The words are either this or that. I’m not sure.

I love the song “The Choice is Yours” by Black Sheep.  Recently, it’s gotten a resurgence of popularity because of those wacky hamsters in the Kia commercial.  I realize I’ve been singing the lyrics to this song since it came out in the early 90’s.  I sing ’em loud and proud, assuming for almost 20 years that I know every single word.  It’s occurred to me lately that I might not know the correct lyrics.  So… as an experiment, I will transcribe what I believe the words are and then look them up and see where I’ve gone wrong.

Here are the actual lyrics of the song.  The words I got correct will be in green and the words I screwed up will be in red.  The words I thought they were are below.  I wish I could put these side by side for more visual ease.  Some of my mistakes are quite hilarious.

Yo! Who’s the Black Sheep, what’s the Black Sheep?
Know not who I am, or when I’m coming so you sleep
Wasn’t in my room or wasn’t in this sphere
Knew not who I was, but listen here
Dres, D-R-E-S, yes I guess I can start
If it’s all right with you, I’ll rip this here one apart
Back, Middle, to the front, don’t front
Wanna a good time, wanna give you what you want
Can I hear a hey? [Hey!]
Now get a yo! [Yo!]
You gotta hay? [Huh!]
It’s for the hoes [Oh!]
The styling is creative, Black Sheep of the Native
Can’t be violated, or even decepticated
I got brothers in the Jungle, cousins on the Quest
Dead retarded uncles, in pea porridge may they rest
Guess, which way, what, when, how
Mista Lawnge, Dres, Black Sheep slam NOW
Know you heard the others, phonies to the lovers
Then of course, the choice is yours

You can get with this or you can get with that (X3)
I think you’ll get with this ’cause this is where it’s at
You can get with this or you can get with that (X3)
I think you’ll get with this ’cause this is kinda phat

Where’s the Black Sheep, here’s the Black Sheep
Even if we wanted to the flock could not be weak
Watch me swing like this, why should I swing it like that,
Because in fact, on me it might not attract
Therefore, I ignore, do as I feel inside
I live with me, I’ve got my back tonight
Ya know what I’m saying, yo Black, I’m not playin’
Need to go with this, and go with this with no delayin’
See, in actuality, one be can it be,
I made it look easy, because it is to me
Any time capacity was filled, try to rock it
Any time a honey gave us play, tried to knock it
Never was a fool, so we finished school
Never see us sweat, and you’ll never see us drool
Out to rock the globe while it’s still here to rock
Don’t punch girls, and we don’t punch a clock
Gotta go, gotta go, see you later by the cat
And you can’t beat that with a bat

You can get with this or you can get with that (X3)
I think you’ll get with this ’cause this is where it’s at
You can get with this or you can get with that (X3)
I think you’ll get with this ’cause this is kinda phat

Engine, engine number nine
On the New York transit line
If my train goes off the track
Pick it up, pick it up, PICK IT UP!

Back on the scene
Crispy and clean
You can try, but then why?
Cause you can’t intervene
We be the outcast
Down for the settle
Won’t play rock
Won’t play the pebble
Open the door
You best believe
We’re slidin’
Through it swiffft-ly

Niftily
We can make it
Hip to be
What we are
‘Cause
What we be
Be the epitome
Do Dah Dippity

So now I dwell
Just to say your plainer
Pull your coat
Cause I got the container
Pass the plate-ah
Cross the fader
Black Sheep get played
Like the Sony Innovator
Never the traitor
Party of later
And you can get a scoop
Later

I did a lot better than I thought I would.  I can’t believe what I thought was “do as I philaside” was actually “do as I feel inside” and that “deppa dawn and uncles” was actually “dead retarded uncles.”  And what the hell is “decepticated”?  Also, “Know you heard the others, phonies to the lovers” was not what I had been singing all along: “Know ya hurba hubbas, call yourself a lover” — that’s surprising.

Here are the words I transcribed first, as I thought they were, nonsense words and all:

Yo, who’s the black sheep, what’s the black sheep
Know not who I am or when I come inside your sleep
Wasn’t in your realm or in your sphere
Know not who I was b’nest then here
Pres, P-R-E-S
Yes, I get second start
If it’s alright with you, I’ll rip this here gun apart
Back, middle to the front, don’t front
Want a good time, gonna give you what you want
Can I hear a hey? Hey!
A giddio? Yo!
Ya got a have? It’s for the house
Cause darling it’s creative
Black sheep of the native
Can’t be violated or even decepticated
I got brothers in the jungle
Cousins on a quest
Deppa dawn and uncles, in the car is where they rest
Yes, which way, what way, how?
Mr. Long dress, black sheep slam now
Know ya hurba hubbas
Call yourself a lover
Then of course, the choice is yours

You can get with this or you can get with that (X3)
I think you’ll get with this ’cause this is where it’s at
You can get with this or you can get with that (X3)
I think you’ll get with this ’cause this is kinda phat

Where’s the black sheep?
Here’s the black sheep
Even if we wanted to, the clock cannot be beat
Cause we swing it like this, why should we swing it like that?
Because in fact, on me it might not attract
Therefor I ignore, do as a I philaside
I live with me, I’ve got my back tonight
Y’know what I’m sayin’?
Yo, black, I’m not playin’
Neither go with this and go with this with no delay
And see in actuality
One the canopy I make it look easy because it is to me
Anytime capacity, what’s up, try to rock it
Anytime a honey gave us play, try to mock it
Never was a fool, so we finished school
Never see us sweat and you’ll never see us drool
Out to rock the globe while it’s still here to rock
Don’t punch girls and we don’t punch a clock
Gotta go, gotta go, see you later by the cat
And you can’t beat that with a bat

You can get with this or you can get with that (X3)
I think you’ll get with this ’cause this is where it’s at
You can get with this or you can get with that (X3)
I think you’ll get with this ’cause this is kinda phat

Engine engine number nine
On the New York transit line
If my train falls off the track
Pick it up, pick it up, pick it up!

Back on the scene, crispy and clean
You could try but don’t work cause you can’t intervene
We be the outcasts, down for the setter
Won’t play rock, won’t play the pebble
Open the door, you best believe we’re sliding through it swiftly
Niftily, we could make it hip to be
What we are ’cause what we be
Be the epitome
Doo dah dippity
So now I dwell just to say it plainer
Hold your cup ’cause I got the container
Pass the plate up, cross the fader
Black sheep could play like the Sony innovator
Never a traitor, party of later
And you can get a scoop later

You can get with this or you can get with that (X3)
I think you’ll get with this ’cause this is where it’s at
You can get with this or you can get with that (X3)
I think you’ll get with this ’cause this is kinda phat

This experiment was quite insightful (and took fucking forever).  I think I will continue to sing my lyrics.  After all, I’m an awesome rapper.