George Watsky- S for Lisp [Poetry]

Featuring/hosting at the 2010 Collegiate National Poetry Slam Finals
Cutler Majestic Theater, Boston
There's no high quality video of this poem floating around, so thought I should post it. Enjoy!

[@mattk.7715]

Killed it, he fucking killed it. He just ripped that shit in half and spat on it all with a lisp. Epic

[@fraavezskyrim]

k

[@OmegaLordXD]

@@fraavezskyrim epic

[@oogabooga3395]

professor what questions would come in the exam today?

[@questioneverything.1178]

Today's episode is brought to you by the letter "S".

[@RC-RC26]

Fuck yess

[@l5-cs.]

yes lol

[@presidentobeng]

Or, “Th”

[@notahotshot]

*The letter eth.

[@jay-rgama]

​@@notahotshot 😂😂😂😂😂 completely caught me off guard

[@lot24]

"If you suppose your speech is normal, it's cause your impediment is listening" whaaaatttt.....

[@SoundEverMore]

+lot24 Such rekt.

[@chloedoe6387]

He's saying that if you think that your speech is "normal", then you clearly don't listen, because everyone speaks differently.

[@megacosmic6507]

Just Another Nobody But the norm is by definition not having a lisp, so saying someone who doesn't have one doesn't listen is contradictory to the meaning, which suggests you shouldn't judge people, which is exactly what he just did.

[@wwerdo4]

"the norm by definition is not having a lisp" Pretty sure "norm/normal" has it's own definition. He isn't saying that someone who doesn't have one doesn't listen. He's saying that everyone speaks in different ways, lisp is just the prime example because it relates to him. His primary point is that we don't judge the way we speak, only impose that judgement on others. He says in the beginning that he didn't know he had a lisp until someone brought it up to him. He thought he spoke "normal". "If you suppose your speech is normal, it's cause your impediment is listening" - IE. You probably don't sound how you think you do. You don't hear the subtleties in you you're own because you've grown accustomed to hearing yourself. Don't judge people by the way they speak, instead judge them by what they are saying.

[@zaraeraesmith7510]

I thought he was saying that in general most people don't have speech impairments so if you only listen blindly when someone tells you what they think is right and you don't question it, than you don't end up with anything original to say and you won't have an original way to say it.

[@Laando_]

"If you think your speech is normal, that's because your impediment is listening."

[@SuperYOUCUTE]

can u tell me what that means please? sorry i have a little brain

[@mythnyx3791]

SehunIsAGoldenFrenchFry He’s saying everyone speaks differently, and to point out that one person speaks differently is a dick move because the person pointing it out speaks differently than everyone else too.

[@jamalafon-white470]

SehunIsAGoldenFry Not your IPEDIMENT is listening, your impediment is LISTENING

[@DDs0815]

Suppose not think

[@MagicalCipher]

SehunIsAGoldenFrenchFry Ive been obsessing over this question since I've heard this phrase so thx for asking.

[@senselesseldritch]

Jesus, he has a lisp but the best rapper ever.

[@djjhhuihhh3308]

he was actually at warped tour one year? the name sounds familiar, I was at warped tour and a few friends left the packed to see someone named Watsky so I wonder if its the same

[@jackdonnelly6468]

2014, I believe

[@XxthefailnessxX]

+Jack Donnelly yeah 2014, best warped I went to yet

[@jdoubledizzle8424]

Awesome rapper yes. Best rapper ever? No.

[@arlofinch4628]

he went 2017 too and i met him. really sweet guy

[@RiotWorsley]

why am i just finding the best part of youtube now!?!?!?

[@theladyinsane]

Welcome :D

[@theladyinsane]

Welcome :D

[@Mzcooki3x333]

youtube after midnight

[@autozone5695]

Stephanie Tran you forgot the #

[@Sarah-nf5uw]

you found it 3 years earlier than me. congrats.

[@FlailedTwo]

"Sixth grade kids call me sofa king" lmao this is great

[@LaurierLachance]

Could you plz explain this line to me?

[@bassmek21]

kinda late but "sofa king" what??

