If You Don’t Know Me By Now – English Lyrics

• By: Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a powerful tool, and "If You Don't Know Me By Now" by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes offers a masterclass in expressing complex emotions through simple, direct language. The song's clear articulation of frustration, love, and vulnerability can help learners grasp nuanced expressions. Its timeless theme of seeking understanding in a relationship is universally relatable, making the lyrics both memorable and meaningful.

[English]

If you don't know me by now

You will never, never, never know me, ooh-ooh-ooh

All the things that we've been through

You should understand me like I understand you

Now, baby, I know the difference between right and wrong

I ain't gonna do nothin' to upset our happy home

Oh, don't get so excited when I come home a little late at night

'Cause we only act like children when we argue fuss and fight

(If you don't know me by now) if you don't know me by now

(You will never, never, never know me) you will never, never, never know me

(If you don't know me by now) if you don't know me, baby

(You will never, never, never know me) no, you won't

We've all got our own funny moods

I've got mine, woman, you've got yours too

Just trust in me like I trust in you

As long as we've been together that should be so easy to do

Just get yourself together or we might as well say goodbye

What good is a love affair when we can't see eye to eye, oh

(If you don't know me by now) if you don't, if you don't know me, baby

(You will never, never, never know me) hey, hey

(If you don't know me by now) if you don't know me by now

(You will never, never, never know me) no, you won't

(If you don't know me by now)

(You will never, never, never know me)

(If you don't know me by now)

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
know /noʊ/ A1	verb - to be aware of through observation, inquiry, or information
things /θɪŋz/ A1	noun - objects; items
understand /ˌʌndərˈstænd/ A2	verb - to perceive the intended meaning of (words, a language, or a speaker)
difference /ˈdɪfərəns/ B1	noun - a point or way in which people or things are dissimilar
right /raɪt/ A1	adjective - morally good, justified, or acceptable
wrong /rɔːŋ/ A1	adjective - not correct or true; incorrect
upset /ʌpˈsɛt/ B2	verb - to make someone worried, unhappy, or angry
happy /ˈhæpi/ A1	adjective - feeling or showing pleasure or contentment
home /hoʊm/ A1	noun - the place where one lives
excited /ɪkˈsaɪtɪd/ B1	adjective - feeling or showing happiness and enthusiasm
late /leɪt/ A1	adjective - doing something after the expected or usual time
act /ækt/ A2	verb - take action; do something
children /ˈtʃɪldrən/ A1	noun - young human beings below the age of puberty or full physical development.
argue /ˈɑːrɡjuː/ B1	verb - give reasons or cite evidence in support of an idea, action, or theory, typically with the aim of persuading others to share one's view.
fight /faɪt/ A2	verb - take part in a violent struggle involving physical force or weapons.
trust /trʌst/ B1	verb - believe in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.
easy /ˈiːzi/ A1	adjective - achieved without great effort; presenting few difficulties.
good /ɡʊd/ A1	adjective - to be desired or approved of.
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - an intense feeling of affection.
see /siː/ A1	verb - perceive with the eyes; discern visually.

Key Grammar Structures

• If you don't know me by now

  ➔ Conditional Clause (Type 1)

  ➔ Uses the "if" clause to express a possible condition and its likely result. "If" + simple present, main clause + simple future (implied). Here, the implication is "you will never know me" if you don't know me by this point. The present tense "don't know" is used in the 'if' clause and the implied future tense is used in the main clause.

• You should understand me like I understand you

  ➔ Comparison using 'like'

  ➔ 'Like' is used as a preposition to make a comparison. Here it compares the speaker's desired level of understanding with their own understanding of the listener. It implies reciprocity: understanding should be mutual and equal.

• I ain't gonna do nothin' to upset our happy home

  ➔ Double Negative (Non-standard), Future Intentions ('gonna')

  ➔ "Ain't" is a non-standard contraction for "am not/is not/are not/has not/have not". "Gonna" is a contraction of "going to", used to express future intentions. The double negative, "ain't gonna do nothin'" is grammatically incorrect in standard English, but common in certain dialects and informal speech. Standard English would be "I am not going to do anything".

• 'Cause we only act like children when we argue fuss and fight

  ➔ Subordinating Conjunction ('cause'), Simile ('like children')

  ➔ "'Cause" is an informal shortening of "because", a subordinating conjunction connecting the dependent clause to the independent clause. "Like children" is a simile, comparing the way they argue to the behavior of children. A simile is a figure of speech that directly compares two things using 'like' or 'as'.

• We've all got our own funny moods

  ➔ Present Perfect ('We've got'), Possessive Adjective ('our')

  ➔ "We've got" is the contracted form of "We have got", which is a present perfect tense construction indicating a general truth or state that exists up to the present time. "Our" is a possessive adjective, modifying the noun "moods" and indicating that the moods belong to "we".

• Just trust in me like I trust in you

  ➔ Imperative Mood ('Trust'), Comparison using 'like'

  ➔ "Trust" is used in the imperative mood, giving a direct command or request. 'Like' introduces a comparison between the speaker's trust in the other person and the other person's (expected) trust in the speaker.