Blue Strips

• By: Jessie Murph

Lyrics:

Vocabulary in this song:

Vocabulary	Meanings
mad /mæd/ A2	adjective - angry; furious
mansion /ˈmænʃən/ B2	noun - a large, impressive house
Malibu /ˈmælɪbuː/ NA	noun - A city in California, USA
attitude /ˈætɪtjuːd/ B1	noun - a feeling or opinion about something or someone
strips /strɪps/ B1	noun - long, narrow pieces of material verb - to remove one's clothes
club /klʌb/ A2	noun - an organization of people with a common interest
bitch /bɪtʃ/ B2	noun - a derogatory term for a woman
home /hoʊm/ A1	noun - the place where one lives
strip /strɪp/ B2	verb - to remove clothing
wrongs /rɒŋz/ B2	noun - an unjust or immoral act
man /mæn/ A1	noun - an adult male human being
smoking /ˈsmoʊkɪŋ/ A2	verb - the act of inhaling and exhaling the smoke of burning plant material
cigarettes /ˌsɪɡəˈrɛts/ A2	noun - thin paper-wrapped cylinder containing tobacco
balconies /ˈbælkəni/ B1	noun - a platform projecting from the wall of a building
settle /ˈsetl/ B1	verb - to resolve or decide
scores /skɔːrz/ B2	noun - the number of points earned in a game or competition noun - a grievance that needs to be resolved
war /wɔːr/ A2	noun - a state of armed conflict between different countries or groups within a country

Grammar:

• Boy, I ain't mad, boy, I ain't mad, boy, I ain't mad at you

  ➔ Use of AAVE (African American Vernacular English): "ain't" for "am not/is not/are not".

  ➔ "Ain't" is a non-standard contraction commonly used in AAVE. It replaces different forms of the verb "to be" in the negative.

• I had to get back at you, I had to get back at you

  ➔ Use of "had to" expressing obligation or necessity in the past.

  ➔ "Had to" indicates that the speaker felt compelled to retaliate. It demonstrates the strength of the feeling.

• You know how I get with an attitude

  ➔ Use of "how" to describe the way someone behaves or acts.

  ➔ The phrase "how I get" is used informally to explain a habitual behaviour that may result from the provocation.

• I'ma take it off for him

  ➔ Contraction "I'ma" (I am going to) - expresses future intention.

  ➔ "I'ma" is an informal contraction of "I am going to", indicating a plan or intention. It's commonly used in casual speech.

• I ain't jumpin', but I'll die to settle scores

  ➔ Contradiction: "I ain't jumping' but I'll die". First part is negative, the second is affirming the possibility of death.

  ➔ This line presents a paradox. The speaker is unwilling to commit suicide, but they are prepared to die to get revenge, emphasizing the strength of their desire for payback.

• All your bidness gettin' back to me

  ➔ Use of AAVE: "bidness" for "business" and omission of "is" or "are" . Non-standard grammar.

  ➔ "Bidness" is a pronunciation and spelling variation common in AAVE. The omission of "is" or "are" further reinforces the use of non-standard grammar.

• You don't know it, but it's 'bout to be a war, yeah

  ➔ Use of "'bout to" (about to) expressing immediate future. Informal contraction.

  ➔ "'Bout to" is a colloquial contraction of "about to", used to express something that will happen very soon. Adding emphasis that a conflict is about to begin.