Don’t Play – English Lyrics

• By: Halsey
• Album: hopeless fountain kingdom

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into Halsey's fierce track "Don't Play" and explore themes of independence and empowerment. This song offers a chance to dissect assertive language and cultural references, enhancing your understanding of contemporary English and Halsey's bold artistic expression .

[English]

Alone out in Saint-Tropez

Lookin' as fine as a damn Monet

Tryna hydrate on Perrier

Everybody thirsty, drinks on me

When I'm out, clothes on lay away

Tryna take back what you say to me

I don't give a damn what you say to me

There ain't no time for games with me

I'm moving on, I'm getting paid

I'm on my own

I had some space to deal with it

I'm moving on, it's getting late

Go and grab someone and find a place to deal with it

...

Yeah, don't even try

Can't fuck up my vibe

Double cupping in my ride

Motherfucker, don't play with me

Motherfucker, don't play with me

Motherfucker, don't play with me

Motherfucker, don't play with me

Running lines like a marathon

Got it all white like Parmesan

I am not the type to be out past dawn

Tomorrow, got a flight headed to Taiwan

Now you know where the bottle gone

Dripping so wet with the Pérignon

I am not the type to admit I'm on

How could I lie when we sip so strong?

I'm moving on, I'm getting paid

I'm on my own

I had some space to deal with it

I'm moving on, it's getting late

Go and grab someone and find a place to deal with it

Yeah, don't even try

Can't fuck up my vibe

Double cuppin' in my ride

Motherfucker, don't play with me

Motherfucker, don't play with me

Motherfucker, don't play with me

Motherfucker, don't play with me

Play, play, play, play

Play, play, play, play

Play, play, play, play

Play, play, play, play

Play, play, play, play

Play, play, play, play

Play, play, play, play (women, don't play no games)

Play, play, play, play (women, don't play no games)

Play, play, play, play (women, don't play no games)

Play, play, play, play (women, don't play no games)

Play, play, play, play (women, don't play no games)

Play, play, play, play (women, don't play no games)

Women

...

Key Grammar Structures

• Lookin' as fine as a damn Monet

  ➔ Simile using 'as...as' structure

  ➔ The phrase uses the structure 'as fine as' to create a simile, comparing the subject's appearance to a Monet painting. This structure is commonly used to make vivid comparisons between two different things.

• There ain't no time for games with me

  ➔ Double negative (ain't no)

  ➔ The line uses a double negative with 'ain't no', which is informal and colloquial English. While standard English would avoid double negatives, in informal contexts and some dialects, double negatives like this are used for emphasis.

• I'm moving on, I'm getting paid

  ➔ Present continuous tense

  ➔ Both clauses use the present continuous tense ('am moving', 'am getting') to describe actions happening at the present time or around the present time. This tense is formed with 'am/is/are' + present participle (-ing form).

• I had some space to deal with it

  ➔ Infinitive of purpose

  ➔ The phrase uses the infinitive 'to deal with' to express purpose or reason. The structure 'noun + to + infinitive' shows why something exists or is done - in this case, the space exists for the purpose of dealing with something.

• Go and grab someone and find a place to deal with it

  ➔ Imperative mood + infinitive of purpose

  ➔ The sentence begins with imperative verbs ('Go and grab', 'find') which give commands or instructions. It then uses the infinitive of purpose 'to deal with it' to explain why the place should be found. This structure combines directive language with purpose.

• Can't fuck up my vibe

  ➔ Negative modal verb + phrasal verb

  ➔ The line uses the negative modal verb 'can't' (cannot) with the phrasal verb 'fuck up'. Phrasal verbs consist of a verb plus a particle (preposition or adverb) that creates a meaning different from the original verb alone. 'Fuck up' is an informal phrasal verb meaning to ruin or spoil something.

• Got it all white like Parmesan

  ➔ Ellipsis (omission of 'I've')

  ➔ The line uses ellipsis by omitting the subject and auxiliary verb 'I've' (I have). The complete form would be 'I've got it all white like Parmesan'. This omission is common in informal English, especially in song lyrics and casual speech.

• How could I lie when we sip so strong?

  ➔ Rhetorical question with modal verb

  ➔ The line uses a rhetorical question with the modal verb 'could' to express impossibility or disbelief. A rhetorical question doesn't expect an answer but makes a point. Here, it suggests that lying would be impossible under the circumstances (when drinking strong alcohol).