Wordy Rappinghood

"Wordy Rappinghood" is the debut single by American new wave band Tom Tom Club, from their 1981 self-titled debut album. It uses part of a traditional Moroccan children's song and game, "A Ram Sam Sam", made popular beyond its borders, by the 1971 Rolf Harris recording. In the United States, the song topped the Billboard Disco Top 80 chart along with "Genius of Love".

What are words worth? What are words worth? - words Words in papers, words in books Words on TV, words for crooks Words of comfort, words of peace Words to make the fighting cease Words to tell you what to do Words are working hard for you Eat your words but don't go hungry Words have always nearly hung me What are words worth? What are words worth? - words Words of nuance, words of skill And words of romance are a thrill Words are stupid, words are fun Words can put you on the run Mots pressé, Mots sensé Mots qui disent la verité Mots maudits, Mots mentis Mots qui manquent le fruit d'esprit What are words worth? What are words worth? - words It's a rap race, with a fast pace Concrete words, abstract words Crazy words and lying words Hazy words and dying words Words of faith and tell me straight Rare words and swear words Good words and bad words What are words worth? What are words worth? - words Words can make you pay and pay Four-letter words I cannot say Panty, toilet, dirty devil Words are trouble, words are subtle Words of anger, words of hate Words over here, words out there In the air and everywhere Words of wisdom, words of strife Words that write the book I like Words won't find no right solution To the planet earth's pollution Say the right word, make a million Words are like a certain person Who can't say what they mean Don't mean what they say With a rap rap here and a rap rap there Here a rap, there a rap Everywhere a rap rap Rap it up for the common good Let us enlist the neighborhood It's okay, I've overstood This is a wordy rappinghood, okay, bye What are words worth? What are words worth? - words What are words worth? What are words worth? - words He'll stop ... Don't stop ... Stop