Lyrics & Translation
Learning a language through music is a powerful tool, and Donna Summer's "Bad Girls" offers a fantastic opportunity to dive into the English language with its clear storytelling and iconic, repetitive chorus. The song uses conversational phrases and builds a narrative around empathy and social observation, making it a rich text for understanding both language and culture. Its blend of a catchy disco beat with a serious social message makes it a truly special and timeless piece of music.
[English]
Toot, toot hey beep, beepToot, toot hey beep, beep
Toot toot hey beep beep
Toot toot hey beep beep
Bad girls
Talking 'bout the sad girls
Sad girls
Talking about bad girls, yeah
See them out on the street at night, walkin'
Picking up on all kinds of strangers
If the price is right you can score
If you're pocket's nice
But you want a good time
You ask yourself, who they are
Like everybody else, they come from near and far
Bad girls
Talking about the sad girls
Sad girls
Talking about the bad girls, yeah
Friday night and the strip is hot (hot)
Sun's gone down and they're about to trot (out trot)
Spirit's high and legs look hot
Do you wanna get down
Now don't you ask yourself, who they are
Like everybody else, they wanna be a star
Bad girl, sad girls
You such a dirty bad girl
Beep, beep uh, uh
You bad girl, you sad girl
You such a dirty bad girl
Beep beep uh, uh
Now you and me, we're both the same
But you call yourself by different names
Now your mama won't like, it when she finds out
Her girl is out at night
Toot, toot hey beep, beep
Toot, toot hey beep, beep
Toot, toot hey beep, beep
Toot toot hey beep beep
Hey Mister, have you got a dime? (Toot, toot hey beep, beep)
Mister, do you want to spend some time, oh yeah (Toot, toot hey beep, beep)
I got what you want (Toot, toot hey beep, beep)
You got what I need (Toot, toot hey beep, beep)
I'll be your baby (Toot, toot hey beep, beep)
Come and spend it on me (Toot, toot hey beep, beep)
Hey mister (Toot, toot hey beep, beep)
I'll spend some time with you (Toot, toot hey beep, beep)
With you, you're fine, with you (Toot, toot hey beep, beep) with you
Bad girls (Toot, toot hey beep, beep)
They're just bad girls (Toot, toot hey beep, beep)
Talkin' about sad girls (Toot, toot hey beep, beep)
Sad girls (Toot, toot hey beep, beep)
Hey, hey Mister (Toot, toot hey beep, beep)
Got a dime (Toot, toot hey beep, beep)
Toot toot hey beep
Toot, toot hey beep, beep
Toot, toot hey beep, beep
Toot, toot hey beep, beep
Key Vocabulary
| Vocabulary | Meanings |
|---|---|
|
girls /ɡɜːrlz/ A2 |
|
|
bad /bæd/ A2 |
|
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talking /ˈtɔːkɪŋ/ B1 |
|
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sad /sæd/ A2 |
|
|
street /striːt/ A2 |
|
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night /naɪt/ A1 |
|
|
money /ˈmʌni/ A2 |
|
|
score /skɔːr/ B2 |
|
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time /taɪm/ A1 |
|
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star /stɑːr/ B1 |
|
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night /naɪt/ A1 |
|
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question /ˈkwɛstʃən/ B2 |
|
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time /taɪm/ A1 |
|
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want /wɑːnt/ A2 |
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call /kɔːl/ A2 |
|
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Key Grammar Structures
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Talking 'bout the sad girls
➔ Gerund as a subject
➔ The phrase uses the gerund form "Talking" to indicate an ongoing action.
-
If the price is right you can score
➔ Conditional sentences (Type 1)
➔ This sentence uses a conditional structure to express a possible future situation.
-
Do you wanna get down
➔ Informal contraction (wanna)
➔ The word "wanna" is an informal contraction of "want to".
-
Now your mama won't like it when she finds out
➔ Future simple with 'will'
➔ The phrase uses 'won't' to indicate a future negative action.
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Hey Mister, have you got a dime?
➔ Present perfect (have got)
➔ The phrase uses 'have got' to indicate possession in the present.
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They're just bad girls
➔ Contraction (they are)
➔ The contraction 'they're' is used to combine 'they' and 'are'.
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Like everybody else, they come from near and far
➔ Prepositional phrase (from near and far)
➔ The phrase 'from near and far' indicates the origin of the subject.