[@FlailedTwo]

@@bassmek21 Look up "I am sofa king" - it was more or less that. It was very popular in middle/high schools in the 2000s. It was later revisited by a lot of different artists like Watsky and MF Doom (DangerDoom), comedians, etc.

[@ApocalypticOwl]

I've always known that he had a lisp because I also have a subtle lisp, so when I found this poem of him confronting comments about it, he made me feel really empowered. I usually felt the need to hide my lisp, and I thought that I couldn't do spoken word because it was extremely hard to pronounce 's', but he made me think otherwise, and now I do spoken word to hopefully empower others that feel like I felt about my lisp.

[@maliquehoang5870]

k

[@probsofbeingafangirl7441]

I've had a lisp my whole life, and I was seriously considering speech therapy. I listened to this poem and immediately cancelled my first appointment. Thank you, Watsky.

[@onemelissa2003]

Had a lisp my whole life...been made fun of over half of it. and I don't give a crap what people think about my speech impediment! This rocked! Thank you!

[@aklion4311]

I have lisp too

[@kayerachebahtah9972]

me too

[@dmitrijones3064]

oh no... you had a lisp and your name is Melissa Smith?! I'm sorry, that sounds even more difficult, and my heart goes out. I have a stammering problem

[@onemelissa2003]

That's my married name... Lmao... Ha ha..

[@mcpheefan21]

"And if you suppose your speech is normal, it's because your impediment is listening."

[@AA76648]

Love that part

[@AtticusCougar]

So someone said to me the other day I've got a lisp A stranger, you know, they said I've got a subtle lisp And I should know I sound a little stupid doing spoken word When all my words with "S" in them are spoken so absurd And I'm not upset, okay it just sucks To think you're speaking normally for two decades And then shucks- Find out your stuff sounds like a stanza of Severus Snape's toughest parseltongue is pronounced by Daffy Duck So I will say this: My subtle lisp is not sinful I'm not sorry Saturday, I'm not sorry Sunday; I'm spiritual and when I speak I celebrate the Sabbath seven days a week I've got special S sauce smothered on my skull walls like a tossed salad so silkscreen the Sistine ceiling on my soft pallet I sing along with super scenesters Reciting Sufjan Stevens songs in skinny jeans Dance salsa with soccer moms Sneaking out in skimpy see-through sarongs I will answer your questions in stout With my sexy subtly lisping sparkling incisor small What's my surname? Watsky What's my size? Stocky My city? San Francisco It's so sweet, now slow See, I've heard some steamy stories of oral sex But I'm not stretching to say one time I made a lady climax by speaking an essay section Of a Shakespeare sonnet in her split legs' general direction I scribble all S-Essays I shred them and sprinkle the whole S-ashes My speech doesn't give a spotted sea snail if it passes I slipped past straight Fs to straight Ss in my classes Because my speech stay second-semester senior status Seriously so so so so soon So sick sixth grade school kids call me sofa king I'm on tongue steroids Slammin' with the Sammie Sosa swing So tight I sleep upright in a small cell in Sing Sing And sail the seven seas on Steve Irwin's stingray While your speedboat's sinking It's still too soon Anyway, screw an S.S.O.S I'm straight S.S.S for Save Someone's Standards Studied at Emerson; the school of savage speech Sup, Stanford? I spit sexier than Summer Sanders, Sarah Silverman Susan Sarandon, Sissy Spacek, Sally Struthers, and Selena Spooning in a 6-way same-sex all S celebrity civil union So, you can slander the gay lisp And I will slip you a solid list of friends Or 60% of Emerson; who Lisp or no lisp, will stomp, spit, stay pissed And start all over on the racists You can save the South Korean stereotypes The Sambo shtick The sexist shit is sickening And if you suppose your speech is normal Its 'cause your impediment is listening Speak for those of us with something special Something that sets us aside from my- Accent havers, my... stammerers My southerners, my st-st-stutterers Yes, I will spit it sick and stick to never skipping "S" 'Cause I was- Suckin' on a soup spoon and I suckled it to sterling silver Simple, supple, super soaker Staying watching Sister Sister Scenage syllables coming esophagus Move up there this place is Sufferin' succotash Second place isolate oxygen There's no stopping this I start this step of speaking You should see that I will not desist I'm sorry! 'Cause see, if you don't like a subtle lisp Then you can simply suck on thissssssss

[@kittygoesWOOF]

thank you ❤

[@AtticusCougar]

❤️

[@garystfu4039]

watsky... oh my god, i love this.

