
This week the theme is to find a song based on nursery rhymes or fairy tales suggested by Di of pensitivity101
This came out when I was in college and I actually saw them (Black Sheep) in concert
Songfacts®:
- One of the great hip-hop party jams of the ’90s, “The Choice Is Yours” gets its energy from an array of obscure samples pieced together by William “Mista Lawnge” McLean, the producer in the duo, and the high-adrenaline flow of Andres “Dres” Titus, Black Sheep’s rapper. The pair went to school together in Sanford, North Carolina, then reconnected when they met up by chance in New York City, where Lawnge was under the wing of DJ Red Alert, a major player on the scene. Thanks to Red Alert, they connected with De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, and Jungle Brothers, becoming part of their Native Tongues collective. “The Choice Is Yours” is from their debut album, A Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing, which they made in the same studios where these other groups worked. This let them bounce ideas around and keep their creative juices flowing.
- The “choice” is between positivity and negative influences. If you can get with this, you’re on board with what Black Sheep has to offer: meaningful music and a good time. If you can get with that, well, you’re on your own.
- The “Engine Engine Number 9” bit comes from a schoolyard chant that was part of a game Dres played as a kid. “When we were kids playing tag, everybody would put their shoe in and you go around chanting, ‘Engine, engine, number nine, going down Chicago line. If my train goes off the track, do you want your money back?’ he explained to Passion Of The Weiss. “I felt like everybody played that, and everybody in the world is going to relate to it.”This bit also shows up in the 1970 Wilson Pickett song “Get Me Back on Time, Engine Number 9,” where he sings:Engine, engine number 9
Can you get me back on time?
[Intro]
Here they come yo, here they come
Here they come yo, here they come
This or that?
This or that?
This or that?
This or that?
This or that?
This or that?
This or that?
This or that?
[Verse 1: Dres]
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 realm, or wasn’t in your 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 joint apart
Back, middle, to the front, don’t front
Wanna a good time, gonna give you what you want
Can I hear a hey? (hey)
Can I get a yo? (yo)
You got a ‘hat? (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 departed uncles, in pea porridge, may they rest
Guess, which way, what, when, how
Mista Lawnge, Dres, Black Sheep slam… Now
Know you’ve heard the others, phonies to the lovers
Then of course, the choice is yours
[Hook: Dres]
You can get with this, or you can get with that
You can get with this, or you can get with that
You can get with this, or you can get with that
I think you’ll get with this, for this is where it’s at
You can get with this, or you can get with that
You can get with this, or you can get with that
You can get with this, or you can get with that
I think you’ll get with this, for this is kinda phat
[Verse 2: Dres]
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 playing
Need to go with this, or go with this with no delay and
See, in actuality, wonder can it be
I made it look easy, because it is to me
Any time capacity was filled, tried 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
[Hook: Dres]
You can get with this, or you can get with that
You can get with this, or you can get with that
You can get with this, or you can get with that
I think you’ll get with this, for this is where it’s at
You can get with this, or you can get with that
You can get with this, or you can get with that
You can get with this, or you can get with that
I think you’ll get with this, for this is kinda phat
[Break: Dres]
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!

Interesting song I kind of maybe have heard before. As they used to say on American Bandstand, it’s got a good beat and you can dance to it. I like that they lyrics don’t seem to be all nasty like lots of rap hip hop songs do. Those I can’t stand. Fun choice. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
yes, my kids went through a rap stage that was completely repulsive
LikeLiked by 1 person
New one to me, but I’m not a fan of rap so that’s not surprising.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m not anymore, but it does bring back memories.
LikeLiked by 1 person
hi this is new to me and well it great 😃👍👍
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great pick! I love this song!
LikeLiked by 1 person
brings back many memories
LikeLike
Well how much fun is this! I had never heard of the artists or the song, so this is a whole new experience- There is something about it that rings familiar but I cannot put my finger on it- so it probably something they are sampling into it. Great choice.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t know this one! A good song choice for this week, Christine! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like the premise. Impossible to listen to this without moving. That background voice got on my nerves though. I like them saying, “Don’t punch girls.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was so surprised when I was listening to all the songs presented in this week’s challenge because although they were mimicking nursery rhymes they had so much to say about equality and acceptance. It just seems like it came before its time, well that’s coming form a straight, white, female!
LikeLiked by 1 person
An interesting selection, Christine where rappers are telling me I can do, “This or that,” giving me a choice. I remember this song being very popular.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You know it is trendy but it does have a good message. One thing I have learned from you SLS challenges is that there is so much music out there that sends positive messages. I was watching this video on TikTok the other day where a guy was showing the difference between a rap song that was supposedly “song of the year” versus “Baby its cold outside” which was banned because of it being misogynistic! Crazy stuff!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It seems like everyone has an opinion when it comes to music and to run Song Lyric Sunday the proper way, I try not to be opinionated.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, please, you run it perfectly.
LikeLiked by 1 person