Ice Cube’s “It Was A Good Day” Has Been Translated Into Shakespearean Language

FIRST BIGGIE… NOW CUBE

(AllHipHop News) The Royal Frontier is back with its latest installment of modern rap-to-Shakespearean series. After tackling The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Juicy” in August, Ice Cube has now gotten the translation treatment.

[ALSO READ: The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Juicy” Has Been Translated Into Shakespearean Language]

Words from the Hip Hop legend’s 1993 storytelling classic have gone from “Just waking up in the morning, gotta thank God” to “Awake, awake! I pray my thanks to God.” Memorable lines such as “Even saw the lights of the Goodyear Blimp, and it read ‘Ice Cube’s a Pimp'” have been converted to “My name and my colours blazon’d on high. ‘Exalt the fierce, young bawd,’ quoth Mercury.”

Prints of “Twas A Good Day” and “The Notorious Soliloquy” are available for purchase at society6.com. Read The Royal Frontier‘s “Twas A Good Day” below and compare the lyrics to Ice Cube’s “It Was A Good Day” at Genius.

[ALSO READ: Ice Cube Responds To Rap Genius Breakdowns For His “Straight Outta Compton” Lyrics (VIDEO)]

 

ice-cube-1

Awake, awake! I pray my thanks to God
For this strange day’s rare, wondrous fantasies.
The cur lieth quiet, air lieth light.
I alight on a meal fit for Shylock
And content myself with the light breakfast.
I received a letter from the maiden,
Whom I pray may finally share her fruits,
And I sent forth to attend her tonight.
Forecasting my future in plagued times
‘Fore casting myself out into my cart,
Delighting as did once the chariots.
Upon brief respite, mine eyes trace the grounds.
O what relief: the knaves are all scatter’d
And for the peace I often hold such strife.
A message arrived from a w####, O,
Whose watery moon glimmers through the night.
I seek the friends playing at bowls for sport
For I kiss’d the jack, desired mistress,
And won a brave game when last we played.
Upon the field, I triumph as Ares
Dreaming a dream that’s touched by fairies.

I returned home to cleanse my foul parts.
Following hair-breadth scapes, Fortune or merth
Quieted the tumult of yesterday.
The boasting enemy that haunts our land
Was haply struck by blindness and did not
Mark me in the manner of those false dogs.
We study lines at my pupil’s lodging
Till weary minds seek chance for sustenance.
Prepare up dice for playing at Bone-Ace.
Behold: not fullams, still the bones obey.
One-and-thirty, again one-and-thirty,
I vanquish my foes; no pip out today.
Crown-filled purse heavy, let us to sitting
For another victory at shove groat.
No soldiers struck down by sword or by maul
Zounds, more such days as these to us befall!

I put money in my purse and left to
Pluck a flower I have long admired
From a garden of herbs with ale mixed.
While my sailors thriv’d ‘gainst insolent foes
I hoisted myself upon a mountain.
The s##### pour’d like tide into the breach,
Plunged, descrying some secret treasure,
And the fierce event my flower wilted.
Awaken! We must obey the time. And
With nectar overflowing from her mouth.
I piloted her back to her garden.
Carouse again! Drank I the potation
And thrust myself apace into the dream
Belike some counterfeit realm of sweet luck.
The constables, now slumbering in peace,
Caged vile vultures that seek carrion.
We sup untroubled on beef and mustard,
My name and my colours blazon’d on high.
‘Exalt the fierce, young bawd,’ quoth Mercury.
Though I am pottle-deep, I hold my drink
While my messenger presents late letters.
I didn’t e’en brandish my rapier
Forsooth a dream, but never happier.