George Washington vs William Wallace/Rap Meanings

George Washington:
There's a difference between you and me, Willy

(Washington opens by saying there's a difference between him and his opponent, William Wallace, which is explained in the next line.)

I fought 'till I was actually free, Willy

(Washington fought the American Revolutionary War against the British, for the autonomy of the British colonies. He led the Americans to victory and their freedom. For Wallace, it would take several years after  his death for the Scots to win independence. They would later confederate with England and Wales to form the UK. "Willy", short form of William, is being used as a pun; it's a reference to "Free Willy", the story of an orca's journey from captivity to freedom in the wild.)

I got my face on a quarter!

(George Washington's face is carved on the American quarter, the 25-cent coin.)

You got drawn and quartered,

(As a sentence to his crimes, Wallace got publicly hanged, choking to near death, then eviscerated, emasculated and disemboweled before being chopped in four bits—"quartered". The sentence, of which Wallace was one of the first victims, matches the actions; it is named "Hanged, Drawn and Quartered." Washington makes the contrast between his legacy found in every American's pocket and Wallace's horrible and disrespectful fate.)

Tortured on the orders of a king, really?

(Before being executed, King Edward I of England, Wallace's nemesis, had him brutally tortured, and Washington calls him weak for it.)

How'd you get beat by a dude named Longshanks?

(Longshanks is the nickname of Edward I of England, the king Wallace fought. Wallace successfully won against Edward several times, being a serious threat, but was ultimately defeated during the battle of Falkirk in 1298. Washington finds it ridiculous that Wallace got beat by a king with such a silly nickname.) 

You hot dogged and he cut off your bean franks

(A reference to the Hanged, Drawn and Quartered sentence where Wallace got his testicles (bean franks) cut out. Washington also says Wallace got hot dogged, hot dogging being a sexual action where a male puts his penis between the butt cheeks of another person without penetrating it.)

I'm money like a national bank

(Again, George Washington refers to how he appears on the quarter and the dollar bill. A National Bank has a lot of cash, Washington is saying he is much like a bank. George Washington also signed the bill allowing a National Bank to be created, even though many founding fathers like Thomas Jefferson disagreed and wanted it to be taken apart. The National Bank later became a huge success in American government decisions, even though many economists still claim Washington only did it for personal gain.)

Ain't nobody more street than Big G!

(Washington says he's got a lot of street cred. He has a massive reputation, which he details next. Washington Street is also a long street originating in Boston.)

Stone face with a grill of sheep teeth!

(Washington is often depicted as a stone-faced, or expressionless man. He also literally has his face carved into the stone on the side of Mount Rushmore, along with Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abe Lincoln. Reports indicate that he may have had dentures (a "grill") fashioned from wood and/or animal bone.)

A Mel Gibson movie is your legacy!

(In 1995, Mel Gibson directed and starred in a film called Braveheart about William Wallace, which got great reception and even won Best Picture at the Oscars, although it has been described as one of the most historically inaccurate modern films. Washington is saying that this film is the only surviving legacy of William Wallace's life, and that it being described as historically inaccurate, he is implying that Wallace should feel bad about it. Also, EpicLLOYD's portrayal of William Wallace in this rap battle is based on that of Mel Gibson in Braveheart.)

I got a state and a day and a DC!

(After stating that the only thing Wallace left behind was the "Braveheart" movie, Washington names several of his great homages: Washington is a state in the United States named after him. Washington's Birthday is a U.S. federal holiday, celebrated on the third Monday of February. Washington, D.C. is the capital of the United States, named in honor of George Washington.)

Stroke, roll up in a boat

("Stroke" is a word shouted by one person of the group rowing a boat to keep the rhythm, and an American is shouting it as he was among these people. It is a reference to Washington crossing the Delaware River in the night of December 25th-26th, 1776 with several boats.)

Stroke, you're sleeping, cut your throat

(The reason behind crossing the Delaware was to eliminate the garrison of British soldiers in Trenton, New Jersey. The battle happened early in the morning, so the British were either sleeping, drunk or celebrating Christmas, leaving little resistance for the rebels. Washington says he'll cut Wallace's throat while he sleeps like he did it to the British in Trenton.)

Stroke, I watch the blood flow, now who's got that red coat?

(With his throat cut, Wallace will bleed out to death, drenching his coat in red while Washington watches. There is a pun on the English soldiers during the Revolutionary War, who were nicknamed the redcoats (This nickname is also mentioned by Billy Mays in Billy Mays vs Ben Franklin, rapping against Ben Franklin, another Founding Father of the US).