[@SuperBellyflop]

i think my ears just came

[@mina0rahman]

SuperBellyflop it's just wax bruh.

[@lostinsauce4515]

@@mina0rahman Idk man this wax just got my girl pregnant this might be the real thing

[@thomaswilks8534]

As a person with not a very subtle lisp I appreciate this.

[@larslingle2258]

Despite being a beautiful poem, this is just a really long "Fuck You" lol

[@Cheyenne.b.castillo]

The best kind of fuck you

[@loladog3247]

I still get chills every time I watch this. Especially when he says "And if you suppose your speech is normal it's 'cause your impediment is listening." Damn.

[@ShelbyHumeny]

I've had a lisp my whole life and gone thru speech therapy before but it hasn't gone away I've never heard my lisp except when it's recorded and played back mine is a bit more than subtle. Thank you so much for this and also who put the letter s in the word lisp? Like the fuck dude.

[@reginelhre5130]

Same person who decided on the word dyslexia, I imagine.

[@---------------1]

Regine Løhre and stutter

[@gandalfbengsston7247]

Rabi Sulaiman and hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia

[@---------------1]

GandalfBengsston fear of fucked words?

[@Xomsabre]

Rabi Sulaiman Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia is the fear of long words...it's 3 letters longer than Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious and even the "shortened" version of the word is long (sesquipedaliophobia). I'm glad to see someone else who knows of this oxymoronic word xD it's been my favorite phobia since 7th grade. I also have to agree with sex daily....I have it myself, makes reading difficult....(sex daily is an anagram for dyslexia).

[@zma314125]

HOLY SHIT... this dude went HAM on "S"

[@zeloudgoddess5848]

I think I just fell in love. hahahahaha. Watsky, you're amazing. Do not *ever* listen to the haters. You've made some of the best videos and songs that has been created in a while.

[@fleenbiz]

Damn straight

[@awyea1801]

You have to listen to haters because what if you are actually doing something wrong or it could be better and they are saying that you should. But if its just someone saying "ur a fagot" then its like ok whatever.

[@zeloudgoddess5848]

aw yea If there's someone that is trying to direct you and help you to become better, then that's not a hater. Haters are people you are hateful and ridiculously critical for no reason. Yes, everyone has an opinion and I respect that, but there's no reason to be a prick about it.

[@marimarimeow]

he gives the haters a hug

[@sriosdom]

this is the greatest self-esteem boost

[@kbergrgb]

i don't think anyone has said that many Words that start With S in 3 min then this dude LOL

[@acorn3638]

"It's because your impediment is listening"

[@acorn3638]

I cannot explain how joyful this made me. As someone who celebrates a slight lisp when speaking. ^_^

[@KeyloWick]

This is the first video I ever seen, years ago. I didn't actually hear your music until recently this year. It than took me about a month to figure out they were both you! Love the come up man! Don't let that shit die!!

[@darienmckenzie7729]

this is something amazing tf watsky ur mind be crazy

[@notymexx5451]

Right

[@emiliemessier3616]

There are no words to express the profound impact you create by saying what needs to be said even though you get slapped right side up the head for it. You're such an inspiration keep going!

[@orphscookie8047]

the attention to detail in delivery with the stammering on stammer and with other words is just perfect.

[@firn6795]

Honestly I never noticed his lisp until I saw a KZbin comment mentioning it...

[@SuperSK96]

This poem is very inspiring 'cause I've got a lisp too. It improved through the years but I still have it and this poem makes me feel like I can actually be proud of it 'cause it's a part of me so why should I be ashamed about it? I think it's wonderful how he performs in front of such a huge audience even though he has a lisp, respect George! That just shows how unimportant it is to have a well...let's call it a 'speaking problem' because the only thing that really matters is what you've got to say!

[@snoopy154]

I'm the exact same! I was always self conscious about my lisp until recently

[@foxman482]

I don't know about you guys but I happen to love the way he pronounces s's

[@sthepannylavanwaycruz9162]

this is the best, the longest, and the most intricate way to say, "fuck you," and i believe that is beautiful.

