I Can't Quit You Baby – English Lyrics

• By: The Rolling Stones
• Album: Blue & Lonesome

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the roots of rock and roll with this classic blues track. This song is perfect for learners to explore the expressive nature of English colloquialisms and the emotional depth of the blues genre, showcasing how repetition and phrasing are used to convey deep longing.

[English]

We-ell, I can't quit you baby

But I'm gonna have to put you down for a while

We-ell, I can't quit you baby

But I'm gonna have to put you down for a while

We-ell you know you messed up my life now baby

You made me mistreat my only child

Yes you know I love you baby

And you know my love for you I'd never hide

Yes you know I'd always love you baby

And my love, my love for you I'd never hide

Yeah you know I'm crazy about you baby, yeah

And you're just my only heart's desire

Yes, I'm so tired now, I'm so tired now baby

I'm so tired I wanna lay down and cry

Yes, I'm so tired, I'm so tired baby

I wanna lay down and cry

Yes, you're my only only lover

You're my only heart's desire

Well, alright

Yes, you hear me moanin', moanin' and groanin'

Yeah, you know, you know it hurts me, hurts me deep down inside

Yes, you hear me moanin' and groanin' baby

Yeah, it hurts me, it hurts me deep down inside

When you hear me howlin' up baby

Yeah, you know you're my only, you're only my heart's desire

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
quit /kwɪt/ A2	verb - to stop doing something or to leave someone
messed up /mɛst ʌp/ B1	verb - to ruin or cause problems for something or someone
mistreat /ˌmɪsˈtriːt/ B2	verb - to treat someone or something badly or unfairly
hide /haɪd/ A2	verb - to put something where it cannot be seen
crazy /ˈkreɪzi/ A2	adjective - extremely enthusiastic or behaving in an unusual way
desire /dɪˈzaɪər/ B2	noun - a strong feeling of wanting to have something or someone
tired /ˈtaɪərd/ A1	adjective - needing rest or sleep
lover /ˈlʌvər/ B1	noun - a person with whom someone is having a romantic or sexual relationship
moanin' /ˈmoʊnɪn/ B2	verb - making a long, low sound expressing pain or pleasure
groanin' /ˈɡroʊnɪn/ B2	verb - making a deep, low sound of pain or discomfort
hurt /hɜːrt/ A2	verb - to cause physical or emotional pain
deep /diːp/ A2	adjective - extending far down from the top or surface
howlin' /ˈhaʊlɪn/ B2	verb - making a long, loud, doleful cry

Key Grammar Structures

• I can't quit you baby

  ➔ Modal Verb of Ability (Negative)

  ➔ "Can't" is the contraction of "cannot," expressing the inability to stop an action.

• I'm gonna have to put you down for a while

  ➔ Future Intention with 'be going to' + Modal 'have to'

  ➔ "Gonna" (informal for going to) combined with "have to" indicates a future obligation.

• You made me mistreat my only child

  ➔ Causative Verb (Make + Object + Bare Infinitive)

  ➔ "Made" is used to show someone forced or caused another to do something.

• My love for you I'd never hide

  ➔ Conditional/Modal Perfect (Would + Verb)

  ➔ "I'd" (I would) expresses a hypothetical or habitual refusal in this context.

• I'm so tired I wanna lay down and cry

  ➔ Adverb of Degree (So... that... structure)

  ➔ The "so... (that)" structure indicates the intensity of being tired leading to the action of crying.

• You're my only heart's desire

  ➔ Possessive Noun (Genitive Case)

  ➔ "Heart's" uses the apostrophe-s to indicate that the desire belongs to the heart.

• You hear me moanin' and groanin'

  ➔ Present Participle as object complement

  ➔ "Moanin'" and "groanin'" describe the ongoing state of the subject when heard.

• It hurts me deep down inside

  ➔ Intransitive/Transitive Verb + Adverbial Phrase

  ➔ "Deep down inside" is an adverbial phrase modifying where the pain is felt.