New Rules – English Lyrics

• By: Dua Lipa
• Album: Live Acoustic EP

Lyrics & Translation

"New Rules" by Dua Lipa is not just a chart-topping pop anthem; it's a relatable and empowering guide to self-love and moving on, making it an excellent song for language learners. Its clear, direct lyrics and catchy chorus offer practical vocabulary for discussing relationships and personal boundaries, while its strong narrative of female friendship provides a cultural context for understanding modern pop themes. The song's memorable phrases and repetitive structure make it easy to follow along, encouraging active listening and singing practice.

[English]

One, one, one, one, one

...

Talkin' in my sleep at night, makin' myself crazy

(Out of my mind, out of my mind)

Wrote it down and read it out, hopin' it would save me

(Too many times, too many times)

My love

He makes me feel like nobody else, nobody else

...

But my love

He doesn't love me, so I tell myself, I tell myself

One: Don't pick up the phone

You know he's only callin' 'cause he's drunk and alone

Two: Don't let him in, you'll have to kick him out again

Three: Don't be his friend

You know you're gonna wake up in his bed in the mornin'

And if you're under him, you ain't gettin' over him

I got new rules, I count 'em

I got new rules, I count 'em

I gotta tell them to myself

I got new rules, I count 'em

I gotta tell them to myself

I keep pushin' forwards, but he keeps pullin' me backwards

(Nowhere to turn) no way

(Nowhere to turn) no

Now I'm standin' back from it, I finally see the pattern

(I never learn, I never learn)

But my love (love)

He doesn't love me, so I tell myself

I tell myself, I do, I do, I do

One: Don't pick up the phone

You know he's only callin' 'cause he's drunk and alone

Two: Don't let him in, you have to kick him out again

Three: Don't be his friend

You know you're gonna wake up in his bed in the mornin'

And if you're under him, you ain't gettin' over him

I got new rules, I count 'em

I got new rules, I count 'em

I gotta tell them to myself

I got new rules, I count 'em

I gotta tell them to myself

Practice makes perfect, I'm still tryna learn it by heart (I got new rules, I count 'em)

Eat, sleep and breathe it, rehearse and repeat it, 'cause I (I got new, I got new, I...)

One: Don't pick up the phone (yeah)

You know he's only callin' 'cause he's drunk and alone (alone)

Two: Don't let him in, you have to kick him out again (again)

Three: Don't be his friend

You know you're gonna wake up in his bed in the mornin' (bed in the mornin')

And if you're under him, you ain't gettin' over him

I got new rules, I count 'em

I got new rules, I count 'em

(Whoa-ooh, whoa-ooh, whoa)

I gotta tell them to myself

I got new rules, I count 'em

(Baby, you know I count 'em)

I gotta tell them to myself

Don't let him in, don't let him in, don't, don't, don't, don't

Don't be his friend, don't be his friend, don't, don't, don't, don't

Don't let him in, don't let him in, don't, don't, don't, don't

Don't be his friend, don't be his friend, don't, don't, don't

You gettin' over him

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
pick /pɪk/ A1	verb - to choose or select something
call /kɔːl/ A1	verb - to telephone someone
drunk /drʌŋk/ A2	adjective - intoxicated from alcohol
alone /əˈloʊn/ A1	adjective - without anyone else
let /lɛt/ A1	verb - to allow something to happen
kick /kɪk/ A1	verb - to strike with the foot
friend /frɛnd/ A1	noun - a person you know well and like
wake /weɪk/ A1	verb - to stop sleeping
bed /bɛd/ A1	noun - a piece of furniture for sleeping
morning /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/ A1	noun - the early part of the day
under /ˈʌndər/ A1	preposition - below or beneath something
over /ˈoʊvər/ A1	preposition - above or higher than something
rule /ruːl/ A2	noun - a statement that tells people what they should do
count /kaʊnt/ A1	verb - to say numbers in order
tell /tɛl/ A1	verb - to say something to someone
pattern /ˈpætərn/ B1	noun - a repeated decorative design
practice /ˈpræktɪs/ A2	noun - the act of doing something repeatedly to improve
perfect /ˈpɜːrfɪkt/ A2	adjective - having no faults or flaws
rehearse /rɪˈhɜːrs/ B1	verb - to practice something before performing it
repeat /rɪˈpiːt/ A2	verb - to do or say something again

Key Grammar Structures

• He makes me feel like nobody else, nobody else

  ➔ Comparative Structure with 'like'

  ➔ The phrase uses 'like' to draw a comparison, emphasizing the unique feeling he evokes. The repetition of 'nobody else' reinforces the intensity of this feeling. It's a subjective comparison, not a literal one.

• You know he's only callin' 'cause he's drunk and alone

  ➔ Infinitive of Purpose ('to' + verb)

  ➔ The phrase 'because he's drunk and alone' explains the *reason* for his calling. The 'to' is implied in 'cause', indicating the purpose of the action (calling).

• Don't be his friend, you know you're gonna wake up in his bed in the mornin'

  ➔ Future with 'gonna'

  ➔ 'Gonna' is a colloquial contraction of 'going to', used to express a strong prediction about the future. It implies a high degree of certainty.

• And if you're under him, you ain't gettin' over him

  ➔ Double Negative

  ➔ The phrase 'ain't gettin' over him' uses a double negative ('ain't' and 'over'). While grammatically non-standard, it's common in colloquial speech and emphasizes the difficulty of moving on. It effectively means 'you *are* getting over him'.

• I gotta tell them to myself

  ➔ Contraction of 'got to'

  ➔ 'Gotta' is a very common colloquial contraction of 'got to', expressing obligation or necessity. It's informal but widely understood.