I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor – English Lyrics
Lyrics & Translation
Dive into the raw energy of early 21st-century British indie rock with Arctic Monkeys' explosive debut, "I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor." This track offers a vibrant, fast-paced dive into colloquial English, capturing the authentic feel of UK nightlife through its sharp observations and playful lyrics. Its rapid-fire delivery and relatable themes of attraction and social dynamics make it a fantastic song for English language learners to grasp conversational nuances and cultural expressions within a high-octane musical setting. The song's distinct Sheffield accent in Alex Turner's vocals also provides an excellent opportunity to familiarize oneself with regional British English.
[English]
Stop making the eyes at meI'll stop making my eyes at you
What it is that surprises me is
That I don't really want you to
And your shoulders are frozen (As cold as the night)
Oh, but you're an explosion (You're dynamite)
Your name isn't Rio, but I don't care for sand
And lighting the fuse
Might result in a bang, b-b-bang-go
I bet that you look good on the dance floor
I don't know if you're looking for romance or
I don't know what you're looking for
I said, I bet that you look good on the dance floor
Dancing to electro-pop like a robot from 1984
Well, from 1984
I wish you'd stop ignoring me
Because it's sending me to despair
Without a sound, yeah
You're calling me, and I don't think it's very fair
That your shoulders are frozen (Cold as the night)
Oh, but you're an explosion (You're dynamite)
Your name isn't Rio, but I don't care for sand
And lighting the fuse
Might result in a bang, b-b-bang-go
I bet that you look good on the dance floor
I don't know if you're looking for romance or
I don't know what you're looking for
I said, I bet that you look good on the dance floor
Dancing to electro-pop like a robot from 1984
Well, from 1984
Oh, there ain't no love, no Montagues or Capulets
Just banging tunes and DJ sets and
Dirty dancefloors and dreams of naughtiness
Well, I bet that you look good on the dance floor
I don't know if you're looking for romance or
I don't know what you're looking for
I said, I bet that you look good on the dance floor
Dancing to electro-pop like a robot from 1984
Said, from 1984
Key Vocabulary
| Vocabulary | Meanings |
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eyes /aɪz/ A1 |
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stop /stɒp/ A1 |
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surprises /sərˈpraɪzɪz/ B1 |
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shoulders /ˈʃoʊldərz/ A2 |
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frozen /ˈfroʊzən/ B1 |
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cold /koʊld/ A1 |
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explosion /ɪkˈsploʊʒən/ B2 |
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dynamite /ˈdaɪnəmaɪt/ B2 |
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care /keər/ A2 |
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sand /sænd/ A1 |
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fuse /fjuːz/ B2 |
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bang /bæŋ/ B1 |
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good /ɡʊd/ A1 |
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dancefloor /ˈdænsflɔːr/ A2 |
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romance /roʊˈmæns/ B1 |
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dancing /ˈdænsɪŋ/ A1 |
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robot /ˈroʊbɑːt/ A2 |
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despair /dɪˈsper/ C1 |
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love /lʌv/ A1 |
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dirty /ˈdɜːrti/ A2 |
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dreams /driːmz/ A2 |
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“eyes, stop, surprises” – got them all figured out?
⚡ Dive into vocabulary challenges in the app and lock in your knowledge right after jamming to "I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor"
Key Grammar Structures
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Stop making the eyes at me
➔ Imperative with Gerund
➔ The verb "stop" is used in the imperative mood, followed by a gerund ("making"). It means "cease the action of making eyes at me."
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What it is that surprises me is that I don't really want you to
➔ Cleft Sentence & Ellipsis
➔ This is a cleft sentence, emphasizing what surprises the speaker. The phrase "What it is that surprises me" highlights the surprising element. The "to" at the end is an ellipsis, standing in for "want you to stop making your eyes at me".
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Your name isn't Rio, but I don't care for sand
➔ Contradiction and Reference
➔ This line uses a contradictory statement to create a playful, almost nonsensical effect. The first part establishes a known reference (Rio), then the second part introduces a seemingly unrelated statement about sand, creating a juxtaposition.
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Might result in a bang, b-b-bang-go
➔ Modal Verb + Result Clause & Repetition
➔ The modal verb "might" expresses possibility. "Result in a bang" is the possible outcome. The repetition of "bang" with a playful variation (b-b-bang-go) emphasizes the potential for excitement or chaos.
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I bet that you look good on the dance floor
➔ Subordinate Clause with "that"
➔ "That you look good on the dance floor" is a subordinate clause acting as the object of the verb "bet". The "that" is optional but common in informal speech.
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Dancing to electro-pop like a robot from 1984
➔ Participle Phrase as Adverbial of Manner
➔ "Dancing to electro-pop like a robot from 1984" is a participle phrase that describes how the person looks good on the dance floor. It functions as an adverbial of manner, explaining *how* they are dancing.
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Oh, there ain't no love, no Montagues or Capulets
➔ Double Negative & Informal Contraction
➔ "Ain't" is a non-standard contraction of "is not" or "are not". The phrase "there ain't no love" employs a double negative. Although grammatically incorrect in formal English, double negatives are sometimes used for emphasis in informal speech.
