By Now – English Lyrics

• By: CKay
• Album: Sad Romance

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a captivating linguistic journey with CKay's "By Now," a stellar example of his unique "Emo-Afrobeats" sound. This viral hit, brimming with heartfelt emotional lyricism, offers a dynamic way to immerse yourself in the nuances of English expression within a modern African context. Discover how CKay artfully conveys longing and frustration through compelling storytelling and infectious melodies, making language learning an engaging and unforgettable experience.

[English]

shimi shimi shimi ya shimi shimi ya shimi ya

she no dey wear brazziere when she see me ya, see me ya

nobody wickeder than you shawty why you dey catch my cruise?

i should be beside and inside you shawty

woah woah by now we suppose don by now

how you go dey tease me up till now, eh up till now

make i turn your body upside down make our neighbours hear the sound

it's me and you no one's around ah no one's around ah

Ra ra nobody go know

Ra ra nobody go know

yoyo bitters the ting dey bitter like yoyo bitters

when you re not around me e be like sey i dey for hospital

I know what you like I know what you like

I see it in your eyes but you too dey disguise

no go slogodo

are you a bad or are you a cat fish? the story don dey long

if i no pick your call it's not my fault

woah woah by now we suppose don by now

how you go dey tease me up till now

eh up till now make i turn your body upside down

make our neighbours hear the sound

it's me and you no one's around ah no one's around ah

Ra ra nobody go know

Ra ra nobody go know

yoyo bitters the ting dey bitter like yoyo bitters

when you re not around me e be like sey i dey for hospital

yoyo bitters x2 When you not around x2

Key Grammar Structures

• she no dey wear brazziere

  ➔ Double Negation + Habitual Aspect

  ➔ "no" negates the verb, and "dey" indicates habitual action. Combined meaning: "She doesn't usually wear a bra"

• why you dey catch my cruise?

  ➔ Present Continuous (Pidgin)

  ➔ "dey" + verb forms present continuous. Meaning: "Why are you bothering me?" (Literal: "Why are you catching my cruise?")

• we suppose don by now

  ➔ Modal Verb + Perfective Aspect

  ➔ "suppose" (should) + "don" (have) creates perfective meaning. Meaning: "We should have finished by now"

• make i turn your body upside down

  ➔ Imperative Subjunctive

  ➔ "make" introduces a command/desire. Meaning: "Let me turn your body upside down"

• e be like sey i dey for hospital

  ➔ Simile + Complement Clause

  ➔ "be like" creates simile, "sey" introduces complement clause. Meaning: "It's as if I'm in the hospital"

• if i no pick your call it's not my fault

  ➔ Conditional Clause + Negation

  ➔ "if" introduces condition, "no" negates verb. Meaning: "If I don't answer your call, it's not my fault"

• how you go dey tease me up till now

  ➔ Future Continuous + Temporal Phrase

  ➔ "go" indicates future, "dey" shows continuous action. Meaning: "How could you keep teasing me until now?"

• are you a bad or are you a cat fish?

  ➔ Alternative Question

  ➔ "or" presents mutually exclusive options. Meaning: "Are you a bad person or a catfish?" (deceptive person)