Mr. Sims and Mr. Medley:[]
You can't just go sta-retting with Sims and Medley
(Mr. Sims and Mr. Medley tell Ms. Williams and Mr. Powell not to “go sta-retting” with them, a double-pun on “go starting”, as in to attempt to fight, and “stretto”, a musical term for two voices overlapping in a song. Ironically, the beginning of Sims and Medley’s verse is not an example of stretto but of harmonization. The line is also a reference to the Epic Rap Battles of History episode “Lewis & Clark vs. Bill & Ted”, where Lewis and Clark’s first line was “You can’t go starting with Lewis and Clark”.)
We'll triump-et over you and dispere you like confetti
(The phrase “triump-et” is a pun of the word “triumph”, referring to a trumpet. Sims and Medley are saying that they will triumph over Williams and Powell and spread their remains like confetti.)
Mr. Sims:[]
It's the king of checking and AP Music Theory
(Mr. Sims is infamous among the band students at White Station for “checking”, or dissing his students. Sims also teachers AP Music Theory at White Station.)
Mr. Medley:[]
And the MC from NC with a Doctorate in Wind Studies
(“MC” is a synonym for rapper. Medley is from North Carolina, whose abbreviation is “NC”, and as of 2015 Medley was in the process of completing a Doctorate in Wind Studies at the University of Memphis.)
Mr. Sims and Mr. Medley:[]
You're rapping against two sax-playing gradutes
(Sims and Medley are both college graduates and both play the saxophone.)
Who will diminish these bassoons to a minor status
(Bassoons are a type of wind instrument. Here, the word “bassoons” is a play on words of “buffoons”. Sims and Medley are saying their victory over Williams and Powell will make the latter two irrelevant.)
Mr. Sims:[]
If it isn't clari-nough,
("Clari-nough" is a pun of "clear enough", which refers to the next line...)
Mr. Medley:[]
your repi-tation isn't pretty
(“Repi-tation” is a double pun of “repetition” and “reputation”. Medley is saying that Williams and Powell are not very well liked.)
Mr. Sims:[]
You might be good,
(Williams and Powell have helped the White Station choirs to gain several awards, but that pales in comparison to what Medley claims in the next line…)
Mr. Medley:[]
but you're not as good as Mr. Eady!
(Williams and Powell have helped the White Station choirs to gain several awards, but that pales in comparison to what Medley claims in the next line…)
Mr. Powell:[]
It's time to give these Band Geeks a piece of our mind.
("Band Geeks" is the name of an episode of SpongeBob SquarePants. Powell is saying that he and Ms. Williams will correct Sims and Medley’s mistakes.)
Ms. Williams:[]
I agree! Let's show these boys what it means to be in harmony
(Williams agrees with Powell that the two should try to dominate Sims and Medley’s lyrics. “Harmony” means both a vocal duet and getting along in general.)
Mr. Powell:[]
We go Bach to opera class at Mississippi
(Bach was a famous composer from the 18th century. Here, it is used as a play on words for “back”, as in the two have known each other since attending the University of Southern Mississippi.)
Ms. Williams:[]
Conducting choir ensemble tours through Romania and Italy
(Williams has conducted tours of the USM choir through several European countries.)'
Choir Teachers:[]
You're in a lot of treble if you think you can defeat us
(Treble is a voice in high register. Here, it is used as a pun for “trouble”, referring to the fact that Williams and Powell will essentially kick Sims and Medley’s butts in the battle.)
We'll chorale you with our sharp rhymes acapella
(Chorale refers to a chorus, of which Williams and Powell are directors. Here, it is used as a play on words for “corral”, or to gather. Sharp is a type of musical notation, used here to signify the ferociousness of Williams and Powell’s rhymes. Acapella means without music and refers to the two acapella groups at White Station, Key of She and Do Re He, one of which will be mentioned later in the battle.)
Mr. Powell:[]
Come Together
(Come Together is a song often performed by the White Station choir. Powell is telling Sims and Medley to come together, or collaborate more effectively, if they wish to win the battle.)
Ms. Williams:[]
maybe you'll be better at this
(Williams is suggesting that Sims and Medley might be able to improve their style if they do the following…)
Mr. Powell:[]
If you quit making memes
(A running joke among the band members at White Station is that Medley bears a resemblance to an Internet meme which will be referenced again near the end of the battle.)
Ms. Williams:[]
and talking about your kids
(Sims is somewhat notorious for talking about his kids in class.)
Choir Teachers:[]
You'll get decimated if you mess with Joe and Nikki
(Williams and Powell are saying that Sims and Medley will be decimated, or destroyed, if they continue to mess with them. Joe and Nikki are Powell and Williams’ respective first names.)
Mr. Powell:[]
Nobody can save you,
(Powell is telling Sims and Medley that they have no chance. This line is a reference to the lyrics of another song that is performed by the band as referenced in the next line…)
Ms. Williams:[]
not even Eleanor Rigby!
(“Eleanor Rigby” is a song performed by the White Station band at various sporting events.)