Diary – English Lyrics

• By: Alicia Keys, Tony! Toni! Tone!, Jermaine Paul
• Album: Unplugged

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the soulful sounds of Alicia Keys' "Diary," a song about trust and intimacy. Featuring Tony! Toni! Toné!, this R&B classic offers a glimpse into personal reflections and the art of confiding in someone. Discover the poetic lyrics and its connection to Alicia's own journey of self-expression.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
secret /ˈsiː.krət/ B1	noun - something kept hidden or unknown
diary /ˈdaɪ.ə.ri/ B1	noun - a book in which one records personal thoughts and experiences
tell /tɛl/ A2	verb - to give information to someone
keep /kiːp/ A2	verb - to continue to have or hold something
safe /seɪf/ A2	adjective - protected from danger or risk
think /θɪŋk/ A2	verb - to have thoughts or opinions about something
connection /kəˈnɛk.ʃən/ B2	noun - a relationship or link between two or more things
trust /trʌst/ B1	verb - to rely on the integrity, ability, or character of someone
loyalty /ˈlɔɪ.əl.ti/ B2	noun - faithful allegiance or devotion to a person, group, or cause
feel /fiːl/ A2	verb - to experience an emotion or physical sensation
fear /fɪər/ B1	noun - an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous
baby /ˈbeɪ.bi/ A1	noun - a very young child
far /fɑːr/ A1	adjective - at a great distance
crazy /ˈkreɪ.zi/ B1	adjective - extremely enthusiastic or mentally unstable
call /kɔːl/ A2	verb - to speak to someone on the phone; to name
head /hɛd/ A1	noun - the upper part of the human body containing the brain and the face
pillow /ˈpɪl.oʊ/ A1	noun - a cushion for supporting the head while sleeping
town /taʊn/ A1	noun - a populated area smaller than a city

Key Grammar Structures

• Lay your head on my pillow

  ➔ Imperative mood

  ➔ The sentence is a direct command or request. The base form of the verb, "lay", is used to give instructions. It's a common way to express intimacy and invitation.

• No one has to know what you are feeling

  ➔ Modal verb 'have to' + continuous verb form

  ➔ The phrase 'has to' expresses obligation or necessity. 'What you are feeling' is a noun clause functioning as the object of 'know'. The continuous form emphasizes the ongoing nature of the feeling.

• I won't tell your secrets

  ➔ Future with 'will' + negative contraction

  ➔ The contraction 'won't' is a shortened form of 'will not'. This sentence expresses a promise or assurance that the speaker will not reveal the listener's secrets.

• Call 489-4608 and I'll be here

  ➔ Imperative + Future contraction

  ➔ The sentence combines a direct command ('Call') with a promise of availability ('I'll be here'). 'I'll' is a contraction of 'I will'.

• And only we know what we talked about, baby boy

  ➔ Restrictive 'only' + embedded question

  ➔ The word 'only' restricts the knowledge to 'we'. 'What we talked about' is an embedded question functioning as the object of 'know'.