It's Your Thing – English Lyrics

• By: The Isley Brothers

Lyrics & Translation

Learn a piece of American slang and cultural history with The Isley Brothers' "It's Your Thing." This classic funk anthem is a great way to understand the power of music as a form of social expression. The repetitive and catchy chorus makes it easy to sing along and pick up the empowering message of individuality that is central to the song.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
thing /θɪŋ/ A1	noun - an object or entity that one need not, cannot, or does not wish to give a specific name to
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - an intense feeling of deep affection verb - feel deep affection for (someone)
need /niːd/ A1	verb - require (something) because it is essential or very important noun - a thing that is necessary or desirable
tell /tel/ A1	verb - to communicate information to someone in spoken or written words
run /rʌn/ A1	verb - to move at a speed faster than a walk; never having both or all the feet on the ground at the same time verb - manage or control
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death
right /raɪt/ A1	adjective - morally good, justified, or acceptable
lose /luːz/ A2	verb - be deprived of (something that one has or had)
mercy /ˈmɜːrsi/ B1	noun - compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm.
choose /tʃuːz/ B1	verb - pick out or select (someone or something) as being the best or most appropriate of two or more alternatives
difference /ˈdɪfrəns/ B1	noun - a point or way in which people or things are dissimilar
sock /sɑːk/ B2	verb - hit (someone or something) hard.

Key Grammar Structures

• Do what you wanna do

  ➔ Informal Contraction: "wanna" for "want to"

  ➔ This line uses the informal contraction "wanna," which is a colloquial way of saying "want to." It demonstrates relaxed speech patterns common in song lyrics and spoken English.

• I can't tell you who to sock it to

  ➔ Infinitive Clause after "tell": "to sock it to"

  ➔ This uses the structure "tell someone + infinitive clause." "To sock it to" is a slang expression, meaning to give something (often affection or intimacy) to someone. The sentence structure means 'I can't advise you who to give it to.'

• If you want me to love you, maybe I will

  ➔ Conditional Clause (Type 1): "If" + Simple Present, Future Simple

  ➔ This is a type 1 conditional sentence, expressing a real possibility in the future. "If" is followed by the simple present tense, and the main clause uses the future simple tense ("will").

• I need me a woman, it ain't no big deal

  ➔ Double Negative (Informal): "ain't no"

  ➔ The phrase "ain't no" is a double negative, which is grammatically incorrect in standard English but common in informal speech and certain dialects. In standard English, it would be "isn't a" or "is not a."

• Makes me no difference now Who you give your thing to

  ➔ Subject-Verb Inversion (Informal): "Makes me no difference"

  ➔ In standard English, the word order would be "It makes no difference to me." The sentence uses an informal inversion, placing the verb before the indirect object.

• Don't let me tell you who to sock it to

  ➔ Negative Imperative with Infinitive Clause after "tell": "Don't let me tell you who to sock it to"

  ➔ This line combines a negative imperative ("Don't let me...") with the "tell someone + infinitive clause" structure seen earlier. It's a command not to allow the speaker to interfere with the listener's choices.

• How can you lose with the stuff you use?

  ➔ Rhetorical Question with "Can": Expressing Confidence

  ➔ This line uses a rhetorical question, implying that it's impossible to lose. The question is not meant to be answered directly but rather to emphasize the positive qualities of "the stuff you use."