Leave Me Alone – English Lyrics

• By: Michael Jackson
• Album: Bad

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a fantastic way to connect with culture, and Michael Jackson's "Leave Me Alone" offers a unique opportunity. The song's direct and repetitive chorus, "Leave me alone," provides a simple yet powerful phrase to learn. What makes this song special is its dual meaning; while the lyrics tell a story of a romantic breakup, they also serve as Jackson's powerful statement against media intrusion, allowing learners to explore themes of privacy and public image.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
care /kɛər/ A2	verb - to feel concern or interest noun - the feeling of being concerned
walk /wɔːk/ A1	verb - to move at a regular pace by foot
beg /bɛɡ/ A2	verb - to ask for something earnestly or humbly
give /ɡɪv/ A1	verb - to voluntarily transfer possession of something
excuse /ɪkˈskjuːz/ B1	noun - a reason or explanation put forward to defend or justify a fault or offense verb - to attempt to lessen the blame attaching to (a fault or offense)
climb /klaɪm/ B1	verb - to go or come up or down a steep slope or surface
fight /faɪt/ A2	verb - to engage in a physical struggle
laugh /lɑːf/ A1	verb - to make the sound or action of reacting to something funny
choice /tʃɔɪs/ B1	noun - the right to choose between alternatives
take /teɪk/ A1	verb - to lay hold of; to grasp
feel /fiːl/ A2	verb - to experience an emotion or sensation
sorry /ˈsɒri/ A2	adjective - feeling regret or sympathy
makin' /ˈmeɪkɪn/ B2	verb - present participle of make (to create or construct)
deceive /dɪˈsiːv/ C1	verb - to make someone believe something that is not true
alone /əˈlown/ A2	adjective - without anyone else present

Key Grammar Structures

• Time after time I gave you all of my money

  ➔ Past Perfect Simple

  ➔ The phrase 'Time after time' indicates repeated action in the past. 'Gave' is the past simple tense, showing a completed action. The sentence describes a series of past events.

• Ain't no mountain that I can't climb, baby

  ➔ Double Negative & Modal Verb (can't)

  ➔ The use of 'Ain't no' creates a double negative, which is common in informal speech and emphasizes the ability to overcome obstacles. 'Can't' is a modal verb expressing inability, but combined with 'Ain't no', it reinforces the positive assertion of capability.

• Who's laughin', baby?

  ➔ Tag Question & Contraction

  ➔ 'Who's' is a contraction of 'Who is'. The phrase functions as a rhetorical question, challenging the listener. It's a tag question seeking confirmation or agreement.

• Leave me alone, leave me alone, leave me alone

  ➔ Imperative Mood & Repetition

  ➔ The phrase 'Leave me alone' is in the imperative mood, giving a direct command. The repetition emphasizes the speaker's strong desire for solitude.

• You really hurt, you used to take and deceive me

  ➔ Past Simple & Infinitive

  ➔ 'Hurt' is used as a verb in the past simple tense. 'To take and deceive' uses infinitives ('to take', 'to deceive') connected by 'and', describing past actions.