Like Whoa – English Lyrics

• By: Aly & AJ

Lyrics & Translation

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
overwhelm /ˌoʊvərˈhɛlm/ C1	verb - to overpower or crush completely
removes /rɪˈmuːvz/ B2	verb - to take away or eliminate something
tattoo /tæˈtuː/ B2	noun - a permanent design on the skin made with ink
rollercoaster /ˈroʊlərˌkoʊstər/ C1	noun - a amusement ride with steep drops and sharp curves
knuckles /ˈnʌkəlz/ B2	noun - the joints of fingers where they bend
floating /ˈfloʊtɪŋ/ B2	verb - to stay on the surface of a liquid without sinking
inhibition /ˌɪn.hɪˈbɪʃ.ən/ C1	noun - a feeling that makes one self-conscious or unable to act naturally
control /kənˈtroʊl/ B2	noun - the power to influence or direct people's behavior
affliction /əˈflɪk.ʃən/ C1	noun - a cause of great suffering
break /breɪk/ A2	verb - to separate into parts forcibly
lose /luːz/ A2	verb - to be unable to find or keep something
feel /fiːl/ A1	verb - to experience an emotion or sensation
ride /raɪd/ A2	verb - to sit on and control a vehicle or animal as it moves noun - an act of riding something

Key Grammar Structures

• Life is good, I can't complain

  ➔ Modal verb of ability (can't) + infinitive (complain)

  ➔ Expresses the speaker's inability or unwillingness to complain despite acknowledging that they theoretically could. The use of "can't" implies a deliberate choice to focus on the positive.

• Your image overwhelms my brain

  ➔ Present simple tense to describe a habitual action or state.

  ➔ The verb "overwhelms" in the present simple indicates that the image consistently and powerfully affects the speaker's brain. It's not a one-time event, but an ongoing sensation.

• Now I'm rollin' my window down

  ➔ Present continuous tense to describe an action happening now.

  ➔ "I'm rollin'" indicates an action that is currently in progress. The speaker is in the process of lowering the car window.

• You're like a tattoo that I can't remove

  ➔ Simile (like) + relative clause (that I can't remove)

  ➔ The simile "like a tattoo" compares the person's presence to something permanent and difficult to get rid of. The relative clause "that I can't remove" further emphasizes the inescapable nature of their impact.

• Holdin' on, white knuckles like whoa, whoa

  ➔ Present participle as adjective (Holdin') and simile (like)

  ➔ "Holdin'" functions as an adjective describing the state of the person, and "like whoa, whoa" is a simile used to express the intensity of the grip, hinting at fear and excitement.

• It feels like I'm fallin', better strap me in

  ➔ Conditional mood (feels like + subjunctive "were") implied, imperative sentence (better strap me in)

  ➔ Although not explicitly using the subjunctive, the phrase "feels like I'm fallin'" implies the conditional mood. The shortened "better strap me in" is an imperative sentence, expressing an urgent request. It's a colloquial abbreviation of "You had better strap me in."

• My inhibitions are beginning to let go

  ➔ Present continuous tense (are beginning) + infinitive of purpose (to let go)

  ➔ "are beginning" expresses an action that is starting to happen, showing the gradual loss of inhibitions. The infinitive "to let go" explains the *purpose* or intended result of this beginning process.

• This situation, I can't help but lose control

  ➔ Idiomatic expression "can't help but" + infinitive (lose)

  ➔ The phrase "can't help but lose control" expresses the speaker's inability to prevent themselves from losing control. It implies that it's an inevitable outcome given the situation.