I Think I Like You Better When You’re Gone – English Lyrics

• By: Reneé Rapp
• Album: BITE ME

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a powerful tool, and Reneé Rapp's 'I Think I Like You Better When You're Gone' offers a great opportunity for English learners. The song's lyrics are direct and conversational, making it easier to follow the narrative of a relationship's breakdown. Its catchy, repetitive chorus and clear enunciation of emotionally charged phrases can help learners grasp modern slang and the subtleties of expressing mixed feelings in English.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
miss /mɪs/ A2	verb - to feel sad because someone you love is not with you verb - to fail to hit, catch, or achieve something
wish /wɪʃ/ A2	verb - to want something to happen or to be true
drink /drɪŋk/ A1	verb - to take liquid into the mouth and swallow it verb - to consume alcoholic drinks
think /θɪŋk/ A1	verb - to have an opinion about something or someone
disappear /ˌdɪs.əˈpɪr/ B1	verb - to stop being visible
feeling /ˈfiːlɪŋ/ A2	noun - an emotion or sensation
wrong /rɒŋ/ A2	adjective - not correct or true adjective - not morally good or right
better /ˈbɛtər/ A1	adjective - comparative of 'good' adverb - comparative of 'well'
gone /ɡɒn/ A2	adjective - no longer present
sight /saɪt/ B1	noun - the ability to see noun - something that is seen
mind /maɪnd/ A2	noun - the part of a person that thinks, feels, and remembers verb - to be annoyed or bothered by something
wore /wɔːr/ A2	verb - past tense of wear, to have clothing or accessories on your body
like /laɪk/ A1	verb - to find someone or something pleasant or attractive
fun /fʌn/ A1	noun - enjoyment, amusement, or lighthearted pleasure
drunk /drʌŋk/ A2	adjective - affected by alcohol
kill /kɪl/ A2	verb - to cause the death of a person, animal, or plant
admit /ədˈmɪt/ B1	verb - to agree that something is true, especially unwillingly
sad /sæd/ A1	adjective - unhappy
counting /ˈkaʊn.tɪŋ/ A1	verb - present participle of count; to say numbers in order
days /deɪz/ A1	noun - plural of day; a period of 24 hours
country /ˈkʌn.tri/ A2	noun - a nation with its own government, occupying a particular territory
miles /maɪlz/ B1	noun - plural of mile; a unit of distance equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet
zones /zoʊnz/ B2	noun - plural of zone; an area or stretch of land having a particular characteristic, purpose, or use, or subject to particular restrictions
face /feɪs/ A1	noun - the front part of a person's head from the forehead to the chin
packing /ˈpæk.ɪŋ/ A2	verb - present participle of pack; to put things into a bag, case, or box so that you can transport them
bags /bæɡz/ A1	noun - plural of bag; a container made of flexible material with an opening at the top, used for carrying or storing things

Key Grammar Structures

• But the more I drink, the more I think you might just disappear

  ➔ Correlative Conjunctions & Comparative Structures

  ➔ The structure 'the + comparative adjective, the + comparative adjective' shows a proportional relationship. As the amount of drinking increases, the feeling of the person disappearing also increases. 'Might' expresses possibility.

• Even wore that shit that you don't like

  ➔ Relative Clauses & Informal Language

  ➔ 'That' introduces a restrictive relative clause modifying 'shit'. 'Shit' is used informally to refer to clothing. The clause specifies *which* clothes were worn – those the other person dislikes.

• Admit that it makes me sad

  ➔ Gerunds as Complements & Modal Verbs

  ➔ 'Admit' is an imperative verb. 'That' introduces a subordinate clause acting as the object of 'admit'. 'Makes me sad' uses a gerund phrase ('makes') functioning as a complement, describing the effect on the speaker.

• I think I like you better when you’re gone

  ➔ Comparative Adverbs & Continuous Tense

  ➔ 'Better' is a comparative adverb modifying 'like'. 'When you're gone' uses the present continuous tense ('are') to describe a state that exists at the time of liking. It implies a habitual preference.