My Girl – English Lyrics

• By: The Temptations

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the timeless appeal of The Temptations' "My Girl," a classic Motown hit that captures the essence of love and happiness. By exploring the song's heartfelt lyrics and smooth harmonies, you'll not only improve your English but also gain a deeper appreciation for the cultural impact of Motown music and the universal language of love.

[English]

I've got sunshine, on a cloudy day

When it's cold outside, I've got the month of May (ooh)

I guess you'd say

What can make me feel this way?

My girl, my girl, my girl

Talkin' 'bout my girl, my girl

I've got so much honey, the bees envy me

I've got a sweeter song, than the birds in the trees

Well, I guess you'd say

What can make me feel this way?

My girl, my girl, my girl

Talkin' 'bout my girl, my girl

Ooh, ooh

Hey-hey-hey, hey-hey-hey

Ooh, ooh, yeah

I don't need no money (ooh), fortune, or fame

I've got all the riches, baby (ooh) one man can claim

Well, I guess you'd say

What can make me feel this way?

My girl, my girl, my girl

Talkin' 'bout my girl, my girl

(Talkin' 'bout my girl)

I've got sunshine on a cloudy day (whoa, whoa) with my girl

I've even got the month of May, with my girl (talkin' 'bout my girl)

Talkin' 'bout, talkin' 'bout, talkin' 'bout my girl (ooh)

Ooh, my girl (talkin' 'bout my girl)

That's all I can talk about is my girl (ooh)

Why don't you believe she's all my girl? (Talkin' 'bout my girl)

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
sunshine /ˈsʌn.ʃaɪn/ B1	noun - the light and heat from the sun
cloudy /ˈklaʊ.di/ B2	adjective - covered with clouds; overcast
cold /koʊld/ A2	adjective - having a low temperature
month /mʌnθ/ A2	noun - a period of roughly four weeks
make /meɪk/ A2	verb - to cause to happen
girl /ɡɜːrl/ (AmE: /ɡɝːl/) A1	noun - a female child or young woman
honey /ˈhʌn.i/ A2	noun - a sweet sticky substance made by bees
envy /ˈen.vɪ/ B2	verb - to feel resentful or desirous of what someone else has
bird /bɜːrd/ A1	noun - a type of animal with feathers and wings
tree /triː/ A2	noun - a woody plant that has branches and leaves
fame /feɪm/ B2	noun - public recognition or great reputation
riches /ˈrɪtʃ.ɪz/ B2	noun - valuable possessions or wealth
fame /feɪm/ B2	noun - public recognition or reputation
rich /rɪtʃ/ B2	adjective - having a lot of money or valuable possessions

Key Grammar Structures

• I've got sunshine, on a cloudy day

  ➔ Present Perfect Simple (contracted)

  ➔ The contracted form "I've got" is a colloquial way of saying "I have got". It indicates possession or the fact of having experienced something. In this case, the speaker possesses sunshine.

• When it's cold outside, I've got the month of May

  ➔ Subordinate Clause with "When", Use of Definite Article "the"

  ➔ The "when" clause sets a condition. "The month of May" uses the definite article because the speaker is referring to a specific, idealized idea of the month of May (representing warmth and happiness).

• What can make me feel this way?

  ➔ Modal Verb "can" (ability/possibility) in a question, Demonstrative Adjective "this"

  ➔ "Can" expresses the possibility or ability to cause a certain feeling. "This way" refers to the specific feeling described in the previous lines.

• I've got so much honey, the bees envy me

  ➔ Quantifier "so much", Subject-Verb Agreement, Use of Article 'the'

  ➔ "So much honey" indicates a large quantity. "The bees" uses the definite article to refer to bees in general, as a representative of all bees.

• I don't need no money

  ➔ Double Negative (non-standard English)

  ➔ The use of "don't need no" is a double negative, which is grammatically incorrect in standard English but is used for emphasis in some dialects and informal speech. It effectively means "I don't need any money".

• I've got all the riches, baby one man can claim

  ➔ Reduced Relative Clause, Superlative (Implied)

  ➔ "One man can claim" is a reduced relative clause, where "that" or "which" is omitted. The full clause would be "all the riches that one man can claim". There is an implied superlative as the speaker implies they have the maximum amount of riches a man can possibly claim.