I Love Rock 'n' Roll

• By: Joan Jett & The Blackhearts

Lyrics:

Vocabulary in this song:

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

Grammar:

• I saw him dancin' there by the record machine

  ➔ Gerund after verbs of perception (see, hear, watch)

  ➔ The verb "saw" (past tense of "see") is followed by "dancin'" (dancing), the gerund form of the verb "dance". This structure emphasizes the ongoing action of dancing that was witnessed.

• I knew he must've been about 17

  ➔ Modal verb "must" + "have been" (deduction about the past)

  ➔ "Must have been" expresses a strong deduction about a past situation. The speaker is highly certain that the person was approximately 17 years old.

• Playin' my favorite song

  ➔ Present participle acting as a descriptive adjective

  ➔ "Playin'" (playing) modifies "song", describing it as the song that is currently playing. It acts like an adjective.

• And I could tell it wouldn't be long

  ➔ Future in the past (would)

  ➔ "Wouldn't be" expresses a future event as viewed from a point in the past (when the speaker saw the person). "Could tell" establishes the past perspective.

• 'Til he was with me

  ➔ Ellipsis (omission of 'until')

  ➔ "'Til" is a shortened form of "until". In informal speech and song lyrics, the 'un' is often dropped for brevity and a more casual tone.

• So put another dime in the jukebox, baby

  ➔ Imperative sentence (giving a command or request)

  ➔ The sentence begins with the verb "put", indicating a direct command or a strong request. The subject "you" is implied.

• That don't matter

  ➔ Non-standard grammar: Double negative (informal speech)

  ➔ In standard English, it should be "That doesn't matter". Using "don't" with "that" is grammatically incorrect but common in informal speech or dialects.