Cards – English Lyrics

• By: Doja Cat

Lyrics & Translation

“Cards” by Doja Cat is a great song for English learners to explore figurative language, specifically the extended metaphor of love as a game. The lyrics are relatively clear and repetitive, making it easier to grasp the central theme. The song's '80s-inspired sound and catchy melody also make it a fun and engaging way to immerse yourself in modern pop with a retro twist.

[English]

作曲 : Jack Antonoff/Ari Starace/Gavin Bennett/Amala Zandile Dlamini

A little more back and forth

A little more catch and throw, baby

The more we can clear this smoke

A little further I'll go

Maybe in time we'll know

Maybe I'll fall in love, baby

Maybe we'll win some hearts

Gotta just play your cards

...

Play your cards right

Play your cards right

Play your cards right

Play your cards right

...

Baby, be good to me

I don't care who's with me

Callin' me mon cherie

Tryna get in my hosiery

If you got notes for me

I ain't no employee

Gimme that two for three

Or you'll be losing me

...

If you catch it, I'll be on the floor

Can you pull my body off the bar?

...

A little more back and forth

A little more catch and throw, baby

The more we can clear this smoke

A little further I'll go

Maybe in time we'll know

Maybe I'll fall in love, baby

Maybe we'll win some hearts

Gotta just play your cards

...

Play your cards right

Play your cards right

Play your cards right

Play your cards right

...

Hey there, stranger

Take you where you want, you could say where, stranger

If you play fair, stranger

It's all you could eat while I lay there stranger

Girls turned on by danger

I'm turned on when he run that bank up

He's turned on when I fill this tank up

No bra, fresh beat, watch him scrunch his face up

I'm enough to wait for

Move too quick and you off the roster

Break bread, ****, don't twirl the pasta

Hand on my ass, that'll stir the block up

I ain't just some girl on your notch

And not many men make me nervous a lot

Might splurge on the yacht

I'm tryna figure out if he deserve it or not

You got a way with your words, so they flock

Playin' all your cards right first and it's hot

Show me that you got the nerve and the chops

Maybe then you could get the permanent spot

...

A little more back and forth

A little more catch and throw, baby

The more we can clear this smoke

A little further I'll go

Maybe in time we'll know

Maybe I'll fall in love, baby

Maybe we'll win some hearts

Gotta just play your cards

...

Play your cards right

Play your cards right

Play your cards right

Play your cards right

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
play /pleɪ/ A1	verb - to engage in a game or activity
cards /kɑːrdz/ A1	noun - flat pieces of material used in games
catch /kætʃ/ A1	verb - to grab or capture something
throw /θroʊ/ A1	verb - to propel something with the hand
clear /klɪər/ A2	verb - to remove or eliminate
smoke /smoʊk/ A1	noun - vapor from burning material
fall /fɔːl/ A1	verb - to drop or descend
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - deep affection
win /wɪn/ A1	verb - to succeed in a competition
heart /hɑːrt/ A1	noun - the organ that pumps blood
stranger /ˈstreɪndʒər/ A1	noun - a person one does not know
danger /ˈdeɪndʒər/ A2	noun - risk of harm or injury
nervous /ˈnɜːrvəs/ A2	adjective - anxious or uneasy
deserve /dɪˈzɜːrv/ B1	verb - to be worthy of something
permanent /ˈpɜːrmənənt/ B1	adjective - lasting or intended to last

Key Grammar Structures

• Maybe in time we'll know

  ➔ Simple Future (will) with adverbial phrase

  ➔ The word "we'll" is a contraction of "we will", used to form the simple future.

• If you got notes for me

  ➔ First Conditional (if + present simple, main clause omitted) – informal

  ➔ The verb "got" is used colloquially instead of "have" in the if‑clause.

• Gimme that two for three

  ➔ Imperative sentence with direct object; contraction of "Give me"

  ➔ The word "Gimme" is a colloquial contraction of "Give me".

• Can you pull my body off the bar?

  ➔ Modal verb "can" + infinitive to ask about ability

  ➔ The modal "Can" is used to request or check someone's ability.

• If you play fair, stranger

  ➔ First conditional with imperative result (if + present simple, imperative)

  ➔ The verb "play" is in the present simple after "if", expressing a possible condition.

• I'm turned on when he run that bank up

  ➔ Passive voice (am turned on) + zero conditional (when + present simple)

  ➔ "turned on" is a past participle used in the passive construction "am turned on".

• Might splurge on the yacht

  ➔ Modal verb of possibility "might" + base verb

  ➔ "Might" expresses a lower degree of certainty than "will".

• Show me that you got the nerve and the chops

  ➔ Imperative + noun clause (that‑clause) as object

  ➔ "Show" is an imperative verb; the clause "that you got the nerve and the chops" functions as the object.

• Play your cards right

  ➔ Imperative verb with direct object and adverb

  ➔ "Play" is used as a command; "your cards" is the object and "right" modifies how to play.