Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue) – English Lyrics

• By: Phil Collins
• Album: Going Back

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the soulful sounds of Phil Collins' "Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue)," a fantastic entry point for anyone keen to explore the English language through music. This track isn't just a song; it's Phil Collins' heartfelt tribute to the Motown era, allowing you to experience the emotional depth and lyrical simplicity of classic soul. By listening, you can pick up common English phrases and expressions related to feelings and relationships, all while enjoying Collins' meticulous recreation of an iconic sound. Its direct and relatable lyrics make it special for language learners, offering a clear narrative of love and heartache that's easy to follow and understand.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
love /lʌv/ A1	verb - to have strong affection for someone noun - an intense feeling of affection
heart /hɑːt/ A1	noun - the organ that pumps blood noun - the center of emotion
understand /ˌʌndərˈstænd/ B1	verb - to perceive the intended meaning of words
command /kəˈmænd/ B2	noun - an authoritative order verb - to give an order
blue /bluː/ A1	adjective - of a color like the sky adjective - sad
game /ɡeɪm/ A2	noun - a form of play or sport
pain /peɪn/ A2	noun - physical suffering noun - emotional suffering
true /truː/ A2	adjective - in accordance with fact or reality
fair /feər/ A2	adjective - just and impartial
care /keər/ A1	verb - to feel concern or interest
tired /ˈtaɪərd/ A2	adjective - needing sleep or rest
nights /naɪts/ A1	noun - the period of darkness between sunset and sunrise
tell /tel/ A1	verb - to communicate information
ball /bɔːl/ A1	noun - a round or spherical object noun - a formal dance
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - the duration of existence

Key Grammar Structures

• I love you, girl, with all my heart and soul

  ➔ Present Simple (for stating facts and feelings)

  ➔ The verb "love" is used in the present simple tense to express a feeling.

• I can't understand why you treat me cold

  ➔ Modal verb "can" in negative form (ability/inability) + causative structure

  ➔ "Can't" expresses inability. "Treat me cold" is a causative structure (making me cold, though implicitly).

• Your every wish, girl, is my command

  ➔ Possessive adjective "Your" and the use of "every"

  ➔ "Your" indicates possession, while "every" emphasizes that all wishes are his command.

• And that's why I can't seem to understand why

  ➔ Linking verb "seem" + infinitive (to understand)

  ➔ "Seem" is a linking verb followed by an infinitive. "Why" introduces an embedded question.

• Why you wanna make me blue?

  ➔ Informal contracted form "wanna" + causative structure "make me blue"

  ➔ "Wanna" is a colloquial contraction of "want to". "Make me blue" is a causative phrase, meaning "make me sad".

• My love for you is just a game

  ➔ Subject-verb agreement and use of "just"

  ➔ The subject "love" agrees with the verb "is". "Just" is used as an adverb, modifying "a game".

• You make it so plain, you just don't care

  ➔ Causative "make" and negative "don't care", with "so" and "just" for emphasis.

  ➔ "Make" has a causative function. "Don't care" is a negative statement. "So" and "just" intensify the expression.

• Tell me why can't you be true?

  ➔ Embedded question with inversion after "why" due to the question form.

  ➔ The sentence is an indirect question. The auxiliary verb "can" comes before the subject "you".