do better blues – English Lyrics

• By: Jhené Aiko, HOPE
• Album: sailing soul(s)

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a soulful journey with Jhené Aiko and HOPE's "do better blues." This R&B gem offers a poignant exploration of love, commitment, and navigating relationship challenges. Through its relatable and introspective lyrics, you can immerse yourself in authentic English expressions of emotion and vulnerability, gaining a deeper understanding of everyday language used to describe the ups and downs of human connection.

[English]

Ay, ay, ay

First I saw you (hey), then I liked you (hey)

Now I love you (uh), now I fight you (Uh)

Ay, (ay) if I could do better, then you could better too

But I don't want better, it only gets better with you, uh

My gut told me "stay" and "leave"

Now that's a crazy way to start a verse, ain't it?

Huh, I got advice from both Jay and Steve

My business needs me focused, this focus is what I need

Baby, we don't need to chop it up, darling, we need to cleave

Instead of yelling, fussing loud, cussing in the street

So grow the fuck up one time, my baby, please

Know this pride is gon' kill us and your friends don't feel us, but

If I could do better (better, better)

Then you can do better, too

But I don't want better (better, better)

'Cause I'm only better with you, whoa

If you could do better (better, better)

Then I can do better, too (oh)

But I don't need better (better, better)

It only gets better with you, whoa

If I am your rib, then you are my shoulder

I'll be your rock 'cause you are my boulder

When we're together, they can't stop both us

They can't stop both us, th-th-th-they can't stop both us, yeah

And my only plans with you are

A one-life stand with you, oh

The wrong that keeps me right and

The light that keeps me guided, ooh, oh

If I could do better (better, better)

Then you can do better, too (yeah)

But I don't want better (better, better)

'Cause I'm only better with you, oh (you)

If you could do better (oh)

Then I can do better, too (oh)

But I don't need better (better, better), uh

It only gets better with you

In a relationship, she wants three things

Eyes that won't cry (uh)

Lips that won't lie (she said)

Love that won't die

In a relationship, she wants three things

Eyes that won't cry (uh-huh)

Lips that won't lie (uh)

Love that won't die

In a relationship, she wants three things

Eyes that won't cry (one)

Lips that won't lie (two, three)

Love that won't die

In a relationship, she wants three things

Eyes that won't cry (just give 'em to her)

Lips that won't lie (just give 'em to her)

Love that won't die

Baby, I want you more than anything, believe this shit or not

I'm your rock, I'm your black knight, baby, I'm your Pac

I'm your Clyde, you my Bonnie, murder mami from the spot

We gon' make it through the rough patch and make it to the top, baby

See, you my real, future mother of my kids

I know you gon' forgive me for the dumb shit I did

You know I'm gon' forgive you for the dumb shit you did

One love, one heart, but you need new friends, take that with ya (with ya)

If I could do better (better, better)

Then you can do better, too

But I don't want better

'Cause I'm only better with you, oh (oh)

If you could do better (better, better)

Then I can do better, too (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)

But I don't need better (better, better), uh

It only gets better with you, oh

In a relationship, she wants three things

Eyes that don't cry (hey), lips that don't lie (mmh), love that don't die

In a relationship, she wants three things

Eyes that don't cry (things), lips that don't lie (uh), love that don't die

In a relationship, she wants three things

Eyes that don't cry lips that don't lie, love that don't die

In a relationship, she want three things

Eyes that don't cry, lips that don't lie (hello? Yes), love that don't die

If I could do better (cook that bitch, cook that bitch, cook that bitch, what?)

Then you can do better, too (Cook that bitch, cook that bitch, cook that bitch, what? Uh)

But I don't want better

'Cause I'm only better with you, oh (you)

If you could do better (oh)

Then I can do better too

But I don't need better

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
fight /faɪt/ A2	verb - to take part in a physical or verbal struggle
focus /ˈfoʊkəs/ B1	noun - the center of interest or activity verb - to concentrate attention or effort
cleave /kliːv/ C1	verb - to split or sever something, especially along the grain verb - to adhere closely to
grow /ɡroʊ/ A2	verb - to increase in size or amount
pride /praɪd/ B1	noun - a feeling of satisfaction in one's achievements or qualities
shoulder /ˈʃoʊldər/ A2	noun - the part of the body connecting the arm to the neck
rock /rɒk/ A2	noun - a large stone noun - a solid, stable person
boulder /ˈboʊldər/ B2	noun - a large rock
guide /ɡaɪd/ B1	verb - to show someone the way
plans /plænz/ A2	noun - a detailed proposal for doing or achieving something
wrong /rɒŋ/ A2	adjective - not correct or true
cry /kraɪ/ A1	verb - to shed tears
lie /laɪ/ A2	verb - to say something that is not true
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - an intense feeling of affection
forgive /fərˈɡɪv/ B1	verb - to stop feeling angry or resentful toward someone
patch /pætʃ/ A2	noun - a small piece of material used to repair something noun - a difficult period
friends /frendz/ A1	noun - people whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection

Key Grammar Structures

• First I saw you (hey), then I liked you (hey)

  ➔ Past Simple Tense

  ➔ The verbs 'saw' and 'liked' are in the past simple tense, indicating completed actions in the past.

• If I could do better, then you could better too

  ➔ Conditional Sentence (Type 2)

  ➔ The sentence uses 'if' to express a hypothetical situation in the present with 'could' to indicate possibility.

• My gut told me 'stay' and 'leave'

  ➔ Indirect Speech

  ➔ The verbs 'stay' and 'leave' are in the imperative form, but they are reported indirectly, showing what the gut advised.

• Instead of yelling, fussing loud, cussing in the street

  ➔ Gerunds after Prepositions

  ➔ The gerunds 'yelling', 'fussing', and 'cussing' are used after the preposition 'of', indicating actions.

• If I am your rib, then you are my shoulder

  ➔ Conditional Sentence (Type 1)

  ➔ The sentence uses 'if' with the present tense to express a real condition and its result.

• The wrong that keeps me right and the light that keeps me guided

  ➔ Relative Pronouns

  ➔ The relative pronouns 'that' are used to introduce clauses that describe 'the wrong' and 'the light'.

• In a relationship, she wants three things

  ➔ Prepositional Phrase

  ➔ The prepositional phrase 'in a relationship' modifies the verb 'wants', indicating the context of the action.

• I'm your rock, I'm your black knight, baby, I'm your Pac

  ➔ Apposition

  ➔ The phrases 'your rock', 'your black knight', and 'your Pac' are in apposition to the pronoun 'I', renaming or explaining it.