The other day while hacking away on some C++ code and listening to music, something occurred to me: if I’m programming in C++, shouldn’t the music I’m listening to be in the same language?

So I took a few verses from various random songs and coded up C++ translations of the lyrics. Here’s what I was able to hack together.

 
2Pac – Dear Mama

English:

When I was young me and my mama had beef
Seventeen years old kicked out on the streets
Though back at the time, I never thought I’d see her face
Ain’t a woman alive that could take my mama’s place

C++:

// When I was young me and my mama had beef
if (this->young()) {
    this->append(new Beef());
    mama.append(new Beef());
}

// Seventeen years old kicked out on the streets
// Though back at the time, I never thought I'd see her face
if (this->getAge() == 17) {
    this->remove(getShelter());
    this->seeFace(false);
}

// Ain't a woman alive that could take my mama's place
mama.replacement = NULL;

 
 
The Beatles – Hey Jude

English:

Hey Jude, don’t make it bad
Take a sad song and make it better
Remember to let her into your heart
Then you can start to make it better

C++:

// Hey Jude, don't make it bad
jude.it->make(!JudeState::BAD);

// Take a sad song and make it better
sadSong.improve();

// Remember to let her into your heart
jude.setReminder(new Event(JudeState::ENTER, jude.getHeart()));

// Then you can start to make it better
jude.it->make(JudeState::BETTER);

 
 
David Bowie – Man Who Sold The World

English:

Oh no, not me
I never lost control
You’re face to face
With The Man Who Sold The World

C++:

// Oh no, not me
// I never lost control
assert(this->control != NULL);

// You're face to face
// With The Man Who Sold The World
Man m;
m.sell(world);
you->setFacing(&m);
m.setFacing(you);

 
 
Lady Gaga – Born This Way

English:

Don’t hide yourself in regret
Just love yourself and you’re set
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born this way

C++:

// Don't hide yourself in regret
if (!you->visible && you->regret)
    you->visible = true;

// Just love yourself and you're set
you->love(you);

// I'm on the right track, baby
getTrack(Track::RIGHT)->set(this);

// I was born this way
assert(this->state == this->creationState);

 
 
The Police – Every Breath You Take

English:

Every breath you take
Every move you make
Every bond you break
I’ll be watching you

C++:

while(true) {
    switch(you->getEvent()) {

    // Every breath you take
    case BREATH:

    // Every move you make
    case MOVE:

    // Every bond you break
    case BOND_BREAK:

    // Every step you take
    case STEP:

        // I'll be watching you
        this->watch(you);
        break;

    default:
        assert(false);
    }
}

 
 
Kanye West – Power

English:

No one man should have all that power
The clocks tickin’ I just count the hours
Stop trippin’ I’m tripping off the power
Till then, fuck that the world’s ours

C++:

// No one man should have all that power
for(int i = 0; i < men.size(); i++) {
    Man* man = men.get(i);
    if (man->has(allThatPower))
        man->remove(allThatPower);
}

// The clocks tickin' I just count the hours
setTimer(1, &countHours);

// Stop trippin' I'm tripping off the power
you->tripping = false;
bool power = true;
this->tripping = power;

// Till then, fuck that the world's ours
if (getCurrentTime() != then) {
    that->fuck();
    world.setOwner(this);
}