Jive Talkin' – English Lyrics

• By: Bee Gees
• Album: Main Course

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the groovy world of the Bee Gees with 'Jive Talkin'', a song that not only revived their career but also offers a vibrant lesson in 1970s English slang. Beyond its catchy disco-funk beat, you'll learn colloquial expressions like 'jive talkin'' (meaning to lie or mislead) and explore how everyday sounds can spark lyrical inspiration. This track is special for its infectious rhythm and its role in ushering in the iconic disco era, making it a fun and historically rich way to engage with the language and culture of the time.

[English]

Jive talkin'

You're telling me lies, yeah

Jive talkin'

You wear a disguise

Jive talkin'

So misunderstood, yeah

Jive talkin'

You're really no good

Oh, my child, you'll never know

Just what you mean to me

Oh, my child, you got so much

You're gonna take away my energy with all your

Jive talkin'

You're telling me lies, yeah

Good lovin'

Still gets in my eyes

Nobody believes what you say

Oh, my love, you are so good

Treating me so cruel

There you go with your fancy lies

Leavin' me looking like a love struck fool

With all your jive talkin'

You're telling me lies, yeah

Jive talkin'

You wear a disguise

Jive talkin' so misunderstood, yeah

Jive talkin'

You just ain't no good

Love talkin' is all very fine, yeah

Jive talkin' just isn't a crime

And if there's somebody you'll love 'til you die

Then all that jive talking

Just gets in your eyes

Jive talkin'

You're telling me lies, yeah

Good lovin'

Still gets in my eyes

Nobody believes what you say

It's just your jive talkin' that gets in the way

Love talkin' is all very fine, yeah

Jive talkin' just isn't a crime

And if there's somebody you'll love 'til you die

Then all that jive talking

Just gets in your eyes

Jive talkin'

Jive talkin'

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
talkin' /ˈtɔːkɪn/ A1	verb - to communicate verbally
lies /laɪz/ A2	noun - false statements
disguise /dɪsˈɡaɪz/ B1	noun - something used to conceal identity verb - to conceal identity
misunderstood /ˌmɪsʌndərˈstʊd/ B2	adjective - not correctly understood
energy /ˈenərdʒi/ B1	noun - the strength and vitality required for sustained physical or mental activity.
good /ɡʊd/ A1	adjective - of high quality; virtuous
lovin' /ˈlʌvɪn/ A2	noun - affectionate feeling
eyes /aɪz/ A1	noun - organs of sight
believes /bɪˈliːvz/ A2	verb - to accept as true
cruel /kruːəl/ B1	adjective - willfully causing pain or suffering
fancy /ˈfænsi/ B1	adjective - elaborate in structure or detail
fool /fuːl/ A2	noun - a person lacking good sense
ain't /eɪnt/ A1	verb - is not/are not
crime /kraɪm/ B1	noun - an act punishable by law
die /daɪ/ A2	verb - to cease to live

Key Grammar Structures

• Jive talkin' you're telling me lies, yeah

  ➔ Present Continuous Tense

  ➔ The phrase 'you're telling' uses the present continuous tense to describe an action happening now or around now, emphasizing the ongoing nature of the lying.

• You wear a disguise

  ➔ Present Simple Tense

  ➔ The phrase 'You wear' uses the present simple tense to describe a habitual or general truth, indicating that wearing a disguise is a characteristic of the person.

• You're really no good

  ➔ Present Simple Tense with Adverb

  ➔ The phrase 'You're really no good' uses the present simple tense with the adverb 'really' to emphasize the degree of the statement, indicating a strong opinion.

• Oh, my child, you'll never know

  ➔ Future Simple Tense

  ➔ The phrase 'you'll never know' uses the future simple tense with 'will' to express a prediction or certainty about the future, indicating that the person will never understand.

• With all your jive talkin'

  ➔ Prepositional Phrase

  ➔ The phrase 'With all your jive talkin'' uses a prepositional phrase to indicate the cause or reason for the previous statement, emphasizing the impact of the jive talking.