[@WalkingDeadKiller]

Well done, Watsky. You've inspired millions of people with lisps around the world, including me. :')

[@theejabroni]

This, this shit right here is why i love watsky.

[@misfitforever15]

I know how you feel 16 years I thought my voice sounded normal but nope apparently I have a lisp, like damn people could have at least told me sooner

[@michaelwilliams2329]

I actively still come back to this year after year. One of my favorite creators/writers

[@puunk_9240]

Every now and then I come back to this poem and FUNKe's video and it makes me feel a lot better. Thank you.

[@LadyBradlow]

I also didn't know I had a lisp for most of my life! This poem makes me feel powerful

[@DrudeAshling]

somebody needs to make a sollux video of this

[@ieatpie315]

+Drude Ashling *HS Unite*

[@ursusaeon]

+Drude Ashling That would be great

[@flyingmonkeycloud]

I love you watsky. So much. I've watched this poem like a hundred time, at least, and it still gives me chills to listen to everything you make.

[@jpommells]

still watching this 3 years later and I always have to stop what I'm doing to listen. THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING

[@whitewaterflint]

I LOVE HIM SO MUCH. OH MY GOD. I've had a lisp my whole life and aways was bullied for it. My lisp is subtle like his but oh lord do people make fun of it and point it out. This is so inspiring

[@cazzenova9286]

Does George Watsky have lisp, or did he create a lisp effect for the poem? I love his music either way!

[@keithflood9776]

He has a subtle lisp.

[@jamesmason3503]

He did have a pretty bad one but its gotten less noticable

[@paulbouffard3449]

He had a bad one, you should listen to his Ted Talk it is really good.

[@ZEERODO]

I've seen this a million times. It is still FIRE

[@eatmyass4574]

"And if you suppose your speech is normal, its 'cause your impediment is listening." So triumphant. I love it so much.

[@WardiGirl]

holy fuck, that was awesome

[@TheDustingGamer]

I almost wish I had a lisp now.

[@seanwest9944]

I do

[@ugroundlyrics2637]

TheDustingGamer no you dont, its really annoying and is slowly driving me to depression, its embarrasing for me to speak, trust me you dont want one.. however im trying my best, and even trying to rap :P.

[@ivangartenhaus4276]

Im2Fat2Pvp There are different kinds of lisps ,isn't it ?

[@ugroundlyrics2637]

Ivan Gartenhaus yes there is, sorry for late reply, ive been on holiday.

[@ivangartenhaus4276]

Im2Fat2Pvp holidays are good, lisps are not. actually I think some of them are quite nice to be honest.

[@SilenceKillsLovers]

I'm really impressed! With or without lisp the delivery was perfect & saying anything with that many of the same sounds in a row is hard PERIOD!

[@Osie0507]

I am never going to be done finding the diamonds like this on the internet is what ive realized. I search your name and still i find the best content by just rolling through your videos i watch the most and seeing the suggestions. Good gracious i love you George Watsky :)

[@XxAvery12]

This made me feel good about my lisp. :)

[@KazzieBB]

My god he's perfect.

[@apatternedhorizon]

I remember watching this back in the day. He's always been incredible.

[@sillysloth261]

I loved all this content when it first came out, and still play it now.

[@christinek1389]

Is it weird that actually love his lisp?😍

[@fabio-vb7xu]

nope

[@Lovatic4Life19]

I hate when people tell me that sht like i dont already know -_- i can hear myself speak!

[@LilyBlossom1337]

I think girls with a lisp are sexy~

[@rachellaforge3598]

Stalker.....^^^^

[@maggiehays2167]

^^ no need to be a bitch he's trying to be nice

[@Lovatic4Life19]

Who the fuck are u talkin about?

[@hannahrose9887]

OMG! I'm in love!😍😍 George, you're the best! Don't EVER forget that!

[@BeauKnows147]

Every single Watsky video I watch blows my fucking mind, no matter how many times I've watched it. I can't get enough...

[@ImJTizzle]

Severus Snape doesn't speak parseltongue..

