Brick By Brick – English Lyrics

• By: Say Now

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the world of modern British R&B with Say Now's 'Brick By Brick'! This song is a fantastic way to learn contemporary English slang and conversational phrases through its clever and relatable lyrics about past relationships. The track's catchy chorus and clear storytelling make it a fun and empowering anthem to sing along to, helping you to pick up new vocabulary while enjoying a story of taking credit where it's due.

[English]

Yeah he treats you good

I bet he does

I left my mark

I signed it off

Just know he wasn't born with it

I built that boy by brick by

He's so genuine

And I bet your momma like that

He's a gentleman

Cause he brought her favourite wine

He has a therapist

And he's not afraid to cry

It's no coincidence

He wont mess it up this time

See

Everything you love

He learnt from me

I designed him perfectly

Yeah he treats you good

I bet he does

I left my mark

I signed it off

Just know he wasn't born with it

I built that boy by brick by brick by

So youre thinking he's

The epitome of everything

You want him to be

Just know he wasn't born with it

I built that boy by brick by brick by brick

I've been through hell and back

Girl I swear i'm on your side

Just trying to save your ass

A little credit would be nice

I don't want him back

Better know that he knows that I know that the man you

know

Had a long long way to go

See

Everything you love, he learnt from me

I designed him perfectly

Yeah he treats you good

I bet he does

I left my mark

I signed it off

Just know he wasn't born with it

I built that boy by brick by brick by

So you're thinking he's

The epitome of everything

You want him to be

Just know he wasn't born with it

I built that boy by brick by brick

Two years

Of construction work

Brick by

Brick I

Built that boy

Dust my

Hands off

Take him

Yours

I designed him perfectly

Yeah he treats you good

I bet he does

I left my mark

I signed it off

Just know he wasn't born with it

I built that boy by brick by brick by

So youre thinking he's

The epitome of everything

You will ever need

Just know he wasn't born with it

I built that boy by brick by brick

By Brick

Brick by brick

I built that boy

Brick by brick

I built that boy

Brick by brick

I built that boy

Brick by brick

I built that boy

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
build /bɪld/ A2	verb - to construct something by putting parts together
brick /brɪk/ A2	noun - a rectangular block of baked clay used for building
design /dɪˈzaɪn/ B1	verb - to plan and fashion artistically or skillfully noun - a plan or drawing produced to show the look and function or working of something before it is built or made
treat /triːt/ A2	verb - to behave towards someone or something in a particular way
mark /mɑːrk/ A2	noun - a visible sign made on something verb - to make a visible sign on something
genuine /ˈdʒenjuɪn/ B2	adjective - truly what something is said to be; authentic
gentleman /ˈdʒentlmen/ B1	noun - a polite, kind, and well-behaved man
afraid /əˈfreɪd/ A2	adjective - feeling fear or anxiety
coincidence /ˌkoʊɪnˈsɪdəns/ B2	noun - a remarkable concurrence of events or circumstances without apparent causal connection
perfectly /pərˈfektli/ B1	adverb - completely or thoroughly; in a perfect manner
hell /hel/ B2	noun - a place or state of torment
save /seɪv/ A2	verb - to rescue someone from a dangerous or difficult situation
credit /ˈkredɪt/ B1	noun - recognition of someone's achievements or qualities
long /lɔːŋ/ A1	adjective - measuring a great distance
construction /kənˈstrʌkʃən/ B1	noun - the process of building or assembling something
dust /dʌst/ A1	noun - fine particles of matter
hands /hændz/ A1	noun - the part of the body at the end of the arms

Key Grammar Structures

• I bet he does

  ➔ Use of 'bet' to express strong belief or assumption.

  ➔ 'bet' shows the speaker is confident about what he believes (‘he treats you good’).

• I left my mark

  ➔ Use of simple past tense to describe completed past action.

  ➔ The verb 'left' indicates the action happened and finished in the past.

• He wasn't born with it

  ➔ Passive voice in past tense.

  ➔ 'wasn't born' uses the verb 'to be' + past participle to show passive meaning.

• He's a gentleman

  ➔ Use of present simple with 'be' verb to define identity.

  ➔ The structure 'He is a...' defines who or what someone is.

• He's not afraid to cry

  ➔ Infinitive after adjective structure.

  ➔ 'afraid to cry' means he does not fear crying; 'to cry' complements the adjective.

• He won't mess it up this time

  ➔ Future negative with 'will not'.

  ➔ 'won’t' shows a future action that will not happen.

• Everything you love, he learnt from me

  ➔ Relative clause without relative pronoun.

  ➔ 'Everything you love' omits 'that' before 'you' because it’s optional in object position.

• I've been through hell and back

  ➔ Present perfect to express life experience.

  ➔ 'I've been' shows the speaker has had the experience of enduring difficulty until now.

• Had a long long way to go

  ➔ Past perfect to indicate something completed before another past action (ellipsis of subject).

  ➔ 'Had' suggests the man had not yet finished changing before another event.

• Two years of construction work, brick by brick I built that boy

  ➔ Noun phrase + adverbial phrase showing duration and manner.

  ➔ 'Two years of construction work' sets duration; 'brick by brick' shows the gradual method.