Automatic – English Lyrics

• By: Prince
• Album: 1999

Lyrics & Translation

Explore Prince's introspective side with "Automatic," a deep dive into love, obsession, and the question of free will. This track from the iconic *1999* album is a perfect example of how Prince blended genres and pushed boundaries, making it a must-listen for those wanting to explore the language of musical innovation.

[English]

You ask me if I loved you, it's automatic

'Cause every time you leave me, I die, that's automatic too

You ask me to forgive you, when you know, I'm just an addict

So stop the music baby, you know, you're all I want to do

Hey

A-U-T-O-matic

Just tell me what to do

A-U-T-O-matic

I'm so in love with you

You ask me if I'll kiss you, it's automatic

And if you cry, me cry, boo-hoo

That's automatic too

I would never leave you

No matter what you do

Stop the music baby

You know, I'm an automatic fool

Hey

A-U-T-O-matic

Just tell me what to do

A-U-T-O-matic

I'm so in love with you

...

I'll rub your back forever

It's automatic (A-U-T-O-matic)

I'll look for a needle in a haystack

That's automatic too (A-U-T-O-matic)

I'll go down on you all night long

It's automatic

(You will?, yes I will babe)

And even when I'm right, I'll be wrong

That's automatic too (A-U-T-O-matic)

Hey

A-U-T-O-matic

Just tell me what to do

A-U-T-O-matic

I'm so in love with you (hey)

A-U-T-O-matic

Just tell me what to do

A-U-T-O-matic

I'm so in love with you

A-U-T-O-matic

Just tell me what to do

A-U-T-O-matic

I'm so in love with you

A-U-T-O-matic

A-U-T-O-matic

C'mon baby

A-U-T-O-matic

Just tell me what to do

A-U-T-O-matic

So in love with you

Don't say no man has ever tasted your ice cream

Baby you're the purple star in the night supreme

You'll always be a virgin for no man deserves your love

I only pray that when you dream, I'm the one you dream of

I pray that when you dream, you dream of how we kissed

Not with our lips but with our souls

Stop me if I bore you

Why is it that I think we'd be so good in bed?

Can you hear me? Why do I love you so much?

It's so strange, I'm more comfortable around you when I'm naked

Can you hear me?

I wonder if you have any mercy, don't torture me

Stop the music baby, automatic fool

When it comes to you I'm automatic baby

There's no one else like me

I'm the best you'll ever find

No one else could understand you, you're too complex

They say nothing's perfect, but they don't know you

That's automatic too

Can you hear me? (A-U-T-O-matic)

Yes, I'm addicted to your pleasure

I'm addicted to your pain

It's automatic (A-U-T-O-matic)

Automatically insane

Undress me (A-U-T-O-matic)

(A-U-T-O-matic)

Hey (A-U-T-O-matic)

(A-U-T-O-matic)

(A-U-T-O-matic)

(A-U-T-O-matic)

Hey

Fasten your seat belts

Prepare for take-off

(I remember how you kissed me)

(Not with your lips but with your soul)

(With you I'm never bored, talk to me some more)

(I can hear you, I'm going to have to torture you now)

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
automatic /ˌɔːtəˈmætɪk/ B1	adjective - happening or done without conscious thought or effort
addict /ˈædɪkt/ B1	noun - a person who is addicted to a particular substance or activity
forgive /fəˈɡɪv/ A2	verb - to stop feeling angry or resentful toward someone
kiss /kɪs/ A1	verb - to touch someone with one's lips as a sign of love or affection
rub /rʌb/ A1	verb - to move one's hand or an object repeatedly over a surface
needle /ˈniːdl/ A1	noun - a thin, sharp piece of metal used for sewing
haystack /ˈheɪstæk/ B1	noun - a pile of hay, especially one stored in a field
torture /ˈtɔːrtʃər/ B2	verb - to cause severe physical or mental pain to someone
complex /ˈkɑːmpleks/ B2	adjective - consisting of many different and connected parts
mercy /ˈmɜːrsi/ B1	noun - compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish
undress /ʌnˈdrɛs/ A2	verb - to remove or help someone remove their clothes
naked /ˈneɪkɪd/ A2	adjective - not wearing any clothes
supreme /suːˈpriːm/ B2	adjective - of the highest quality or greatest degree
virgin /ˈvɜːrdʒɪn/ A2	noun - a person who has never had sexual intercourse
deserve /dɪˈzɜːrv/ A2	verb - to be worthy of something, especially as a result of one's actions
insane /ɪnˈseɪn/ B1	adjective - extremely foolish or irrational

Key Grammar Structures

• You ask me if I loved you, it's automatic.

  ➔ Indirect yes/no question with "if" after the verb "ask".

  ➔ The word "if" introduces the reported question: "You ask me **if** I loved you".

• Cause every time you leave me, I die, that's automatic too.

  ➔ Time clause with "every time" + present simple to express habitual actions.

  ➔ "every time **you leave** me" uses present simple in the time clause.

• You ask me to forgive you, when you know I'm just an addict.

  ➔ Infinitive after "ask" to express a request; "when" clause for condition.

  ➔ "ask me **to forgive** you" uses the infinitive; "when **you know** I'm just an addict" uses present simple.

• So stop the music, baby, you know, you're all I want to do.

  ➔ Imperative sentence for giving orders; parenthetical "you know" as discourse marker; reduced relative clause "all I want to do".

  ➔ "Stop the music, baby" is an imperative; "**you know**" adds emphasis; "**all I want to do**" omits "that".

• You ask me if I'll kiss you, it's automatic.

  ➔ Future simple with "will" in an indirect question.

  ➔ "if **I'll kiss** you" uses "will" to talk about a future possibility.

• If you cry, I cry, boo-hoo.

  ➔ First conditional (real conditional) using "if" + present simple + present simple.

  ➔ "if **you cry**, **I cry**" shows a cause‑effect relationship in the present.

• I'll rub your back forever.

  ➔ Future simple with "will" + adverb of duration "forever".

  ➔ "**I'll rub** your back forever" uses "will" to express a future action that will continue indefinitely.

• Don't say no man has ever tasted your ice cream.

  ➔ Negative imperative + present perfect "has ever tasted".

  ➔ "Don't say **no man has ever tasted** your ice cream" uses present perfect to talk about experience up to now.

• Can you hear me?

  ➔ Modal verb "can" for ability in a yes/no question.

  ➔ "**Can** you hear me?" uses "can" to ask about ability.

• Fasten your seat belts, prepare for take‑off.

  ➔ Imperative verbs for giving instructions.

  ➔ "**Fasten** your seat belts, **prepare** for take‑off" both are commands.