Get Up I Feel Like Being A Sex Machine – English Lyrics

• By: James Brown, The Original J.B.s
• Album: Sex Machine

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the funky world of James Brown's "Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine," a song that not only gets you moving but also teaches you about rhythm, confidence, and the power of call-and-response in music. Discover how Brown turned a potentially shocking title into a classic through sheer groove and energy .

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
get /ɡet/ A1	verb - to receive or obtain something verb - to move to a specified place or into a specified state or situation.
up /ʌp/ A1	adverb - toward a higher place or position verb - to increase
machine /məˈʃiːn/ A2	noun - an apparatus using mechanical power and having parts each with a definite function and together performing a particular task.
sex /seks/ B1	noun - sexual activity, including specifically sexual intercourse.
thing /θɪŋ/ A1	noun - an object that one need not, cannot, or does not wish to give a specific name to.
move /muːv/ A1	verb - go in a specified direction or manner; change position.
scene /siːn/ B1	noun - the place where an incident in real life or fiction occurs or occurred.
shake /ʃeɪk/ A2	verb - move (something) with quick, short movements, up and down or from side to side.
form /fɔːrm/ B1	noun - the visible shape or configuration of something.
feeling /ˈfiːlɪŋ/ B1	noun - an emotional state or reaction.
born /bɔːrn/ A2	verb - having started life
fever /ˈfiːvər/ B1	noun - an abnormally high body temperature, usually accompanied by shivering, headache, and in severe instances, delirium.
sweat /swet/ B1	noun - moisture exuded through the pores of the skin, typically as a result of heat or exertion.
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - an intense feeling of affection.
taste /teɪst/ A2	noun - the sensation of flavor perceived in the mouth and throat on contact with a substance.

Key Grammar Structures

• Fellas, I'm ready to get up and do my thing

  ➔ Present Simple (be ready) + Infinitive of Purpose (to get up and do)

  ➔ Use of the present simple "I'm ready" to state a current state of readiness. The infinitive phrase "to get up and do my thing" expresses the purpose or intention.

• Like a, like a sex machine, man

  ➔ Simile using "like"

  ➔ Comparing oneself to a sex machine using "like" to create a vivid image. It is figurative language.

• Can I count it off?

  ➔ Modal verb "Can" for permission

  ➔ "Can" is used to ask for permission to start counting off the beat. It implies seeking agreement or authorization.

• Shake your arm and use your form

  ➔ Imperative mood (Shake, Use)

  ➔ "Shake" and "Use" are imperative verbs used to give instructions or commands, encouraging movement and style.

• Sure as you're born

  ➔ Idiomatic expression (as sure as)

  ➔ Meaning 'certainly' or 'without a doubt', "sure as you're born" is an intensifier.

• You got to have the feeling

  ➔ Semi-modal verb "got to" expressing obligation or necessity.

  ➔ "Got to" is an informal way of saying "have to", indicating a requirement to possess the feeling described.

• Bobby, should I take 'em to the bridge?

  ➔ Modal verb "should" for suggestion or asking for advice

  ➔ "Should" is used to ask for guidance or permission to proceed with a specific musical section (the bridge).

• Can we hit it like we did one more time, from the top?

  ➔ Past Simple (did) in a relative clause, Modal verb (Can)

  ➔ The use of the past simple "did" in the relative clause describes an action that happened previously. "Can" seeks permission to repeat the section.