William Wallace:
Look at ya in your little blousy outfit,

(Wallace starts his verse by calling attention to, then mocking Washington's 18th-century dress. The well-to-do in this era would wear frilly clothing, similar to Mozart in ERB 32. Wallace implies this to be very feminine.)

Looking like a stiffer white dick than your monument!

(The Washington Monument is an obelisk monument located in Washington D.C., built in honor of George Washington. Wallace makes fun of it by comparing it to an erect white penis, and says that Washington looks like a boring jerk and makes reference to the fact that richer people in that era would put white powder on their face.)

I'll knock you the fuck out, mate, you died owning slaves, I died setting men free (Scot free!)

(Wallace threatens to beat Washington senseless. He then says that while Washington owned African slaves, he fought to free the Scots from their bondage to English rulers. "I'll knock you the fuck out, mate" is also reminiscent of two memes parodying the "tough guy" speech: . It is also a term stereotypically heard during Scottish pub fights. The expression "Scot free" has a double meaning. It means to escape pursuers, which is what Wallace died doing. It can also be inferred as the Scotsmen themselves being free.)

'''That's the Highland way. This powdered prick couldn't beat me in a foot race!'''

(Scottish men, particularly those in the Highlands region, are cast as strong and iron-willed. Wallace says that based on this, he is manlier than Washington. Mocking Washington's powdered wig, common among men of stature in his time, Wallace says that he'd win a foot race against Washington easily.)

I was emasculated, eviscerated, I had my head chopped off and they put it on a pike,

(Wallace mentions how he was hanged, drawn, and quartered as well as being castrated.)

And I still find time to bust a Gaelic rhyme

(Continuing from the line above, despite being hanged, drawn, and quartered, he is still able to rap against Washington. Gaelic refers to the tribes of people living in Scotland and the Scottish language during Wallace's time.)

And rip your Yankee Doodle arse on the mic!

(Wallace claims he can rap well enough to beat Washington. "Yankee Doodle" is an old American folk tune originally composed by the British to poke fun at colonists. "Yankee Doodle", or just "Yankee" is a derogatory term for Americans, especially those in the northeastern United States, where early American wealth and power were concentrated.)

'''I'll knock your face off your moola, Alba gu bràth (Gu bràth!) Hoo-rah! (Hoo-rah!)'''

(George's face is on the American $1 banknote - slang for money can be called "moola". "Alba gu bràth" is a Scottish Gaelic phrase meaning "Scotland Forever". Wallace is saying he will thrash Washington so hard that he'll wipe his face off the banknote. The backing vocals come from Wallace's army cheering him on.)

Founding father but no children,

(Washington is labelled one of the most known Founding Fathers of the United States of America. However, this is his only legitimate "father" title as he didn't have any biological children with his wife, Martha. The only children he got to raise were those of Martha's older husband.) 

Crossed the Delaware, but your soldiers can't swim!

(One of Washington's most famous exploits was that of crossing the Delaware River, but, as was a common case in Washington's years, most of the soldiers he got with him were unable to swim. Wallace pokes fun at the idea of crossing a river when most of your soldiers are unable to swim. This is also another jab at Washington not having any biological children of his own, a sex joke with the 'soldiers' being the sperm and 'swimming' being the ejaculation in the womb.)

That's Washington, such a shite tactician,

(Wallace says his previous line was typical of Washington's ideas, demonstrating the General's lack of experience and skills.)

The fucking British Army didn't even want him!

(Washington never received a commission in the British Army, Wallace is saying even The British Army didn't want George in.)

'''I'm Wallace! And I'm flawless!'''

(Wallace reminds Washington of who he is facing and simply says he's flawless.)

Stay hid in your office or suffer great losses!

(Washington was the first president of the United States. Being president can be referred to as "being in office". Wallace suggests Washington to stay in his office instead of meeting Wallace and his army on the battlefield, because if he would, he would lose badly or 'suffer great losses'. Mel Gibson's Wallace made a similar threat on film toward the English.)

I pop my kilt, strap my sword in my hilt, step on the battlefield and I'm ready to kill!

(Simply put, Wallace says he's gearing up to take Washington down.)

Send all you politicians straight down to hell!

(Wallace is referencing how American politicians tend to be corrupt and says that Washington is one of them; thus, they all must be punished for their corruption.)

The only Washington I trust is Denzel!

(Wallace references the American actor Denzel Washington, saying that he trusts him rather than George Washington. This could also reference an interview with Denzel Washington where he says that he and Mel Gibson are friends. Wallace is also saying that despite Washington never telling a lie he still doesn't trust him.)