[@laurenreaves4444]

😂😂

[@ImJTizzle]

5 year update: This still bothers me 😂

[@ItsMeLouJee]

He went so much more in and was so much better when he did this at the concert I went to =) he was a boss hog

[@autumn2784]

i watch this vid like 10 times every month for the past 5 or so years and every single time I realize how underrated the line "And if you suppose your speech is normal, it's because your impediment is listening."

[@imaspecialgirllalala]

I wish I had heard of you like 10 years ago, but I’m glad it’s better let than never. You’ve helped me so much George, hope to attend your concerts and meet you one day.

[@TheDiande]

This happened to me once, someone told me I had a slight lisp when I talked , and it really surprised me since I never noticed

[@neisha9200]

ME TOO AND NOW IM GETTING REALLY SELF CONSCIOUS

[@MakeSushi1]

good

[@sarahbecker4649]

One of my all time favorite poems, honestly I listen to your work because memorizing and repeating it helps me work on my own small stammer. So excited for the new album xx

[@marybeth4776]

I’m still coming to watch this in 2019..👏🏻👏🏻💕

[@AdariiRose]

I have a lisp and someone close to me told me to watch it and I fucking love them for showing me this

[@D3MONtheDarkone]

War sky's grammar teacher must be proud of him

[@D3MONtheDarkone]

Are you serious WARSKY!!!!! i meant watsky!!! I quit typing comments with my iphone i quit im done

[@bramonkey1]

D3MONtheDarkone it still sounds hella epic

[@Tortoisetree11]

I've been a huge fan for about 10 years. I still remember the first time a friend of mine showed me one of your earlier videos. Your poetry and music was always very inspiring to me. Lately my life has hit a pretty major rough patch, long story short after a car accident I found myself disabled and now have to walk with the assistance of a cane. But I always remembered your words and your message and you have truly inspired me to keep going. Starting over, relearning, adapting, and adjusting doesn't have to be the end of the world. I see it as an opportunity in fact, and your art is something that helped me get to that good place. Hope you're still out there making the world a better place watsky!

[@BaldingClamydia]

I love this so much I come back to listen occasionally and share it with anyone I can

[@HanDidAThing]

I have a weird love for this in that, I don't have a lisp when I speak comfortably with friends, but my problem is that I have social anxiety. When I speak comfortably with friends no one ever thinks I have any "sexy subtly lisp," but the moment I speak aloud in front of people I don't know I try so hard to make sure every vowel is clear, and perfect that the moment I get to an 's' something translates wrong and suddenly I'm lisping; and then I'm freaking out inside and leaving rooms because I practice so hard to say every word just right and I blew it with an s. This makes me feel better, late sure, but it comes and I don't feel like such a twat for blowing my one moment to look like a regular human with confidence.

[@haleykuhns8818]

I have the exact same problem, but along with the lisp I stutter

[@ciara8843]

Instead of a lisp for me, it's just stuttering, but otherwise I speak perfectly normally. Anxiety sucks.

[@Stephanie0420]

Watsky 😍👌🏻

[@cheripittman8546]

This is so awesome thanks for standing up for the different speakers and thinkers you are so bomb thanks

[@MrSirMercer]

Watsky. You have two microphones?

[@tlg1021]

I think he was hosting and thats why he had the earpiece mic. and they had the regular mic for the performers and it just made more sense for him to stand at the regular mic to perform this.

[@JackBradleyyy]

Aint no shame in my lisp. Tongue thrusters unite!

[@dtamre93]

This is his finest work... Hearing this in person WAS AMAZING

[@avibrantsoul]

Oh man. Watsky. Thank you for this!! I’ve been doing audio at work for the courses I build. I’ve always handed that to a professional in past jobs, and although praise for being really articulate and good at speaking/reading aloud....the lisp. I’m now in a place that doesn’t mind it and when audio needs recorded for a course we’re publishing and the SME doesn’t want to speak, they have me do it! But listening to myself on full stereo repeat, editing every detail, and seeing clearly in the spectral display where my tongue sneaks out between my teeth to try and make yet another word thpotlight that thexthy lithp. Le sigh. I had intense speech therapy as a kid and, while you all can now tell if I am talking about my next door neighbor Juan or my brother Ron (a running family point of humor for many years), my S never really got to that winners circle. I finally sat down this morning and started researching tips and exercises to work on this myself so that my future recordings don’t require so much damn effort and editing finesse. Then I came across this. While I’m still going to work on it, when I get frustrated in the audio editing process, I’m 100% going to pause and give myself a moment of owning it solidarity. Thank you! This is fantastic. 🤜🤛

