La la la – English Lyrics

• By: Naughty Boy, Sam Smith

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the catchy rhythms and meaningful silence of Naughty Boy and Sam Smith's global hit, "La La La." While the title suggests simple filler, the song is a masterclass in using minimalist lyrics to convey a powerful message about emotional defense. Learning the context behind the repeated phrase reveals a deeper layer of understanding about refusing negativity, making this track a special entry point into modern R&B and UK Garage fusion.

[English]

Na-na, la-la-la-la-la, na-na-na-na-na, la-la

Na-na, la-la-la-la-la, na-na-na-na-na, la-la

Na-na, la-la-la-la-la, na-na-na-na-na, la-la

Na-na, la-la-la-la-la, na-na-na-na (tu meri mauj hai), na-na

Hush, don't speak

When you spit your venom, keep it shut

I hate it when you hiss and preach

About your new messiah, 'cause your theories catch fire

I can't find your silver lining

I don't mean to judge

But when you read your speech, it's tiring

Enough is enough

I'm covering my ears like a kid

When your words mean nothing, I go, "La, la, la"

I'm turning up the volume when you speak

'Cause if my heart can't stop it, I'll find a way to block it, I go

Na-na, la-la-la-la-la, na-na-na-na-na, la-la

Na-na, la-la-la-la-la, na-na-na-na-na, la-la (I found a way to block it, I go)

Na-na, la-la-la-la-la, na-na-na-na-na, la-la

Na-na, la-la-la-la-la, na-na-na-na-na, la-la

If our love is running out of time

I won't count the hours, rather be a coward

When our worlds collide

I'm gonna drown you out before I lose my mind

I can't find your silver lining

I don't mean to judge

But when you read your speech, it's tiring

Enough is enough

I'm covering my ears like a kid

When your words mean nothing, I go, "La, la, la"

I'm turning up the volume when you speak

'Cause if my heart can't stop it, I'll find a way to block it, I go

Na-na, la-la-la-la-la, na-na-na-na-na, la-la

Na-na, la-la-la-la-la, na-na-na-na-na, la-la (I found a way to block it, I go)

Na-na, la-la-la-la-la, na-na-na-na-na, la-la

Na-na, la-la-la-la-la (I found a way to block it, oh, tu meri mauj hai)

Na-na, la-la-la-la-la, na-na-na-na-na, la-la

Na-na, la-la-la-la-la, na-na-na-na-na, la-la (I found a way to block it, I go)

Na-na, la-la-la-la-la, na-na-na-na-na, la-la

Na-na, la-la-la-la-la (tu meri mauj hai)

I'm covering my ears like a kid

When your words mean nothing, I go, "La, la, la"

I'm turning up the volume when you speak

'Cause if my heart can't stop it, I'll find a way to block it, I go

I'm covering my ears like a kid

When your words mean nothing, I go, "La, la, la"

I'm turning up the volume when you speak

'Cause if my heart can't stop it, I'll find a way to block it, I go

Na-na, la-la-la-la-la, na-na-na-na-na, la-la

Na-na, la-la-la-la-la, na-na-na-na-na, la-la

Na-na, la-la-la-la-la, na-na-na-na-na, la-la

Na-na, la-la-la-la-la (tu meri mauj hai)

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
slick /slɪk/ C2	adjective - slick
lame /leɪm/ B2	adjective - lame
flip /flɪp/ B1	verb - flip
shut /ʃʌt/ A1	verb - shut
hate /heɪt/ A2	verb - hate
hiss /hɪs/ B2	verb - hiss
preach /priːtʃ/ B2	verb - preach
messiah /məˈsaɪə/ C1	noun - messiah
theories /ˈθɪəriz/ B2	noun - theories
catch /kætʃ/ A2	verb - catch
find /faɪnd/ A1	verb - find
silver /ˈsɪlvər/ B1	adjective - silver
lining /ˈlaɪnɪŋ/ B2	noun - lining
mean /miːn/ A1	verb - mean
judge /dʒʌdʒ/ B1	verb - judge
read /riːd/ A1	verb - read
speech /spiːtʃ/ B1	noun - speech
tiring /ˈtaɪərɪŋ/ B1	adjective - tiring
cover /ˈkʌvər/ A2	verb - cover
ears /ɪərz/ A1	noun - ears
kid /kɪd/ A2	noun - kid

Key Grammar Structures

• Hush, don't speak

  ➔ Imperative mood

  ➔ This is an imperative sentence giving a direct command: "Hush" means be quiet, and "don't speak" reinforces the instruction to remain silent.

• When you spit your venom, keep it shut

  ➔ Hypothetical conditional (zero conditional)

  ➔ The sentence uses a zero conditional to describe a general truth or habit: "when" introduces a situation that triggers the action "keep it shut," meaning whenever this happens, respond by staying silent.

• I hate it when you hiss and preach

  ➔ Present simple tense with 'when' clause

  ➔ This uses the present simple in "hiss and preach" to describe habitual or annoying actions, and "when" connects it to the emotion "I hate it," emphasizing ongoing dislike.

• I can't find your silver lining

  ➔ Modal verb 'can' in negative form

  ➔ "Can't" expresses inability or impossibility: in this idiom, "silver lining" means a positive aspect, so "I can't find" shows complete lack of hope or optimism in the situation.

• I'm covering my ears like a kid

  ➔ Present continuous tense

  ➔ "I'm covering" describes an ongoing protective action in the moment, likened to a child's behavior, showing immediate response to avoid hearing something unpleasant.

• I'm turning up the volume when you speak

  ➔ Present continuous with 'when' clause

  ➔ "Turning up" indicates an action in progress, and "when you speak" shows it's a response to ongoing speech, blocking out the words by amplifying other sounds.

• If our love is running out of time

  ➔ First conditional with 'if'

  ➔ This "if" clause presents a real possibility: "if ... out of time," it leads to the main clause where the speaker chooses cowardice over facing the end.

• I won't count the hours, rather be a coward

  ➔ Modal verb 'will' in negative with 'rather'

  ➔ "Won't" expresses refusal to do something, and "rather be" prefers one state over another, emphasizing cowardice as an easier choice than facing consequences.

• I'm gonna drown you out before I lose my mind

  ➔ Informal future with 'gonna'

  ➔ "Gonna" is a contraction for 'going to,' indicating a planned future action: "drown you out" means to block the person's sound, preventing losing sanity.