Actions – English Lyrics

• By: John Legend
• Album: Bigger Love

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into John Legend's "Actions," a captivating R&B and soul track that moves beyond typical romantic declarations. This song is a fantastic way to explore English vocabulary related to commitment and genuine effort in relationships. Through its smooth vocals and compelling message that 'actions speak louder than love songs,' you'll learn how English expresses the depth of feeling through doing, making it a special piece for language learners and music lovers alike.

[English]

Hey, yeah

La-da-da, da-da

La-la-da, da-da, da-da

La-da-da-da-da, here I go again

With another love song that I wasted

Just another love run out of patience

She don't want it, she don't need it

Every other word coming from my pen

She throw back in my face, saying "Where you've been?"

I sound so poetic but it feels like I let it slip away, slip away

I wanna show my love is strong

Make her feel it when I'm home

No faking, no mistaking

She can feel me when I'm gone

Actions speak louder than, speak louder than, speak louder than love songs

The melodies they carry on

Actions speak louder than, speak louder than, speak louder than love songs

I've been doing it all wrong

La-da-da-da-da, here we go again

Just a couple of friends with some benefits

She gave me all of her love then I waste it

I wrote a new song, then erased it

Oh every other thing that I've said before

Said you don't wanna hear about it anymore

I feel so creative but it feels like there's nothing left to say, to make you stay

I wanna show my love is strong

Make her feel it when I'm home

No faking, no mistaking

She can feel me when I'm gone

Actions speak louder than, speak louder than, speak louder than love songs

The melodies they carry on

Actions speak louder than, speak louder than, speak louder than love songs

I've been doing it all wrong

La-da-da-da-da, la-da-da-da-da away (la-da-da-da-da)

La-da-da-da-da, la-da-da, all day

She don't wanna hear, don't wanna hear a word I say, a word I say

La-da-da-da-da, la-da-da-da-da away (la-da-da-da-da)

La-da-da-da-da, la-da-da, all day

She don't wanna hear, don't wanna hear a word I say, a word I say

Actions speak louder than love songs, speak louder than love songs

The melodies they carry on

Actions speak louder than love, woah, speak louder than love songs

I've been doing it all wrong

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
love /lʌv/ A2	noun - an intense feeling of deep affection verb - to feel deep affection for someone or something
speak /spiːk/ A2	verb - to say words or express ideas verbally
carry /ˈkæri/ B1	verb - to hold or support while moving
feel /fiːl/ A2	verb - to experience an emotion or sensation
show /ʃoʊ/ A2	verb - to make something visible or apparent
feelings /ˈfiːlɪŋz/ B2	noun - emotions or sensations experienced
actions /ˈækʃənz/ A2	noun - things done or performed
songs /sɒŋz/ A1	noun - musical compositions with lyrics
promises /ˈprɒmɪsɪz/ B2	noun - words that commit someone to do something
wasted /ˈweɪstɪd/ B2	verb - to use carelessly or squander
never /ˈnɛvər/ A1	adverb - at no time
forget /fərˈɡɛt/ B1	verb - to fail to remember
slip /slɪp/ B2	verb - to slide unintentionally

Key Grammar Structures

• Actions speak louder than love songs.

  ➔ Simple present tense.

  ➔ The phrase "Actions speak louder than love songs" uses the simple present tense to express a general truth.

• I wanna show my love is strong.

  ➔ Infinitive form.

  ➔ The phrase "I wanna show" uses the infinitive form "to show" to express intention.

• She can feel me when I'm gone.

  ➔ Modal verb.

  ➔ The use of the modal verb "can" indicates ability in the sentence "She can feel me when I'm gone."

• I've been doing it all wrong.

  ➔ Present perfect continuous tense.

  ➔ The phrase "I've been doing" uses the present perfect continuous tense to indicate an action that started in the past and continues to the present.

• She don't want it.

  ➔ Informal contraction.

  ➔ The phrase "She don't want it" is an informal contraction of "does not" which is commonly used in spoken English.

• Every other word coming from my pen.

  ➔ Present participle.

  ➔ The phrase "coming from my pen" uses the present participle to describe an ongoing action.

• Just a couple of friends with some benefits.

  ➔ Noun phrase.

  ➔ The phrase "a couple of friends with some benefits" is a noun phrase that describes a specific type of relationship.