Night Nurse

• By: Gregory Isaacs
• Album: Night Nurse

Lyrics:

Vocabulary in this song:

Vocabulary	Meanings
nurse /nɜːrs/ A2	noun - a person trained to care for the sick or injured verb - to care for (a sick or injured person)
night /naɪt/ A1	noun - the period from sunset to sunrise
quick /kwɪk/ A2	adjective - done with speed
sick /sɪk/ A1	adjective - affected by illness
heart /hɑːrt/ A1	noun - a hollow muscular organ that pumps the blood
broken /ˈbroʊkən/ A2	adjective - having been fractured or damaged
emergency /ɪˈmɜːrdʒənsi/ B1	noun - a serious, unexpected, and often dangerous situation requiring immediate action
patient /ˈpeɪʃnt/ A2	noun - a person receiving or registered to receive medical treatment
thirst /θɜːrst/ B2	noun - a feeling of needing or wanting to drink something
pain /peɪn/ A2	noun - physical suffering or discomfort
worse /wɜːrs/ A2	adjective - of poorer quality or lower standard
attendance /əˈtendəns/ B1	noun - the action or state of going regularly to or being present at a place or event
prescription /prɪˈskrɪpʃn/ B2	noun - an instruction written by a medical practitioner that authorizes a patient to be provided a medicine or treatment
remedy /ˈremədi/ B2	noun - a medicine or treatment for a disease or injury
hurt /hɜːrt/ A2	verb - cause physical pain or injury to adjective - emotionally wounded
cure /kjʊr/ B1	verb - relieve (a person or animal) of the symptoms of a disease or condition noun - a substance or course of treatment used to relieve a disease or condition

Grammar:

• Tell her try your best, just to make it quick

  ➔ Imperative + Infinitive of Purpose

  ➔ The sentence uses the imperative form "Tell" followed by "try" (infinitive) to express the purpose. "to make it quick" explains the reason why she should try her best.

• Woman tend to the sick

  ➔ Imperative (implied) with simple present tense used as a general instruction.

  ➔ Although not explicitly stated, the phrase acts as an instruction or expectation. "tend" is in the simple present but functions as an imperative, expressing a general duty or request.

• 'Cah there must be something she can do

  ➔ Modal Verb of Deduction (must) + Relative Clause (she can do)

  ➔ "must be" expresses a strong belief or deduction that there is something the nurse can do. The relative clause "she can do" specifies the possible action.

• This heart is broken in two

  ➔ Passive Voice (is broken)

  ➔ The heart is the receiver of the action of breaking. The passive voice is used to emphasize the state of the heart rather than who or what caused it.

• Only you alone can quench this here thirst

  ➔ Emphasis with 'Only' and 'Alone' + Modal Verb (can)

  ➔ Using both "Only" and "alone" emphasizes that nobody else but the night nurse can satisfy his longing. "can quench" expresses ability or possibility.

• I don't wanna see no Doc'

  ➔ Double Negative (non-standard English)

  ➔ The use of "don't" and "no" together creates a double negative, which is grammatically incorrect in standard English but common in some dialects and informal speech. It emphasizes the desire to avoid seeing a doctor.

• I need attendance from my nurse around the clock

  ➔ Noun as an abstract concept

  ➔ "Attendance" is used as an abstract concept indicating the care and attention the singer needs from the nurse. It is not just physical presence, but active care.

• For there's no prescription for me

  ➔ Existential 'There is' + Negative Adjective

  ➔ "There's no prescription" uses the existential construction to state that a specific remedy (a prescription) does not exist for the singer's condition. "no" acts as a negative adjective modifying "prescription".