Means I care – English Lyrics

• By: Tate McRae
• Album: So Close To What

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into Tate McRae's "Means I Care," a compelling pop track that offers a unique perspective on love and vulnerability. Through its introspective lyrics and atmospheric sound, you can explore the nuances of modern relationships and the unspoken complexities of emotional expression. This song is special for its candid portrayal of how fear can manifest as distance, even when deep feelings are present, making it highly relatable and a great way to understand contemporary English expressions of inner conflict.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
care /kɛr/ A2	verb - to feel concern or interest; attach importance to something noun - the provision of what is necessary for the health, welfare, maintenance, and protection of someone or something
like /laɪk/ A1	verb - to find someone or something pleasant noun - a feeling of fondness or enjoyment of something
cut /kʌt/ A2	verb - to sever or reduce
mean /miːn/ A2	verb - to express or represent something adjective - unkind or unpleasant
want /wɒnt/ A1	verb - to desire or wish for something noun - a desire or wish for something
know /noʊ/ A1	verb - to be aware of through observation, inquiry, or information
run /rʌn/ A1	verb - to move quickly on foot
away /əˈweɪ/ A1	adverb - from a particular place or person
mention /ˈmɛnʃən/ B1	verb - to refer to something or someone briefly noun - a brief reference to something
ghost /ɡoʊst/ B1	noun - an apparition of a dead person
good /ɡʊd/ A1	adjective - of high quality or standard
second /ˈsɛkənd/ A2	verb - to support or agree with something adjective - coming after the first in time noun - a unit of time; 60 seconds make a minute
guessin' /ˈɡɛsɪn/ A2	verb - to estimate or suppose (something) without sufficient information
fight /faɪt/ A2	verb - to take part in a physical conflict noun - a physical conflict
sorry /ˈsɒri/ A1	adjective - feeling regret or penitence
end /ɛnd/ A1	verb - to come to a conclusion or halt noun - the final part of something
out /aʊt/ A1	adverb - away from a particular place or position

Key Grammar Structures

• If I cut you off, it just means I care.

  ➔ Zero conditional (If + present simple, present simple)

  ➔ The clause **"If I cut you off"** uses the present simple to talk about a possible action, and the result **"it just means I care"** also uses the present simple to state a general truth.

• I say I will and never follow through.

  ➔ Verb + that‑clause with future intention (say + will)

  ➔ The verb **"say"** is followed by a clause **"I will"** that expresses a future intention, while **"never follow through"** is a negative infinitive phrase showing the speaker’s failure to act.

• I like you the most.

  ➔ Superlative adjective with "the most"

  ➔ The phrase **"the most"** creates a superlative, indicating the highest degree of liking among all possibilities.

• Never been good at the self‑expression.

  ➔ Present perfect negative (have/has + past participle)

  ➔ The omitted subject **"I"** is understood; **"have never been"** is the present perfect negative, showing that up to now the speaker has not been good at self‑expression.

• It's not about being hard to get.

  ➔ Gerund after a preposition (about + gerund)

  ➔ The preposition **"about"** is followed by the gerund **"being"**, turning the verb into a noun‑like element that functions as the object of the preposition.

• Run away without a mention, go ghost.

  ➔ Imperative sentences + bare infinitive (verb without 'to')

  ➔ Both **"Run"** and **"go"** are in the imperative mood; they are followed directly by the verb **"away"** and **"ghost"** (bare infinitives) to give commands.

• I'm the best who's ever been at stringing you along.

  ➔ Relative clause with superlative + present perfect (who's = who has)

  ➔ The relative pronoun **"who's"** (short for **"who has"**) introduces a clause that uses the present perfect **"has ever been"** to describe a past‑to‑present state, while **"the best"** is a superlative noun phrase.

• Must mean that it's going somewhere.

  ➔ Modal verb + bare infinitive (must + mean)

  ➔ The modal **"must"** is followed directly by the bare infinitive **"mean"**, expressing a strong inference about the situation.

• If overnight, I up and end it.

  ➔ Ellipsis & inversion in conditional clause (omitted verb "I" + colloquial "up and" structure)

  ➔ The adverbial phrase **"If overnight"** omits the usual clause **"If it happens overnight"**, and **"I up and end it"** uses the colloquial pattern **"up and"** meaning “suddenly do something”.