Rehab – English Lyrics

• By: Amy Winehouse
• Album: Back To Black

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the raw honesty and captivating rhythms of Amy Winehouse's iconic hit, "Rehab." This Grammy-winning song offers a unique window into British English, particularly its colloquialisms and the emotional depth of its lyrics. You can learn how to express defiance and vulnerability through its powerful narrative, set against a backdrop of classic soul and R&B. The song's clear, narrative-driven lyrics and Amy's distinctive vocal delivery make it an excellent choice for language learners to grasp authentic expression and cultural context in English music.

[English]

♪ They tried to make me go to rehab ♪

♪ I said no, no, no ♪ (lively upbeat music)

♪ Yes, I've been black, but when I come back ♪

♪ You'll know, know, know ♪

♪ I ain't got the time and if my daddy thinks I'm fine ♪

♪ Just try to make me go to rehab ♪

♪ I won't go, go, go ♪

♪ I'd rather be at home with Ray ♪

♪ I ain't got seventy days ♪

♪ 'Cause there's nothing ♪

♪ There's nothing you can teach me ♪

♪ That I can't learn from Mr. Hathaway ♪

♪ I didn't get a lot in class ♪

♪ But I know it don't come in a shot glass ♪

♪ They tried to make me go to rehab, I said no, no, no ♪

♪ Yes, I've been black, but when I come back ♪

♪ You'll know, know, know ♪

♪ I ain't got the time and if my daddy thinks I'm fine ♪

♪ Just try to make me go to rehab, I won't go, go, go ♪

♪ The man said, "Why do you think you're here" ♪

♪ I said, "I got no idea" ♪

♪ I'm gonna, I'm gonna lose my baby ♪

♪ So I always keep a bottle near ♪

♪ He said, "I just think you're depressed" ♪

♪ This me, "Yeah, baby, and the rest" ♪

♪ They tried to make me go to rehab but I said no, no, no ♪

♪ Yes, I've been black, but when I come back ♪

♪ You'll know, know, know ♪

♪ I don't ever wanna drink again ♪

♪ I just, ooh, I just need a friend ♪

♪ I'm not gonna spend ten weeks ♪

♪ Have everyone think I'm on the mend ♪

♪ It's not just my pride ♪

♪ It's just 'til these tears have dried ♪

♪ They tried to make me go to rehab, but I said no, no, no ♪

♪ Yes, I've been black, but when I come back ♪

♪ You'll know, know, know ♪

♪ I ain't got the time and if my daddy thinks I'm fine ♪

♪ Just try to make me go to rehab ♪

♪ I won't go, go, go ♪ (lively upbeat music swells)

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
rehab /ˈriːhæb/ B2	noun - The process of helping someone overcome addiction or illness.
black /blæk/ A1	adjective - Very dark in colour; having no light. adjective - (figurative) Depressed, sad, or pessimistic.
fine /faɪn/ A1	adjective - In good health; well.
teach /tiːtʃ/ A1	verb - To give lessons; to help someone learn.
learn /lɜːrn/ A1	verb - To gain knowledge or skill.
class /klæs/ A1	noun - A lesson; a group of students.
shot /ʃɒt/ A2	noun - A small amount of alcohol.
lose /luːz/ A1	verb - To be deprived of; to be unable to find.
baby /ˈbeɪbi/ A1	noun - A very young child. noun - A term of endearment for a loved one.
bottle /ˈbɒtl/ A1	noun - A container, typically made of glass or plastic, used for holding liquids.
depressed /dɪˈprest/ B1	adjective - Feeling very sad and without hope.
drink /drɪŋk/ A1	verb - To swallow liquid. noun - A liquid that is swallowed.
friend /frend/ A1	noun - A person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection.
spend /spend/ A1	verb - To use time, energy, or money.
tears /tɪərz/ A2	noun - Drops of salty liquid that come from your eyes when you cry.
dried /draɪd/ A2	adjective - Having no moisture; not wet.

Key Grammar Structures

• They tried to make me go to rehab

  ➔ Causative 'make' + infinitive without 'to'

  ➔ Here, "make" is used as a causative verb meaning to force or compel someone to do something. The structure is "make + object + base form of the verb". "They" (unspecified people) attempted to force Amy Winehouse to go to rehab.

• Yes, I've been black, but when I come back

  ➔ Present Perfect Continuous (I've been black) and Future Time Clause (when I come back)

  ➔ "I've been black" likely means the speaker has been in a dark or difficult place, a metaphor for being unwell or troubled. The present perfect continuous emphasizes that this state has been ongoing. "When I come back" is a future time clause; the verb is in the present simple, even though it refers to the future.

• I ain't got the time and if my daddy thinks I'm fine

  ➔ Informal Contraction 'ain't', Zero Conditional (if)

  ➔ "Ain't" is a colloquial contraction of "am not", "is not", "are not", "has not", or "have not". The zero conditional "if my daddy thinks I'm fine" expresses a general truth or a factual relationship.

• I'd rather be at home with Ray

  ➔ Conditional 'would rather' + bare infinitive

  ➔ "I'd rather be" expresses preference. 'Would rather' is followed by the base form of the verb (infinitive without 'to'). The speaker prefers being at home with Ray to going to rehab.

• That I can't learn from Mr. Hathaway

  ➔ Relative Clause with Preposition (from Mr. Hathaway)

  ➔ The relative clause "That I can't learn from Mr. Hathaway" modifies "nothing". The preposition "from" is placed at the end of the clause.

• I'm gonna, I'm gonna lose my baby

  ➔ Informal Future 'gonna'

  ➔ "Gonna" is an informal contraction of "going to" and is used to express the future. In this case, the speaker expresses a concern about losing their baby.

• It's just 'til these tears have dried

  ➔ Time Clause with 'til' and Present Perfect

  ➔ The word "'til" is a shortened form of "until". The present perfect "have dried" emphasizes the completion of the action (tears drying) before another action occurs. The speaker implies a willingness to consider changing their behavior once their tears have stopped.