Hard Out Here – English Lyrics

• By: Lily Allen
• Album: Sheezus

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the sharp wit of British pop with Lily Allen's “Hard Out Here.” This song is a fantastic way to learn colloquial English and explore nuanced topics like satire and social commentary. Its clever wordplay and direct address of cultural issues make it a memorable and powerful track for language learners to deconstruct.

[English]

I suppose I should tell you what this bitch is thinking

You'll find me in the studio and not in the kitchen

I won't be bragging about my cars or talking 'bout my chains

Don't need to shake my ass for you 'cause I've got a brain

If I told you about my sex life, you call me a slut

Them boys be talking 'bout their bitches, no one's making a fuss

There's a glass ceiling to break, uh-hu, there's money to make

And now it's time to speed it up 'cause I can't move at this pace

Sometimes it's hard to find the words to say

I'll go ahead and say them anyway

Forget your balls and grow a pair of tits

It's hard, it's hard, it's hard out here

For a bitch it's hard (For a bitch, for a bitch)

For a bitch it's hard, it's hard out here

For a bitch it's hard (For a bitch, for a bitch)

For a bitch it's hard, it's hard out here

If you're not a size six and you're not good looking

Well, you better be rich or be real good at cooking

You should probably lose some weight 'cause we can't see your bones

You should probably fix your face or you'll end up on your own

Don't you want to have somebody who objectifies you

Have you thought about you butt, who's gonna tear in in two

We've never had it so good, uh-hu, we're out of the woods

And if you can't detect the sarcasm, you've misunderstood

Sometimes it's hard to find the words to say

I'll go ahead and say them anyway

Forget your balls and grow a pair of tits

It's hard, it's hard, it's hard out here

For a bitch it's hard (For a bitch, for a bitch)

For a bitch it's hard, it's hard out here

For a bitch it's hard (For a bitch, for a bitch)

For a bitch it's hard, it's hard out here

A bitch, a bitch, a bitch, bitch, bitch (Bitch)

A bitch, a bitch, a bitch, bitch, bitch (Ah)

A bitch, a bitch, a bitch, bitch, bitch

A bitch, a bitch, a bitch, bitch, bitch

Inequality promises that it's here to stay

Always trust the injustice 'cause it's not going away

Inequality promises that it's here to stay

Always trust the injustice 'cause it's not going away

Sometimes it's hard to find the words to say

I'll go ahead and say them anyway

Forget your balls and grow a pair of tits

It's hard, it's hard, it's hard out here

For a bitch it's hard (For a bitch, for a bitch)

For a bitch it's hard, it's hard out here

For a bitch it's hard (For a bitch, for a bitch)

For a bitch it's hard, it's hard out here

Bitch it's hard (For a bitch, for a bitch)

For a bitch it's hard, it's hard out here

For a bitch it's hard (For a bitch, for a bitch)

For a bitch it's hard, it's hard out here

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
break /breɪk/ A2	verb - to separate into pieces verb - to violate (a rule)
kitchen /ˈkɪtʃɪn/ A1	noun - a room for cooking
brain /breɪn/ B1	noun - the organ of thought
size /saɪz/ A2	noun - the measurement of something
weight /weɪt/ A2	noun - how heavy something is
face /feɪs/ A1	noun - the front part of the head
objectify /ˈɒbdʒɪktɪfaɪ/ C1	verb - to treat someone as an object
woods /wʊdz/ A2	noun - a dense area of trees
sarcasm /ˈsɑːrkæzəm/ B2	noun - the use of irony to mock
injustice /ɪnˈdʒʌstɪs/ B2	noun - lack of fairness
promise /ˈprɒmɪs/ A2	noun - a declaration assuring something verb - to assure that something will happen
trust /trʌst/ A2	verb - to believe in the reliability of someone noun - belief in the reliability of someone
grow /ɡroʊ/ A1	verb - to increase in size
hard /hɑːrd/ A1	adjective - difficult
detect /dɪˈtekt/ B2	verb - to discover or identify
bitch /bɪtʃ/ C1	noun - a malicious, unpleasant, selfish woman

Key Grammar Structures

• I suppose I **should** tell you what this bitch is thinking

  ➔ Modal verb of suggestion/obligation ('should')

  ➔ Expresses a polite suggestion or obligation. The speaker feels compelled to tell the listener something.

• I **won't be** bragging about my cars or talking 'bout my chains

  ➔ Future continuous tense ('won't be + -ing')

  ➔ Describes an action that will be in progress at a time in the future. In this case, the speaker is stating they will not be doing something in the future.

• If I **told** you about my sex life, you'd call me a slut

  ➔ Second conditional ('if + past simple, would + infinitive')

  ➔ Used to talk about hypothetical situations and their consequences in the present or future. The use of 'told' is a past simple form for the 'if' clause.

• Them boys **be talking** 'bout their bitches, no one's making a fuss

  ➔ Emphatic 'be' + present continuous tense

  ➔ This construction (be + -ing) is used to emphasize a repeated or habitual action, often with a critical or disapproving tone.

• There's a glass ceiling **to break**, uh-hu, there's money **to make**

  ➔ Infinitive of purpose ('to + verb')

  ➔ Used to express the purpose or reason for an action. Indicates what the glass ceiling is there *for* or what the money is *for*.

• And if you **can't detect** the sarcasm, you've misunderstood

  ➔ Modal verb of ability ('can't') in negative form, indicating inability.

  ➔ Expresses the inability to do something. Here, the speaker is indicating that the listener is unable to identify sarcasm.

• **Don't you want** to have somebody who objectifies you

  ➔ Question formation with auxiliary verb 'do' in present simple, and negative form (don't)

  ➔ A negative question using 'do' to emphasize the speaker's incredulity or surprise. The speaker is questioning the listener's desire.

• We've **never had it so good**, uh-hu, we're out of the woods

  ➔ Present perfect tense ('have + past participle') and comparative phrase.

  ➔ The present perfect is used to describe an action that started in the past and continues to the present. 'Never had it so good' is a comparative phrase which means things are the best they've ever been.