ALLIIGATOR TEARS – English Lyrics

• By: Beyoncé

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a powerful tool, and Beyoncé's “ALLIIGATOR TEARS” offers a rich text for English learners. The song's use of the idiom "alligator tears" provides a great opportunity to understand figurative language and cultural expressions. The lyrics, while seemingly about a personal relationship, are layered with deeper social commentary, allowing for a nuanced exploration of language and its power to convey complex ideas. The song's unique blend of country, blues, and pop makes it a captivating listen that will keep you engaged as you learn.

[English]

High tides in the city, I'm in too deep

And I'm runnin' on fear

Oh, dear, you and your alligator tears

Works me over and through

You say move a mountain, and I'll throw on my boots

You say stop the river from runnin', I'll build a dam or two

You say change religions, now I spend Sundays with you

Somethin' 'bout those tears of yours

How does it feel to be adored?

You and your alligator tears

You and those alligator tears

You

Somethin' about those tears of yours

How does it feel to be adored?

Sunrise in the morning, you're all I need

All I need is rain, or the roots get weak

Sweet things need time to grow

Think about leaving? Hell no

Squeeze every ounce of love on my body, yeah

You say move a mountain, and I'll throw on my boots

You say stop the river from runnin', I'll build a dam or two

You say change religion, now I spend Sundays with you

Somethin' 'bout those tears of yours

How does it feel to be adored?

(I adore, I adore, I adore, I adore) those alligator tears

(I adore, I adore, I adore, I adore) your alligator tears

(I adore, I adore, I adore, I adore, I adore) alligator tears

(I adore, I adore, I adore, I adore, I adore) (how does it feel to be adored?)

Alligator tears

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
tide /taɪd/ B1	noun - the rise and fall of the sea surface caused by gravitational forces
deep /diːp/ B1	adjective - extending far down from the top or surface adverb - completely or intensely
fear /fɪər/ B1	noun - an unpleasant emotion caused by anticipation of danger or pain verb - to be afraid of something
tear /tɪər/ A2	noun - a drop of liquid from the eye verb - to rip apart or split
adore /əˈdɔːr/ B2	verb - to regard with deep, often rapturous love
mountain /ˈmaʊntɪn/ B1	noun - a large natural elevation of the Earth's surface
river /ˈrɪvər/ A2	noun - a large natural stream of water flowing in a channel
religion /rɪˈlɪdʒən/ B2	noun - a set of beliefs regarding the nature of the divine
rain /reɪn/ A2	noun - water droplets that fall from the atmosphere
grow /ɡroʊ/ B1	verb - to develop or increase outwardly
love /lʌv/ A2	noun - an intense feeling of deep affection verb - to feel deep affection for someone
squeeze /skwiːz/ B2	verb - to firmly press or compress

Key Grammar Structures

• I'm in too deep

  ➔ Prepositional phrase indicating being overwhelmed or fully involved

  ➔ The phrase "in too deep" uses **prepositional phrase** to describe being overwhelmed

• Works me over and through

  ➔ Verb phrase meaning to affect strongly or exhaustively

  ➔ The phrase "Works me over and through" uses a **verb phrase** to express being affected emotionally or physically

• Build a dam or two

  ➔ Imperative phrase with a metaphorical meaning of trying to stop or control an emotion or situation

  ➔ The phrase "Build a dam or two" employs a **metaphorical imperative** to describe efforts to contain emotions

• Spend Sundays with you

  ➔ Simple present tense used to describe habitual action

  ➔ The phrase "Spend Sundays with you" uses the **present simple tense** to indicate a regular, habitual activity

• How does it feel to be adored?

  ➔ Interrogative sentence in present simple tense, using 'does' for third person singular

  ➔ The sentence "How does it feel to be adored?" is a **question in present simple tense** that uses 'does' to form the question

• Somethin' 'bout those tears of yours

  ➔ Colloquial expression with omitted sounds, informal tone

  ➔ The phrase "Somethin' 'bout those tears of yours" features **colloquial contraction** for 'something' and reflects informal speech

• How does it feel to be loved?

  ➔ Interrogative sentence in present simple tense, using 'does' for third person singular

  ➔ The sentence "How does it feel to be loved?" is a **question in present simple tense** that employs 'does' for correct grammatical structure