Love In The First Degree

• By: Alabama

Lyrics:

Vocabulary in this song:

Vocabulary	Meanings
prison /ˈprɪzən/ B1	noun - a place where people are legally held as punishment for crimes
decision /dɪˈsɪʒən/ B1	noun - a choice or conclusion made after consideration
footloose /ˈfʊtlus/ C1	adjective - free to do what you want without being restricted by responsibilities or commitments
tempted /ˈtɛmptɪd/ B2	verb (past tense) - to try to persuade someone to do something they might not want to do
gambled /ˈgæmbld/ C1	verb (past tense) - to bet money or something of value on an uncertain outcome
caught /kɔt/ A2	verb (past tense) - to reach or come into possession of something
crime /kraɪm/ A2	noun - an illegal act
defenseless /dɪˈfɛns·lɪs/ C1	adjective - without protection or defenses
plea /pliː/ B2	noun - a serious or urgent request
guilty /ˈgɪlti/ B1	adjective - responsible for a crime or offense
degree /dɪˈgriː/ A2	noun - a measure of the amount or intensity of something
simple /ˈsɪmpəl/ A2	adjective - easy to do or understand
walk /wɔːk/ A1	verb - to move at a regular pace by lifting and setting down each foot in turn

Grammar:

• I once thought of love as a prison

  ➔ Past simple tense with 'thought'

  ➔ The singer describes a past belief using the simple past tense 'thought'.

• And throw away the key

  ➔ Imperative mood with 'throw away'

  ➔ The phrase uses the imperative form to suggest a command or strong desire.

• I'm guilty, of love in the first degree

  ➔ Use of the present tense 'I'm' with predicate 'guilty'

  ➔ The phrase emphasizes the current state of feeling guilty using 'I'm' (I am).

• To be footloose and fancy-free

  ➔ Infinitive phrase describing a state or condition

  ➔ An idiomatic expression with the infinitive 'to be', describing a carefree lifestyle.

• But you came and I was so tempted

  ➔ Past tense 'came' and 'was tempted' indicating completed actions and feelings

  ➔ Using past simple tense to describe an event that happened and a feeling of being attracted or influenced.

• If lovin' you's a crime

  ➔ Conditional sentence with 'if' and a present simple verb 'lovin''

  ➔ A conditional clause that speculates about a situation, using the present tense 'lovin'' for informal speech.

• And I've only got one plea

  ➔ Present perfect tense 'I've' (I have) indicating experience or possession

  ➔ Using the present perfect tense to show possession of a single plea or appeal.

• Love in the first degree

  ➔ Noun phrase with 'in' indicating a state or classification

  ➔ The phrase 'Love in the first degree' is a metaphor indicating a strong, perhaps criminal-like, love.