If I Ain't Got You – English Lyrics

• By: Alicia Keys
• Album: The Diary of Alicia Keys

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a powerful and enjoyable experience, and "If I Ain't Got You" by Alicia Keys is a perfect song to start with for English learners. The lyrics are clear, heartfelt, and tell a universal story about the importance of love. Through this song, you can learn vocabulary related to emotions and values, and the soulful melody makes it a memorable and beautiful way to practice your English.

[English]

(soft music)

♪ Mmm, mmm, mmm, yeah ♪

♪ Some people live for the fortune ♪

♪ Some people live just for the fame ♪

♪ Some people live for the power, yeah ♪

♪ Some people live just to play the game ♪

♪ Some people think ♪

♪ That the physical things ♪

♪ Define what's within ♪

♪ And I've been there before ♪

♪ That life's a bore ♪

♪ So full of the superficial ♪

♪ Some people want it all ♪

♪ But I don't want nothing at all ♪

♪ If it ain't you, baby ♪

♪ If I ain't got you, baby ♪

♪ Some people want diamond rings ♪

♪ Some just want everything ♪

♪ But everything means nothing ♪

♪ If I ain't got you, yeah ♪

♪ Some people search for a fountain ♪

♪ Promises forever young ♪

♪ Some people need three dozen roses ♪

♪ And that's the only way to prove you love them ♪

♪ Hand me the world ♪

♪ On a silver platter ♪

♪ And what good would it be? ♪

♪ With no one to share ♪

♪ With no one who truly cares for me? ♪

♪ Some people want it all ♪

♪ But I don't want nothing at all ♪

♪ If it ain't you, baby ♪

♪ If I ain't got you, baby ♪

♪ Some people want diamond rings ♪

♪ Some just want everything ♪

♪ But everything means nothing ♪

♪ If I ain't got you, you, you ♪

♪ Some people want it all ♪

♪ But I don't want nothing at all ♪

♪ If it ain't you, baby ♪

♪ If I ain't got you, baby ♪

♪ Some people want diamond rings ♪

♪ Some just want everything ♪

♪ But everything means nothing ♪

♪ If I ain't got you, yeah ♪

(heart beating)

- Yo, let me get coffee thirty with those big ass feet.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
live /lɪv/ A1	verb - to remain alive
fortune /ˈfɔːrtʃən/ B2	noun - a large amount of money or assets
fame /feɪm/ B2	noun - the state of being known or talked about by many people
power /ˈpaʊər/ B1	noun - the ability to do something or act in a particular way
game /ɡeɪm/ A1	noun - an activity done for amusement or competition
physical /ˈfɪzɪkl/ B1	adjective - relating to the body
define /dɪˈfaɪn/ B2	verb - state or describe exactly the nature, scope, or meaning of
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter
bore /bɔːr/ B2	noun - a dull, tiresome, or uncongenial person
superficial /ˌsuːpərˈfɪʃəl/ C1	adjective - existing or occurring at or on the surface
diamond /ˈdaɪəmənd/ A2	noun - a precious stone consisting of a clear and colorless crystalline form of pure carbon
ring /rɪŋ/ A1	noun - a circular band worn as an ornament, typically on a finger
search /sɜːrtʃ/ B1	verb - try to find something by looking or otherwise seeking carefully and thoroughly
fountain /ˈfaʊntən/ B2	noun - a natural spring of water
young /jʌŋ/ A1	adjective - having lived or existed for only a short time
roses /ˈroʊzɪz/ A1	noun - a flower with a sweet smell that grows on a bush with thorns
love /lʌv/ A1	verb - have a strong feeling of affection for (someone) noun - an intense feeling of affection
world /wɜːrld/ A1	noun - the earth, together with all of its countries, peoples, and natural features
silver /ˈsɪlvər/ A2	noun - a precious shiny greyish-white metal adjective - of a shiny greyish-white color
good /ɡʊd/ A1	adjective - to be desired or approved of
care /ker/ A2	verb - feel concern or interest; attach importance to something

Key Grammar Structures

• If I "ain't" got you, baby

  ➔ Informal Contraction: "ain't"

  ➔ "Ain't" is a contraction of "am not", "is not", "are not", "has not", or "have not". Its use is generally considered non-standard English. In this context, it means "If I haven't got you".

• If I "ain't" got you, baby

  ➔ Conditional Sentence (Type 1/2 Variation): Expressing a hypothetical situation.

  ➔ The structure is "If + subject + verb (past simple), subject + would/could/might + verb (base form)". Although "ain't got" is present tense in meaning, its informal and emphatic nature lends it to a more hypothetical feel, similar to a Type 2 conditional. It expresses what would be meaningless or undesirable *if* she didn't have that person.

• Some people "want" it all

  ➔ Simple Present Tense: Expressing a general truth or habit.

  ➔ The simple present tense ("want") describes a desire or aspiration that some people generally have. It indicates that this is a common and recurring sentiment.

• But everything "means" nothing

  ➔ Present Simple Tense (Again): Indicating a fact or state that is generally true.

  ➔ Here, "means" in the present simple expresses a general truth. In the singer's opinion (and perhaps universally), material possessions and achievements are worthless without love and connection.