[@michaelgeithmann801]

haha MCLOVINNNNNN

[@aria6136]

Dude I can't even pronounce Tests without it being a two syllable word

[@nicolegoodrich7039]

The way you talk is why I like your art of works and I really like your rhyming.

[@holyunfaithfull]

I remember finding you so many years ago.crazy to see you grow. How I love spoken word.

[@lordgoldenhand]

Nobody's really brought up my lisp, which is weird because they bring up how I pronounce R's, when my S' are way more prominent.

[@mirandaarocho6592]

I don't get it. Does he have a lisp or something?

[@letzxmartinez4931]

Yes

[@fintan2256]

I can't tell he has one

[@hilarylittle657]

Let's just hope your joking. If not your pretty dumb 😂😂😂

[@DaltonnFun]

you're*

[@mikeambrose3410]

^^ thank you

[@deepemissions]

This video never gets old.

[@ottobrowne9169]

I have just finally been introduced to Watsky because of SourceFed and I have to say.... He's extremely talented and he's now become one of my favorite people to watch or listen to. Shoutout to Watsky for being such a G.

[@merissali1838]

Um... Alliteration?

[@AnimationPsychoAnalysis]

Shit! So now I seem to say 'S' so many times that it's starting to sound silly.

[@extraextralovely]

Words can not express the amazingness or awkward cuteness of Watsky.

[@updation.]

12 years later and this is still one of the most impressive spoken word performances I've ever seen

[@Eggthan324]

I lisp my s's, especially since I got my braces.

[@Squishy6452]

It will be 10 times worse if you have to get an expander.

[@cobinmillage2407]

I agree with squishy. That shit was terrible.

[@TheJeremiah3004]

That was "sick".

[@alinr11]

This is honestly my all time favorite watsky video. Really inspiring.

[@soulraider3919]

I knew it!!! Fastest rapper in the west...able to leap tall ERB in a single bound... it's a bird - it's a plane - it's super WATSKY!!!! Huge fan This was an immense surprise. Best surprise ever. Thank you for sharing your gifts with all of us

[@avalanchefan7497]

K. For a second I thought it was a high school poem and i was like o shit and then he started gettin sexual and i was just like WHAT THE FUCK!? lmao

[@Thatguy3339]

Wait, but Snape doesn't speak Parseltongue, Salazar Slytherin would have fit better. Just saying.

[@chelexcarera1351]

Seriously? That's what you took away from this? Lol.

[@Thatguy3339]

Yes, I have an obsession okay?

[@AZxTu]

I went to speech therapy for most of my childhood for a severe lisp and stutter. This is incredibly empowering. Thank you for what you do.

[@KittensLastStand]

Hey Watsky. Right now I'm just a kid in a small town noone knows about but I really look up to you. I have a lisp that I like to try and hide. I dont know why I ever did after I heard that. So thankyou. I appreiciate you and what you do and I like all the songs I've listened to.

[@sixstringedwithabowl]

Holy shit, Alphabet aerobics sounds pathetic compared to this.

[@jarjargod5127]

sixstringedwithabowl Hey buddy, I know it's been a year since you made this comment but I just wanted to say: This outdoes even Alphabet Insanity, I mean, not to hate on Mac Lethal, but he's got nothing on the pure skill and talent possessed by George V. Watsky

[@Jacob-gq7id]

Alliteration at it's finest.

[@davidmorgan2021]

+Jacob Horrell I believe it's consonance in this case :P Same concept tho

[@Jacob-gq7id]

shut up nerd

[@zoedujour]

This just have me chills. Holy cow.

[@jcarnz90]

This has GOT to be my favorite poem by him.

[@goddamnitzoe]

he's the lisping eminem

[@ck-im3vu]

He ain't no one but himself.