Hit the Road Jack – English Lyrics

• By: Ray Charles
• Album: Deluxe: Greatest Hits

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the vibrant world of English idioms and conversational rhythms with Ray Charles' iconic 'Hit the Road Jack.' This classic R&B song offers a masterclass in direct, expressive English, featuring a memorable call-and-response structure that makes it perfect for understanding natural dialogue and emphatic commands, and for experiencing the emotional depth of American soul music.

[English]

Hit the road Jack and don't you come back

No more, no more, no more, no more

Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more

What you say?

Hit the road Jack and don't you come back

No more, no more, no more, no more

Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more

Old woman, old woman, don't treat me so mean

You're the meanest old woman that I've ever seen

I guess if you said so

I'll have to pack my things and go (that's right)

Hit the road Jack and don't you come back

No more, no more, no more, no more

Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more

What you say?

Hit the road Jack and don't you come back

No more, no more, no more, no more

Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more

Now baby, listen baby, don't ya treat me this way

'Cause I'll be back on my feet some day

(Don't care if you do 'cause it's understood)

(You ain't got no money, you just ain't no good)

Well, I guess if you say so

I'll have to pack my things and go (that's right)

Hit the road Jack and don't you come back

No more, no more, no more, no more

Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more

What you say?

Hit the road Jack and don't you come back

No more, no more, no more, no more

Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more

Well (don't you come back no more)

Uh, what you say? (Don't you come back no more)

I didn't understand you (don't you come back no more)

You can't mean that (don't you come back no more)

Oh, now baby, please (don't you come back no more)

What you tryin' to do to me? (Don't you come back no more)

Oh, don't treat me like that (don't you come back no more)

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
road /roʊd/ A2	noun - a pathway for vehicles or pedestrians
jack /dʒæk/ B1	noun - a playing card with a value of 11 or 12; a man or boy's name
come /kʌm/ A1	verb - to arrive at a place
back /bæk/ A2	adverb - to or toward a place or position behind noun - the rear surface of the body from the shoulders to the hips
woman /ˈwʊmən/ A2	noun - an adult human female
treat /triːt/ B2	verb - to behave toward someone or something in a certain way noun - something enjoyable given to someone as a reward or entertainment
mean /miːn/ B2	verb - to intend to express or convey adjective - average or of an intermediate level
say /seɪ/ A1	verb - to speak or express in words
baby /ˈbeɪbi/ A2	noun - a very young child adjective - used as a term of endearment
please /pliːz/ A2	adverb - used as a polite way to make requests or emphasize a point

Key Grammar Structures

• Hit the road Jack and don't you come back

  ➔ Imperative + conjunction + Negative Imperative

  ➔ The sentence uses the imperative mood to give commands. "Hit the road" is a direct order to leave, and "don't you come back" is a negative command forbidding return.

• No more, no more, no more, no more

  ➔ Adverb of Quantity

  ➔ "No more" functions as an adverb indicating the cessation of something. The repetition emphasizes the finality of the situation, meaning "not anymore at all."

• Old woman, old woman, don't treat me so mean

  ➔ Imperative with Adverb of Manner

  ➔ "Don't treat me so mean" uses an imperative to express a request or plea, and the adverb "mean" describes the manner of treatment being undesirable.

• You're the meanest old woman that I've ever seen

  ➔ Superlative Adjective + Relative Clause

  ➔ "Meanest" is the superlative form of the adjective "mean," indicating the highest degree of meanness. The relative clause "that I've ever seen" modifies "old woman," providing context.

• I'll have to pack my things and go

  ➔ Future Tense with Modal Verb expressing obligation

  ➔ "I'll have to pack" uses the future tense (will) with the modal verb "have to" to express a future obligation. The speaker feels compelled to do something because of the situation.

• 'Cause I'll be back on my feet some day

  ➔ Future Tense with Prepositional Phrase

  ➔ "I'll be back" indicates a future return. The prepositional phrase "on my feet" describes the state of being financially stable or independent, and "some day" indicates an unspecified time in the future.

• You ain't got no money, you just ain't no good

  ➔ Double Negative + Informal Language

  ➔ The use of "ain't" and double negatives like "ain't got no money" are features of informal, often African-American Vernacular English (AAVE). Grammatically, the double negative reinforces the negation, but in standard English, it would be considered incorrect. The phrase means "you have no money, and you are not good."