Don’t Take It Personally – English Lyrics

• By: Selena Gomez, benny blanco
• Album: I Said I Love You First

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the heartfelt honesty of "Don't Take It Personally" by Selena Gomez and benny blanco, a captivating pop track that offers a unique perspective on navigating past relationships and new beginnings. This song is an excellent opportunity for language learners to explore English expressions of empathy, assertion, and closure within a relatable narrative. Its clear, concise lyrics and engaging emotional depth make it perfect for understanding conversational English and cultural nuances around complex personal feelings.

[English]

I know the two of you used to talk like every day

And ever since I came around, it hasn't been the same

You probably got a dart board of my face right in the middle

He sleeps in my bed, I met his parents, it's official

Please don't take it personally, some things are just meant to be

...

Don't waste all your energy, we both know that he loves me

Oh honey, you deserve it, I know you're gonna find somebody perfect

Please don't take it personally, some things are just meant to be

You're so beautiful, it's still hard for me to swallow

I used to get so jealous, I would stress eat, drown my sorrows

In a bottle of vodka, and then I remembered that he doesn't want ya

No, he doesn't want ya

Please don't take it personally, some things are just meant to be

...

Don't waste all your energy, we both know that he loves me

Oh honey, you deserve it, I know you're gonna find somebody perfect

Please don't take it personally, some things are just meant to be

Forever, forever, forever, oh, forever

Forever and ever

Please don't take it personally

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
personal /ˈpɜːrsənəl/ B1	adjective - relating to an individual person and their private life and feelings; often implying offense or strong emotion directed at someone.
mean /miːn/ A1	verb - to intend to convey, indicate, or refer to (a particular thing or notion); to intend to do something.
waste /weɪst/ B1	verb - use or expend carelessly, extravagantly, or to no purpose. noun - an act or instance of wasting time or resources; unwanted or unusable material.
energy /ˈɛnərdʒi/ A2	noun - the strength and vitality required for sustained physical or mental activity.
deserve /dɪˈzɜːrv/ B1	verb - do something or have or show qualities worthy of (reward or punishment).
perfect /ˈpɜːrfɪkt/ A2	adjective - having all the required or desirable elements, qualities, or characteristics; as good as it is possible to be.
beautiful /ˈbjuːtɪfəl/ A1	adjective - pleasing the senses or mind aesthetically.
swallow /ˈswɑːloʊ/ B1	verb - cause or allow (something, especially food or drink) to pass down the throat. verb - accept or believe (something) without question or reluctance (figurative, as in 'hard to swallow').
jealous /ˈdʒɛləs/ B1	adjective - feeling or showing envy of someone or their achievements and advantages; feeling or showing a resentful suspicion that one's partner is attracted to or involved with someone else.
stress /strɛs/ B1	noun - a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances. verb - subject to pressure or tension; give particular emphasis or importance to.
drown /draʊn/ B1	verb - die through submersion in and inhalation of water; cause to die in this way. verb - overwhelm or be overwhelmed by something, especially a sound or an emotion (figurative, as in 'drown sorrows').
sorrow /ˈsɑːroʊ/ B2	noun - a feeling of deep distress caused by loss, disappointment, or other misfortune suffered by oneself or others.
bottle /ˈbɑːtəl/ A2	noun - a container, typically made of glass or plastic and with a narrow neck, used for holding liquids.
official /əˈfɪʃəl/ B1	adjective - relating to an authority or public body and its activities and responsibilities; formally approved or provided by an authority.
forever /fəˈrɛvər/ B1	adverb - for all future time; for always. noun - an indefinitely long period of time.
dart /dɑːrt/ B1	noun - a small pointed missile, often with a feathered tail, thrown by hand in the game of darts. verb - move suddenly and rapidly in a particular direction.
face /feɪs/ A1	noun - the front part of a person's head from the forehead to the chin, or the front part of an animal's head. verb - be confronted with or have to deal with (a difficult situation or problem).
honey /ˈhʌni/ B1	noun - a sweet, sticky yellowish-brown fluid made by bees. noun - used as a term of endearment.
take /teɪk/ A1	verb - lay hold of (something) with one's hands; pick up; remove from a place. verb - interpret or understand (something) in a particular way (as in 'take it personally').
same /seɪm/ A1	adjective - identical; not different.

Key Grammar Structures

• Some things are just meant to be

  ➔ Passive voice (present tense simple)

  ➔ The phrase uses the **passive voice** to express that certain things are inherently destined to happen without specifying who causes them.

• Please don't take it personally

  ➔ Imperative with negation (polite request)

  ➔ This is a **negative imperative** used to politely ask someone not to interpret their actions in a certain way.

• Some things are just meant to be

  ➔ Modal verb 'are' + adjective phrase to express certainty

  ➔ Uses the **present tense** of the verb **'are'** with an adjective phrase to assert that certain things are fated or naturally destined.

• I know the two of you used to talk like every day

  ➔ Past habitual use of 'used to' to indicate a repeated action in the past

  ➔ The phrase **'used to'** describes a **past habitual action** that no longer occurs, indicating a repeated occurrence in the past.

• He sleeps in my bed

  ➔ Simple present tense to describe habitual action

  ➔ The use of **simple present tense** 'sleeps' indicates a **habitual or ongoing action**.