Cockney Translation (annotated)

 THE COCKNEY TRANSLATION

SMILEY CULTYRE

Cockney's not a Language, it is only a slang-a

And was originated yah so inna England

The first place it was used was over East London

It was respect for the different style pronunciation

But it wasn't really used by any and any man

Mi say strictly conman, also the villain

But through me full up of lyrics and education

Right here now you a go get a little translation

Cockney have names like Terry, Arthur and Delboy

We have name like Winston, Lloyd and Leroy

We bawl out YOW! While cockneys say OI!

What cockney call a Jack's, we call a Blue Boy (both terms for paper money)

Say cockney have mates, while we have spar (friends)

The Cockney live in a drum, while we live in a yard (house)

Say we get nyam, while cockney get capture (to eat hungrily)

Say cockney say guv'nor, we say Big Bout ya (big man about town)

Well watch a man...

The translation of cockney to understand is easy

So long as you don't deaf and you listen me keenly

You should pick it up like a youth who find some money

Go tell it to your friends, also your family

No matter if a English or a yardie

Ca' you never know when dem might buck up a cockney

Remember warm dem dem deh man dem don't easy

Dem no fire sling shot ah, mi say strictly double B (BB = smoking a Blunt in a Bathroom)

Dem run protection racket and control 'nuff C.I.D (Criminal Investigations Division = Scotland Yard)

Say cockney fire shooter, we bus' gun

Say cockney say tea leaf, we say sticks man

You know dem have wedge while we have corn

Say cockney say be first, my son! We just say Gwan! (go on!)

Say cockney say grass, we say outformer man (Grass = police informant)

When dem talk 'bout iron dem really mean batty man (both terms for a gay man)

Rope chain and choparita, me say cockney call Tom (both terms for prostitutes)

Say cockney say Old Bill, we say dutty Babylon (Old Bill = The Old Bailey = London Criminal Court)

But first let me tell you more about the cockney

Who live comfortably and have them yacht by the sea

And when it come to money most of then have plenty

But where them spend it? In thee bookie (betting parlour)

Lose it all on the dogs or on the gee gees (GG = good game = betting on both teams)

Or paying off them bribes to the Sweeney (Sweeney Todd = Flying Squad = the police)

So dem nah go do no time fi no armed robbery

Or catching anything that fell off the back of a lorry

But sometimes me shake out and leave me home town

And that's when me travel a East London

Where I have to speak as a different man

So that the cockney can understand

So black man and white man hear dem fashion

Cockney say scarper, we say scatter (Scapa Flow = go)

Cockney say rabbit, we chatter (Rabbit = Nuns 'n' Habits)

We say bleach, Cockney Knackered! (Christmas Crackers = Knackered - tired out)

Cockney say triffic, we say waaacked! (trific = terrific)

Cockney say blokes, we say guys

Cockney say Alright? We say Ites!

We say pants, Cockney say strides

Sweet as a nut, just level vibes