Dancing Queen – English Lyrics

• By: ABBA

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language can be as fun as a night out at the disco, and ABBA's 'Dancing Queen' is the perfect song to get you started. With its clear and repetitive lyrics about joy and dancing, you can easily pick up new vocabulary and practice your pronunciation. This timeless pop classic is special because its universal theme of happiness and freedom on the dance floor will motivate you to sing along and learn.

[English]

(upbeat pop music)

♪ Ooh, you can dance, you can jive ♪

♪ Having the time of your life ♪

♪ Ooh, see that girl, watch that scene ♪

♪ Digging the dancing queen ♪

♪ Friday night and the lights are low ♪

♪ Looking out for a place to go ♪

♪ Where they play the right music ♪

♪ Getting in the swing ♪

♪ You come to look for a king ♪

♪ Anybody could be that guy ♪

♪ Night is young and the music's high ♪

♪ With a bit of rock music ♪

♪ Everything is fine ♪

♪ You're in the mood for a dance ♪

♪ And when you get the chance ♪

♪ You are the dancing queen ♪

♪ Young and sweet, only 17 ♪

♪ Dancing queen ♪

♪ Feel the beat from the tambourine, oh yeah ♪

♪ You can dance, you can jive ♪

♪ Having the time of your life ♪

♪ Ooh, see that girl, watch that scene ♪

♪ Digging the dancing queen ♪

(upbeat pop music continues)

♪ You're a teaser, you turn 'em on ♪

♪ Leave 'em burning and then you're gone ♪

♪ Looking out for another ♪

♪ Anyone will do ♪

♪ You're in the mood for a dance ♪

♪ And when you get the chance ♪

♪ You are the dancing queen ♪

♪ Young and sweet, only 17 ♪

♪ Dancing queen ♪

♪ Feel the beat from the tambourine, oh yeah ♪

♪ You can dance, you can jive ♪

♪ Having the time of your life ♪

♪ Ooh, see that girl, watch that scene ♪

♪ Digging the dancing queen ♪

♪ Digging the dancing queen ♪

(upbeat pop music continues)

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
dance /dæns/ A1	verb - to move rhythmically to music noun - a set of movements to music
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - duration
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic matter
girl /ɡɜːrl/ A1	noun - a female child or young woman
night /naɪt/ A1	noun - the period of darkness between one day and the next
lights /laɪts/ A2	noun - a source of illumination
music /ˈmjuːzɪk/ A1	noun - vocal or instrumental sounds combined in such a way as to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion
king /kɪŋ/ A2	noun - a male ruler of an independent state, especially one who inherits the position by right of birth
young /jʌŋ/ A1	adjective - having lived or existed for only a short time
sweet /swiːt/ A2	adjective - having a pleasant taste like that of sugar
beat /biːt/ B1	noun - a main accent or rhythmic unit in music verb - to strike repeatedly
chance /tʃæns/ B1	noun - a possibility of something happening
mood /muːd/ B1	noun - a temporary state of mind or feeling
teaser /ˈtiːzər/ B2	noun - a person who likes to excite interest and then disappoint
burning /ˈbɜːrnɪŋ/ B2	adjective - very hot

Key Grammar Structures

• You can dance, you can jive

  ➔ Modal verb "can" for ability/possibility.

  ➔ "Can" indicates that the subject has the ability to dance and jive.

• Having the time of your life

  ➔ Gerund phrase as a continuation of a state or action.

  ➔ "Having" acts as a gerund, describing what the person is doing while dancing and jiving.

• Friday night and the lights are low

  ➔ Simple present tense for a general statement; adjective "low".

  ➔ The sentence describes a typical Friday night setting. "Low" describes the intensity of the lights.

• Looking out for a place to go

  ➔ Phrasal verb "look out for"; infinitive of purpose "to go".

  ➔ "Looking out for" means searching or seeking. "To go" explains the purpose of the search.

• Where they play the right music

  ➔ Relative adverb "where" introducing a relative clause; adjective "right".

  ➔ "Where" introduces a clause describing the place. "Right" means suitable or appropriate.

• Anybody could be that guy

  ➔ Modal verb "could" for possibility in the past or present.

  ➔ "Could" implies it's possible but not certain that anybody is "that guy".

• Night is young and the music's high

  ➔ Simple present tense; adjective "young"; adjective "high" (referring to volume or energy).

  ➔ A general statement about the atmosphere. "Young" means early in the night, and "high" implies the music is loud and energetic.

• You're a teaser, you turn 'em on

  ➔ Simple present tense; phrasal verb "turn on" (to excite or attract).

  ➔ "Turn on" means to excite or attract someone. The pronoun "'em" is a colloquial contraction of "them".