Lyrics & Translation
Explore the world of country music and learn about storytelling through Miranda Lambert's song "Geraldene." This song offers a glimpse into the themes of jealousy and confrontation, all while paying homage to Dolly Parton's iconic "Jolene". Discover how simple acoustic arrangements can amplify powerful emotions.
[English]
♪ I COULD SEE YOU COMING ALL THE WAY FROM AMARILLO ♪♪ TRUCK STOP RED LIPS PULLIN' ON SOME NICOTINE ♪
♪ SHINING LIKE THE SPOKES ON A BRAND NEW EL DORADO ♪
♪ YOU'RE TRAILER PARK PRETTY, BUT YOU'RE NEVER GONNA BE JOLENE ♪
♪ GERALDENE, GERALDENE ♪
♪ WHY YOU GOT TO BE SO MEAN ♪
♪ DON'T MAKE ME CAUSE A SCENE NOW, GERALDENE ♪
♪ GERALDENE, GERALDENE ♪
♪ YOU GOT 'EM ALL ON THEIR KNEES ♪
♪ BUT YOU CAN'T TAKE A MAN FROM ME ♪
♪ GERALDENE ♪
♪ IF I WAS A MAN I'D MAKE YOU MY DALLAS ALICE ♪
♪ I'D PUT A LEFTOVER PAWN SHOP RING ON YOUR LEFT HAND ♪
♪ YOU'RE NEVER GONNA BE THE BACKSTAGE BABE AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE ♪
♪ YOU'RE TOO LATE BABY, I'M THE ONLY BITCH IN THE BAND ♪
♪ GERALDENE, GERALDENE ♪
♪ WHY YOU GOT TO BE SO MEAN ♪
♪ DON'T MAKE ME CAUSE A SCENE NOW, GERALDENE ♪
♪ GERALDENE, GERALDENE ♪
♪ YOU GOT 'EM ALL ON THEIR KNEES ♪
♪ BUT YOU CAN'T TAKE A MAN FROM ME ♪
♪ GERALDENE ♪
♪ GERALDENE, GERALDENE ♪
♪ WHY YOU GOT TO BE SO MEAN ♪
♪ DON'T MAKE ME CAUSE A SCENE NOW, GERALDENE ♪
♪ GERALDENE, GERALDENE ♪
♪ YOU GOT 'EM ALL ON THEIR KNEES ♪
♪ BUT YOU CAN'T TAKE A MAN FROM ME ♪
♪ GERALDENE ♪
♪ GERALDENE, GERALDENE ♪
♪ GERALDENE, GERALDENE ♪
♪ GERALDENE, GERALDENE ♪
Key Vocabulary
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Key Grammar Structures
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I COULD SEE YOU COMING
➔ Modal Verb - Could
➔ Expresses "past ability" or "possibility" in English. "Could" describes the singer's capability to observe from a distance.
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YOU'RE NEVER GONNA BE JOLENE
➔ Future with 'gonna'
➔ Informal contraction of "going to" for future tense. The word "never" emphasizes impossibility. Full phrase: "will never be".
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DON'T MAKE ME CAUSE A SCENE
➔ Negative Imperative
➔ Direct command using "Don't" + verb to forbid an action. "Cause a scene" means publicly create drama.
-
YOU GOT 'EM ALL ON THEIR KNEES
➔ Informal Contraction ('em)
➔ "'em" replaces "them" in casual speech. Phrase shows dominance by making others kneel.
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BUT YOU CAN'T TAKE A MAN FROM ME
➔ Modal Verb + Infinitive
➔ "Can't" (cannot) expresses impossibility + base verb "take". Shows defensive assertion.
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IF I WAS A MAN I'D MAKE YOU MY DALLAS ALICE
➔ Second Conditional
➔ Hypothetical situation: "If I was" (unreal present/future) + "I'd" (would) + verb. Expresses imagined scenario.
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YOU'RE TOO LATE BABY
➔ 'Too' + Adjective
➔ Intensifier "too" before adjective "late" conveys excessiveness/unfavorable situation.
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PULLIN' ON SOME NICOTINE
➔ Present Continuous (Gersund)
➔ "Pullin'" (pulling) describes current action through verb-ing. "On some nicotine" = smoking cigarettes.
-
YOU CAN'T TAKE A MAN FROM ME
➔ Prepositional Phrase
➔ "From me" shows possession/relationship using preposition "from". Indicates defensive ownership.