Beyoncé ft. Shatta Wale – 'Already' Review, Lyrics, and Translations

Beyoncé ft. Shatta Wale – 'Already' Review, Lyrics, and Translations

Already Cover

Singer, Beyoncé gave her fans a taste of her much-anticipated Black Is King visual album when her ‘Already’ video hit the internet a few hours before the album premiered on Disney. The song features Ghanaian dancehall king, Shatta Wale, and Jamaican-America EDM master Major Lazer. The song was initially a part of Beyoncé’s 2019 Lion King Album ‘Lion King: The Gift' and together the trio made magic.

Although the song was released last year, the video gives it an entirely new meaning with its promotion of PAN-Africanism. The ‘Already’ video which has garnered over 10 million views on YouTube, opens with a 30-second prologue from the 'Lion King' movie. In it, Rafiki can be heard encouraging a young Simba to look within to discover his roots. This brief conversation sets the tone for the song - Beyoncé's message is to find your roots and to embrace the African culture.

Africa Is Royalty

The video was more than just a stunning visual - scenes from the cameo paid tribute to Africa’s culture and heritage. The bluish-green man (dancer Stephen Ojo) shown throughout the video depicts Hapi – the Egyptian god of fertility. The lip plate accessories seen in the video represents the Surma and Mursi people of Ethiopia and the Bororo face piece celebrates the Fulani nomadic women. The singer also styled her hair in Bantu knots, with a Zebu headpiece, and a green gele - all to represent various African cultures. Also, the video depicted cattle, cowries, and gold to showcase Africa’s traditional currency.

One of our favorite high points from the video was when Beyoncé and the bluish-green man did the 'zanku/gbese' dance - a dance indigenous to Nigerians. The "Already" song was produced by Beyoncé and the video was directed by Parkwood Entertainment in collaboration with various creatives. We believe both the video and lyrics perfectly convey a very important message.

The words to the song are mostly in English with a hint of pidgin English. Watch the video below and follow along with the lyric translations.

Beyoncé, Shatta Wale, Major Lazer – ALREADY (Official Video)

Lyrics and Translations

Chorus

Long live the King, you a king, you know it
King already, already, you know it
Top everything, everything, you know it
King already, already, you know it
Mind, body, soul, got a king body
Body gon' shine, bling-bling, body
Callin’ all the shots, ring ring, bodyThe crown on your head got a king body

Post-Chorus

Long live the King, you a king, you know it
King already, my baby, you know it
Top everything, everything, you know it
King already, already, you know it
Shine already, it’s time already
The line already, it’s time already
Shine already, it’s time already
The line already, it’s time already

Refrain

Try to stop it, me say no, no, no
Royalty, say don’t you know, know, know
Try to stop it, me say go, go, go, go
Bubble up and watch it grow, grow, grow, grow

Verse 1

Every King be ruler, be ruler, yeah
Every warrior, dey conquer, yeah [“dey” in this form refers to ‘the state of being” every warrior conquers]Every King be stronger, yeah
King, dey rule them longer, yeah (Osh) [ “dey” in this form refers to ‘the state of being” King rules them for longer, yeah ]
Remember who you are, ooh (Osh)Real King always win, oh (Osh)
You for be brave, oh (Osh)
And show your people more love (Osh) It's time already. I say it's time already (Osh) Inline already, I say inline already (Osh) Only you got the remedy. I say you got the remedy (Osh)
Shine your body, shine your body

Chorus

Long live the King, you a king, you know it
King already, already, you know it
Top everything, everything, you know it
King already, already, you know it
Mind, body, soul, got a king body
Body gon' shine, bling-bling, body
Callin’ all the shots, ring ring, bodyThe crown on your head got a king body

Post-Chorus

Long live the King, you a king, you know it
King already, my baby, you know it
Top everything, everything, you know it
King already, already, you know it
Shine already (Already). It's time already (Already) Inline already (Already), it’s time already (Already)
Shine already (Already). It's time already (Already)
Inline already (Already), it's time already (Already)
Shine already (Already). It's time already (Already)
Inline already (Already), it's time already (Already)
Shine already (Already). It's time already (Already)
Inline already (Already), it's time already

Refrain

Try to stop it, me say no, no, no
Royalty, say don’t you know, know, know
Try to stop it, me say go, go, go, go
Bubble up and watch it grow, grow, grow, grow

Verse 2

Diamonds on my fist, fighting demons, y’all
Come and rest your head, take your crown off, oh
Woke up in a foreign, need to take it slow, oh
He said I’m moving too fast, need to take it slow, oh
Take it slow, oh
Take it slow, oh
Tryna take my baby home, oh
Take it slow, oh (Osh)

Verse 3

Remember who you are, ooh (Osh) Real King always win, oh (Osh)
You for be brave, oh (Osh)
And show your people more love (Osh) It's time already. I say it's time already (Osh) Inline already, I say inline already (Osh) Only you got the remedy. I say you got the remedy (Osh)
Shine your body, shine your body (Ah)

Outro

Be your own KingMake nobody come to rule your world (Yo, yo, yo, yo) Be your own KingMake nobody come to rule your world (Ah) Be your own KingMake nobody come to rule your world (Yo, yo, yo, yo) Be your own King make nobody come to rule your world long live the King, you a king, you know it
Top everything, everything, you know it
Show them the way, you know it
You know it, you know it.

About the Author

Dolapo A.


Dolapo enjoys keeping others informed through his writing and also holds a master’s degree in Animal Science.

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