George Washington:
Is that the best you got for me?!

(Washington brushes off Wallace's insults as pity by asking if his lines are the best disses that Wallace can come up with.)

I chop down an emcee like a cherry tree!

(In a legend, Washington is said to have chopped down his father's cherry tree, and Washington honestly admits to his father about his wrongdoing. Washington is saying that he will chop down Wallace like he did to the cherry tree. The legend is also mentioned in Billy Mays vs Ben Franklin when Vince Offer says the line "Your boy George chopped down trees!")

'''See, power! That's what the meaning of my flag is!'''

(The United States is well known for being one of the most powerful nations in the world, and Washington states that his flag represents that power.)

Your nation's famous for golf and haggis!

(Scotland is stereotypically associated with golf, a sport they created (and which few outside the sport find interesting); and haggis, which is a pudding made of a sheep's heart, liver and lungs and prepared in the sheep's stomach. Washington is saying that in contrast to his nation's strength, Scotland is only known for mundane and redundant things.)

I'm fabulous from my head to my shoe buckle!

(In Washington's times, many people dressed very strict and well-fashioned, and shoes often had a buckle on them to keep them on. Washington is saying he is stylish. He is also comparing himself to Wallace's more wild and homely appearance.)

Step to me, you catch a knee to the moose knuckle!

(A moose knuckle is a male counterpart of the camel toe, where the shape of a man's genitals is seen through his pants. In other words, Washington is threatening to knee him in the crotch.)

'Cause I know you don't wear no draws

(Men in William Wallace's day and status didn't wear underwear, and George Washington is aware of this and so it will be easier to hurt Wallace by kneeing him in the crotch because there is no additional protection.)

I'm dressed like a pimp, best moves at the ball

(Another reference to how well-fashioned he and people of his time were. Washington also says he has the best dance moves at the ball, a type of rich party held where esteemed people would dance, drink and socialise.)

McGlavin, McGliven, McSchool you all!

(Washington throws his last punch at Scots in general, seeing as how so many have "Mac" or "Mc" in their surnames, which means "child of" and lists two examples. He basically says that he will "MC School" them all, or in other words, beat them and even teach them how to rap.)

Cock block more Scots than Hadrian's Wall!

(Hadrian's Wall was a wall built during Caesar Hadrian's rule over Ancient Rome. Its purpose was to fortify England (which was then Britannia) against the Celtic tribes to its north. "Cock blocking" has come to mean that one is using any means necessary (even cheap shots) to impede his opponent without the opponent recognizing that he's being impeded.)

William Wallace:
I don't give a shite bout your fancy clothes!

(Referring back to Washington's line about his fancy attire, Wallace says he doesn't care about how Washington fashions himself.)

You whipped all of those out of slave black folks

(From its founding until 1865, Americans made heavy use of slave labor from Africa. Many of these slaves had to work on plantations, where they'd grow cotton and other materials to make clothing from. Continuing from his previous line, Wallace says he does not care about Washington's clothes because he disapproves of the way they were made.)

Grew weed, then you made hemp rope,

(Washington owned a plantation farm at Mount Vernon, VA on which he grew a number of crops, including varieties of cannabis. Weed is the drug form, commonly known as marijuana. Hemp isn't nearly as potent, but is a strong material for ropes and textiles.)

But if you think you'll beat me, you must be having a smoke!

(Wallace scoffs at the thought of Washington beating him and, in reference to the above line and cannabis, says that Washington must be crazy to think he's winning. Cannabis can have mind-altering properties depending upon how it is grown and combined with other drugs.)

'''No joke! Don't tee off with me, laddie!'''

(Another golf pun; to tee off is to hit the ball off of the tee holding it in place, and also to make someone pissed. Wallace is warning Washington not to piss him off.)

If you held my balls, you couldn't be my caddie!

(A caddie is a person who follows a golf player with their equipment, including the player's golf balls. Balls is also a slang word for testicles. Wallace is saying that even if he were to carry his balls, he still wouldn't be near the level he is on.)

My style's ice cold, yours is old and shabby

(Wallace says that his rhymes hit hard, or are "ice-cold", the first usage of the term being before the 12th century, which is even before Wallace lived. He says that contrary to his, Washington's are mundane and re-used lines.)

You're the father of your country, but I'm your daddy!

(The expression "I'm your daddy" indicates superiority and "owning" someone. Wallace is saying that while George is known as the father of the U.S.A, he is still better than him. Wallace saying he owns Washington could reference Washington owning slaves. He is also claiming to be related to Washington due to Washington's British heritage.)