino (Donald Glover, Jr.) for his creative legacy. Thanks to all those who quoted in this post and thanks to the publishers of theses YouTube examples
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WARNING: This song includes a form of what is commonly known as "the n word". Because pancocojams is a family friendly blog, I use a modified spelling for this word. I also use a modified spelling for all words that are considered profanity, except the word "damn".
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VERNACULAR DEFINITION OF "BEING WOKE" AND "STAY WOKE"
Here's my definition of "being woke" and "stay woke":
"Being woke" means to be conscious of and vigilant about social justice issues, particularly as they refer to Black people.
"Stay woke" is a command that "woke" people maintain the state of being conscious of and vigilant about social justice issues, particularly as they refer to Black people.
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INFORMATION ABOUT CHILDISH GAMBINO AND HIS SONG "REDBONE"
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Glover
"Donald McKinley Glover Jr. (born September 25, 1983) is an American actor, comedian, writer, director, producer, singer, songwriter, rapper, and DJ. He raps under the stage name Childish Gambino and performs as a DJ under the name mcDJ.
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From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redbone_(song)
" "Redbone" is a song recorded by American rapper and singer Childish Gambino (musical stage name used by actor Donald Glover). It was released on November 17, 2016, and serves as the second single from his third studio album "Awaken, My Love!"[1] The song received three Grammy Award nominations including Record of the Year at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards, eventually winning the award for Best Traditional R&B Performance.[2]
[....]
"Redbone"
Single by Childish Gambino
from the album "Awaken, My Love!"
Released: November 17, 2016
Genre: Psychedelic soul R&B neo soul psychedelic pop
...
Songwriter(s): Donald Glover and Ludwig Göransson"
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"Redbone" is sometimes incorrectly titled “Stay Woke”, for instance in this YouTube sound file”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ho01z3dciM "Get out stay woke". That YouTube video's title refers to the song "Redbone" being played as background music during the beginning of the 2017 American movie Get Out.
Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Get_Out for information about Get Out, "a 2017 American horror film written and directed by Jordan Peele in his directorial debut. It stars Daniel Kaluuya as Chris, a black man who uncovers a disturbing secret when he meets the family of his white girlfriend"...
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From https://genius.com/Childish-gambino-redbone-lyrics
What movie was this song in?
This song was featured in the hit movie “Get Out”. It is a horror movie with an underlying theme of racism, and director Jordan Peele has said that he intentionally used this song because it’s “stay woke” lyric fits the them[e] of the movie of being vigilant of racism.
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Does this song have a hidden meaning?
Like most of Childish Gambino’s last studio album, it can be perceived as an existential song. The hidden meaning depends on the listener’s perception. Some listeners have said he’s talking about a failing relationship with someone who was out of his league. Others say it’s about the systematic oppression in America. Seeing as how these two theories are so different from one another it is clear that the meaning is open ended, especially as Gambino himself has yet to confirm or deny any of the theories brought up by fans and listeners alike."
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"Redbone" is a colloquial African American term for African Americans (and other Black people) who have a reddish tinge to their skin.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/08/what-redbone-yellowbone-and-browning.html for a 2013 pancocojams post entitled "What "Redbone", "Yellowbone", and "Browning" Mean",
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LYRICS FOR AND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SONG "REDBONE"
(Childish Gambino & Ludwig Göransson)
[Verse 1]
Daylight
I wake up feeling like you won't play right
I used to know, but now that sh&t* don't feel right
It made me put away my pride
So long
You made a ni&&a* wait for some, so long
You make it hard for boy like that to go on
I'm wishing I could make this mine, oh
[Pre-Chorus]
If you want it, yeah
You can have it, oh, oh, oh
If you need it, ooh
We can make it, oh
If you want it
You can have it
[Chorus]
But stay woke
Ni&&as* creepin'
They gon' find you
Gon' catch you sleepin' (ooh)
Now stay woke
Ni&&as* creepin'
Now don't you close your eyes
[Verse 2]
Too late
You wanna make it right, but now it's too late
My peanut butter chocolate cake with Kool-Aid
I'm trying not to waste my time
[Pre-Chorus]
If you want it, oh
You can have it, you can have it
If you need it
You better believe in something
We can make it
If you want it
You can have it, ah!
[Chorus]
But stay woke (stay woke!)
Ni&&as* creepin' (they be creepin')
They gon' find you (they gon' find you)
Gon' catch you sleepin' (Gon' catch you sleepin', put your hands up now baby)
Ooh, now stay woke
Ni&&as* creepin'
Now, don't you close your eyes
But stay woke, ooh
Ni&&as* creepin' (they gon' find you!)
They gon' find you
Gon' catch you sleepin', ooh
Now stay woke
Ni&&as* creepin'
Now, don't you close your eyes
Source: https://genius.com/Childish-gambino-redbone-lyrics
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*These words are fully spelled out in this lyric.
"Clean" version of the line "ni&&as creepin'" is given as "they were creepin'".
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SHOWCASE VIDEO: Childish Gambino - Redbone (Live From The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon)
Donald Glover, Published on Jan 15, 2017
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Childish Gambino sings “they were creepin”.
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ADDENDUM: SELECTED COMMENTS ABOUT THE USE OF "THE N WORD" BY NON-BLACK PEOPLE
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kp7eSUU9oy
1. ChibiZone, 2017
"Is it ok for a non-brother to use the n word for this song?"
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REPLY
2. Socialhouse23 AZ, 2018
"ChibiZone clean version is they be creepyin but I fell doing it how it was written"
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REPLY
3. Liya Forever, 2018
"All u have to say is they be creepin"
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REPLY
4. burgerboy, 2018
"ChibiZone it's called use the words you want and stop worrying about if black people are offended by singing with THE LYRICS 😂😂😂😂 HILARIOUS! let's outlaw all the swear words!!!"
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REPLY
5. ChibiZone, 2018
"burgerboy aight. Just gotta confirm. Naamean?
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REPLY
6. burgerboy, 2018
"ChibiZone too tru"
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REPLY
7. Chris Brown, 2018
"The answer is no. Use other words instead. Don't risk the busted lip"
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REPLY
8. Shea Martin, 2018
"mmmm I wouldn't risk it. As a black person, just don't do it. If it we're just me around then sure but like. No."
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REPLY
9. Melanie Johsnon, 2018
"ChibiZone lmao hell no don't let these people get u done wrong ."
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REPLY
10. Melanie Johsnon, 2018
"burgerboy quit lying to him ."
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REPLY
11. Shea Martin, 2018
"Melanie Johsnon right like why are they tryna get him beat up"
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REPLY
12. Jonathan Joestar, 2018
"Its okay. But stay woke, ni&&a*'s creepin, they gon' find you, and give you a whoopin' ooh, now dont you close your eyes."
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*This word is fully spelled out in this comment.
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This concludes Part III of this pancocojams series.
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
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