Lean On Me – English Lyrics

• By: Calvin Harris, Swae Lee
• Album: Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 2

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the contemporary English of "Lean On Me" by Calvin Harris and Swae Lee! This track offers a compelling look at modern relationships, ambition, and the emotional complexities of success. Through its accessible lyrics and current slang, you can learn expressions related to support, personal struggles, and the pursuit of financial goals, making it an engaging way to grasp everyday English. The song's blend of electronic beats and relatable themes makes it a unique and special listening experience for language learners.

[English]

I mean, wassup?

Yeah, okay

Something's on your mind, isn't it obvious? (Ooh, uh)

Faces in my pocket like a audience (ooh)

Waitin' ain't payin', no bills

Nobody asked how you feel

Don't do what you do with me with them (nobody)

Lean on me but keep it chill

Gotta get to the check, it's my calling (yeah)

Smashin' you is hard without falling

GLE coupe looks like a dolphin (yeah)

Dashin' from the bank, money following

Bling, bling, yeah, summertime, summer's over

Fling thing got me thinkin' that I'm shallow (shallow)

I'm fucked up, but I feel good sober (woah)

Got rich, still actin' like it don't matter (don't matter)

Spice Girl shit, treat you like you don't matter (don't matter)

Ten hours on the plane, but I can't land there (can't land thеre)

Green stone on my pinky like Green Lantеrn (Green Lantern)

Cash make a lil' sad boy a lil' sadder (sadder)

Nothin' make me switch up my patterns (my patterns)

Bad girl, she smell like chrysanthemum (Cassandra)

Came up, had to up my standards (my standards)

Money counter beep, yeah, that's the anthem (the anthem)

If you wanna do bumps, go to the bathroom

I would let you ride in the whip if I had some room

Only way to give up my one heart is if I had two (you're right)

Hit it like I'm makin' love, felt like I had to

Waitin' ain't payin', no bills

Nobody asked how you feel

Don't do what you do with me with them (nobody)

Lean on me but keep it chill

Gotta get to the check, it's my calling (yeah)

Smashin' you is hard without falling

GLE coupe looks like a dolphin (yeah)

Dashin' from the bank, money following

Maybe there'll come a day when we can all win (yeah)

Diamonds on my bitch 'cause she flawless

Falling, falling

Falling, falling, oh

Falling, oh, falling, oh

Falling, falling, yeah, oh

Falling, yeah, falling, oh

Falling, falling, yeah

Waitin' ain't payin', no bills

Nobody asked how you feel

Don't do what you do with me with them (nobody)

Lean on me but keep it chill

Gotta get to the check, it's my calling (yeah)

Smashin' you is hard without falling

GLE coupe looks like a dolphin (yeah)

Dashin' from the bank, money following

Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh

Oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
lean /liːn/ A2	verb - to bend one's body towards something verb - to rely on someone for support
feel /fiːl/ A1	verb - to experience an emotion or sensation
falling /ˈfɔːlɪŋ/ A2	verb - to move downwards quickly and without control
money /ˈmʌni/ A2	noun - a current medium of exchange in the form of coins and banknotes
check /tʃek/ B1	noun - a request for payment
standards /ˈstændərdz/ B2	noun - a level of quality or attainment
patterns /ˈpætərnz/ B2	noun - a discernible regularity in the way things happen
calling /ˈkɔːlɪŋ/ B1	noun - a strong feeling of wanting to do something
smashin /ˈsmæʃɪn/ C1	verb - to violently break into pieces
dashin /ˈdæʃɪn/ B1	verb - to run somewhere quickly
flawless /ˈflɔːlɪs/ B2	adjective - without any imperfections
shallow /ˈʃæloʊ/ B2	adjective - not deep or serious
rich /rɪtʃ/ A2	adjective - having a great deal of money
anthem /ˈænθəm/ B2	noun - a rousing or celebratory song
couple /ˈkʌpl/ A2	noun - two things used or regarded as a unit

Key Grammar Structures

• Waitin' ain't payin', no bills

  ➔ Subject-verb inversion (negative contraction as subject)

  ➔ This line uses a stylistic inversion. Normally, it would be 'Waiting doesn't pay bills.' Here, 'Waitin' ain't payin'' acts as the subject, emphasizing the lack of financial reward for waiting.

• Lean on me but keep it chill

  ➔ Use of 'but' to contrast

  ➔ The word 'but' introduces a contrast. It acknowledges the request to 'lean on me' (seek support) but immediately adds a condition: 'keep it chill' (don't be too demanding or emotional).

• Smashin' you is hard without falling

  ➔ Gerund as subject (implicit 'It's')

  ➔ This line is a shortened version of 'It's hard smashing you without falling.' The gerund 'Smashin'' acts as the subject of the sentence. This is a common colloquial construction.

• GLE coupe looks like a dolphin (yeah)

  ➔ Simile (using 'like')

  ➔ This line uses a simile to describe the car. It compares the shape of the 'GLE coupe' to a dolphin using the word 'like'. Similes create vivid imagery.

• Diamonds on my bitch 'cause she flawless

  ➔ Causal conjunction ('cause')

  ➔ The word 'cause' (short for 'because') explains the reason for the diamonds. It indicates that the diamonds are present *because* the person is flawless.

• Falling, falling, oh

  ➔ Repetition for emphasis

  ➔ The repeated word 'falling' emphasizes a sense of decline, instability, or loss. The 'oh' adds an emotional exclamation.