Ghostbusters – English Lyrics

• By: Ray Parker, Jr.
• Album: Ghostbusters (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the world of 1980s pop culture with Ray Parker Jr.'s "Ghostbusters," an upbeat and catchy theme song from the hit movie . This song offers a fun way to learn English through its call-and-response lyrics and simple vocabulary, making it a memorable tune for language learners . Explore the story behind this iconic track and discover why it remains a beloved classic .

[English]

Ghostbusters!

If there's somethin' strange

In your neighborhood

Who ya gonna call?

(Ghostbusters!)

If it's somethin' weird

And it don't look good

Who ya gonna call?

(Ghostbusters!)

...

I ain't afraid of no ghost

...

I ain't afraid of no ghost

...

If you're seein' things

Runnin' through your head

Who can you call?

(Ghostbusters!)

An invisible man

Sleepin' in your bed

Oh, who ya gonna call?

(Ghostbusters!)

...

I ain't afraid of no ghost

...

I ain't afraid of no ghost

...

Who ya gonna call?

(Ghostbusters!)

If you're all alone

Pick up the phone

And call

(Ghostbusters!)

...

I ain't afraid of no ghost

I hear it likes the girls

I ain't afraid of no ghost

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

...

Who you gonna call?

(Ghostbusters!)

Mmm, if you've had a dose

Of a freaky ghost baby

You better call

(Ghostbusters!)

...

Let me tell you somethin'

Bustin' makes me feel good

...

I ain't afraid of no ghost

...

I ain't afraid of no ghost

Don't get caught alone, oh no

(Ghostbusters!)

When he comes through your door

Unless you just want some more

I think you better call

(Ghostbusters!)

Oh, who you gonna call? (Ghostbusters!)

Who you gonna call? (Ghostbusters!)

Ah, think you better call (Ghostbusters!)

Who you gonna call? (Ghostbusters!)

I can't hear you

Who you gonna call? (Ghostbusters!)

Louder (Ghostbusters!)

Who you gonna call? (Ghostbusters!)

Who can you call? (Ghostbusters!)

Who you gonna call? (Ghostbusters!)

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
strange /streɪndʒ/ B1	adjective - unusual or surprising; difficult to understand or explain
neighborhood /ˈneɪbərˌhʊd/ A2	noun - the area or region around or near some place or thing
weird /wɪrd/ B2	adjective - suggesting something supernatural; odd
ghost /ɡoʊst/ A2	noun - the soul of a dead person or animal that can appear, in visible form or otherwise, to the living.
see /siː/ A1	verb - perceive with the eyes; discern visually.
run /rʌn/ A1	verb - move at a speed faster than a walk; never having both or all the feet on the ground at the same time.
head /hed/ A1	noun - the part of the body above the neck where the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and brain are.
invisible /ɪnˈvɪzəbl/ B2	adjective - unable to be seen; not visible to the eye
man /mæn/ A1	noun - an adult male human being.
sleep /sliːp/ A1	verb - be in a state of rest when the body and mind are inactive.
bed /bed/ A1	noun - a piece of furniture used for sleeping or resting on.
alone /əˈloʊn/ A2	adjective - having no one else present; solitary.
hear /hɪr/ A1	verb - perceive with the ear the sound made by (someone or something)
dose /doʊs/ B2	noun - a quantity of a medicine or drug taken or administered at one time.
freaky /ˈfriːki/ B2	adjective - very strange or unusual
feel /fiːl/ A1	verb - be aware of (something) through touching.
door /dɔːr/ A1	noun - a hinged, sliding, or revolving barrier at the entrance to a building, room, or vehicle; a doorway.

Key Grammar Structures

• If there's somethin' strange In your neighborhood

  ➔ Conditional Sentences (Type 1 with ellipsis/contraction)

  ➔ This is a Type 1 conditional ('If + present simple, will + infinitive') but shortened. "If there is something strange..." The 'is' is often contracted to 'there's' in informal speech and song. The second part of the sentence, indicating the result, is implied and clarified in the following line with 'Who ya gonna call?'

• Who ya gonna call?

  ➔ Future with 'gonna' (informal)

  ➔ 'Gonna' is a colloquial shortening of 'going to'. 'Who ya gonna call?' means 'Who are you going to call?'. This is a common informal way to express future intentions.

• I ain't afraid of no ghost

  ➔ Double Negative (non-standard)

  ➔ 'Ain't' is a non-standard contraction for 'am not', 'is not', 'are not', 'has not', or 'have not'. Using 'no' after 'ain't' creates a double negative which, in standard English, would be incorrect and mean 'I am afraid of a ghost'. However, in some dialects and in informal speech/song, it's used for emphasis to mean 'I am not afraid of any ghost'.

• If you're all alone, Pick up the phone And call

  ➔ Imperative mood (implied subject)

  ➔ "Pick up the phone" and "call" are both commands in the imperative mood. The subject ('you') is implied but not stated directly. This gives a direct and urgent feel to the lyrics.

• Let me tell you somethin' Bustin' makes me feel good

  ➔ Gerund as Subject

  ➔ "Bustin'" (short for 'busting') is a gerund (a verb acting as a noun). It functions as the subject of the sentence, describing the activity that makes the speaker feel good.

• Unless you just want some more

  ➔ Subordinating Conjunction 'unless'

  ➔ 'Unless' means 'if not'. The sentence 'Unless you just want some more' means 'If you do not want some more'. It sets up a condition for *not* calling the Ghostbusters.