If I Have A Son – English Lyrics

• By: Ruth B.

Lyrics & Translation

[English]

If I have a son, I'll teach him to be brave

'Cause if I have a son, he's never really safe

And when you run to the corner store for a snack

I wanna know that you'll make it back home

Home

Your skin, it glitters like gold

There's love inside of your soul

But no matter what you say, no matter what you do

This world will never be as friendly to you

I wanna keep you close, I wanna keep you safe

I hope I see the day, where I don't have to pray

Every time you go

...

Every time you go

If I have a girl, I'll teach her to be strong

'Cause even when you're right, they'll tell you that you're wrong

And if you want something, you'll work twice as hard

'Cause that's the only way we get far

Far

Your skin, it glitters like gold

There's love inside of your soul

But no matter what you say, no matter what you do

This world will never be as friendly to you

I wanna keep you close, I wanna keep you safe

I hope I see the day where I don't have to pray

Every time you go

Every time you go

...

I saw a man lose his life

All 'cause his skin looked like mine

...

I hope the world makes a change

So when you get here, it's not the same

Same

Your skin, it glitters like gold

There's love inside your soul

But no matter what you say, no matter what you do

This world will never be as friendly to you

I wanna keep you close, I wanna keep you safe

I hope I see the day where I don't have to pray

Every time you go

...

Every time you go

If I have a son, I'll teach him to be brave

'Cause if I have a son, he's never really safe

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
teach /tiːtʃ/ A1	verb - to help someone learn something by giving them lessons or instructions
brave /breɪv/ A1	adjective - showing no fear of dangerous or difficult things
safe /seɪf/ A1	adjective - protected from danger or harm
run /rʌn/ A1	verb - to move quickly on foot
glitter /ˈɡlɪtər/ B1	verb - to shine with a bright, sparkling light
gold /ɡoʊld/ A1	noun - a precious yellow metal
soul /soʊl/ B1	noun - the spiritual part of a person
friendly /ˈfrɛndli/ A2	adjective - kind and pleasant
pray /preɪ/ A2	verb - to speak to a god or gods
strong /strɒŋ/ A1	adjective - having power to move heavy weights or perform other physically demanding tasks
change /tʃeɪndʒ/ A1	verb - to make or become different
lose /luːz/ A1	verb - to no longer have something
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the state of being alive
skin /skɪn/ A1	noun - the outer covering of the body
hope /hoʊp/ A1	verb - to want something to happen

Key Grammar Structures

• If I have a son, I'll teach him to be brave

  ➔ First conditional with 'If' + present simple, followed by 'will' + base verb

  ➔ The sentence expresses a **first conditional**, used for real or possible situations in the future.

• And when you run to the corner store for a snack

  ➔ Use of 'when' + present simple to refer to future events

  ➔ The sentence demonstrates the use of **'when' + present simple** to indicate a future event that is expected to happen.

• Because even when you're right, they'll tell you that you're wrong

  ➔ Use of subordinating conjunction 'because' + clause, and 'when' + present continuous

  ➔ The sentence shows how 'because' introduces a reason, and 'when' + present continuous describes an ongoing action.

• I saw a man lose his life

  ➔ Past simple with base verb after 'saw' + object + base verb in infinitive without 'to'

  ➔ The sentence uses the **past simple tense** with 'saw' + object + verb in base form to describe a past event.

• I hope I see the day where I don't have to pray

  ➔ Use of 'hope' + present simple or 'will' + in subordinate clause, expressing future desire or expectation

  ➔ The sentence expresses a **future hope or expectation**, using 'hope' + present simple or 'will' in a subordinate clause.