I Love Rock 'n' Roll – English Lyrics

• By: Joan Jett & The Blackhearts

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a fantastic way to immerse yourself in the culture, and Joan Jett's "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" is a perfect starting point for English. The lyrics are clear, repetitive, and use common slang, making it easy to pick up new vocabulary and phrases. The song's rebellious energy and simple, powerful message of loving music are universal, making it a fun and engaging way to practice your English skills while rocking out to a timeless classic.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
dance /dæns/ A1	verb - to move rhythmically to music noun - a set of steps and movements
machine /məˈʃiːn/ A2	noun - an apparatus using mechanical power and having parts each with a definite function
beat /biːt/ A2	noun - a main accent or rhythmic unit in music verb - to strike (something) repeatedly
song /sɒŋ/ A1	noun - a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing
love /lʌv/ A1	verb - to have a strong feeling of affection for (someone) noun - an intense feeling of affection
rock /rɒk/ A1	noun - hard solid nonmetallic mineral matter of which rock is made
roll /rəʊl/ A2	verb - move or cause to move in a particular direction by turning over and over. noun - a cylinder formed by folding or winding something
jukebox /ˈdʒuːkbɒks/ B2	noun - a coin-operated record player
baby /ˈbeɪbi/ A1	noun - a very young child
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - the indefinite continued progress of existence
name /neɪm/ A1	noun - a word or words by which someone or something is known
home /həʊm/ A1	noun - the place where one lives
alone /əˈləʊn/ A2	adjective - having no one else present
old /əʊld/ A1	adjective - having lived for a long time; no longer young
favorite /ˈfeɪvərɪt/ A2	adjective - preferred above all others

Key Grammar Structures

• I saw him dancin' there by the record machine

  ➔ Gerunds as objects of perception verbs

  ➔ The verb "saw" is a verb of perception. "Dancin'" (dancing) is a gerund used as the object of the verb "saw". It describes what was perceived.

• I knew he must've been about 17

  ➔ Modal verbs of deduction in the past (must have + past participle)

  ➔ "Must've been" (must have been) indicates a strong deduction about the past. The speaker is highly confident that the person was around 17.

• And I could tell it wouldn't be long 'Til he was with me, yeah, me

  ➔ Conditional clauses with "would" (Type 2 conditional feel)

  ➔ The phrase "it wouldn't be long" suggests a future event likely to happen. The use of "would" implies a degree of certainty or expectation.

• That don't matter

  ➔ Non-standard verb conjugation (omission of 's' in third-person singular)

  ➔ In standard English, it should be "That doesn't matter". The omission of the 's' is a feature of informal, often dialectal speech.

• Said, "Can I take you home where we can be alone?"

  ➔ Indirect Speech & Relative Clause

  ➔ "Said" signals reported speech. "Where we can be alone" is a relative clause modifying "home", specifying the type of home.