Lyrics & Translation
“Nights Like This” offers a poignant and deeply emotional exploration of heartbreak and betrayal, making it an excellent song for language learners to delve into contemporary R&B vocabulary and expressions of raw emotion. Kehlani's lyrical prowess transforms personal experiences into relatable storytelling, while the track also stands out for its important queer representation in mainstream music, adding a unique layer to its narrative.
[English]
You act like you need remindin'Tryna do it over, bring it back and rewind it
But all that glitters isn't gold, I was blinded
Should have never gave you my heart on consignment
And I can't believe the lies that I went for
Thought you was mine, but you decided to be with him though
You took my feelings and just threw 'em out the window
Feel like it's too hard to fall in love again, no
On some nights like this, shawty, I can't help but think of us
I've been reminiscin', sippin', missin' ya
Can you tell me what's with all this distant love?
If I called, would you pick it up?
On some nights like this, I just wanna text you, but for what?
You gon' say you want me, then go switch it up
Just gon' play with my emotions just because, no (Oh)
All them times I played the fool for you
Thinking we could put it back together, thought we had forever
You never see my point of view
Our connection is so severed, you don't show no effort
And I can't believe the lies that I went for
Thought you was mine, but you decided to be with him though
Took my feelings and just threw 'em out the window
Feel like it's too hard to fall in love again, no
On some nights like this, shawty, I can't help but think of us
I've been reminiscin', sippin', missin' ya
Can you tell me what's with all this distant love?
If I called, would you pick it up?
On some nights like this, I just wanna text you, but for what?
You gon' say you want me, then go switch it up
Just gon' play with my emotions just because, no (Oh)
You gon' get my hopes high, girl
You gon' get my hopes high, girl
Just gon' tell me more lies, girl
Just gon' get my hopes high, girl
I've been way too good to you, you take me for granted
You was my day one since back at Big B's house on Adams
First day that we met, I flagged you down, I told you, hit my line
Used to promise me you'd never switch on me like Gemini
You think I'm a fool, ain't nobody stupid
I see all the signs, I see all the clues
Yeah, sometimes I reminisce 'bout that shit when I'm binging
Can't believe it's been a whole year, yeah, but
On some nights like this, shawty, I can't help but think of us
I've been reminiscin', sippin', missin' ya (Missing ya)
Can you tell me what's with all this distant love? (Love)
If I called, would you pick it up?
On some nights like this, I just wanna text you, but for what?
You gon' say you want me, then go switch it up (Switch it up)
Just gon' play with my emotions just because, no (Oh)
You gon' get my hopes high, girl
You gon' get my hopes high, girl
Just gon' tell me more lies, girl
Just gon' get my hopes high, girl
Key Vocabulary
| Vocabulary | Meanings |
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nights /naɪts/ A1 |
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rewind /ˌriːˈwaɪnd/ B2 |
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glitters /ˈɡlɪtərz/ B2 |
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blinded /ˈblaɪndɪd/ B2 |
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lies /laɪz/ A2 |
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feelings /ˈfiːlɪŋz/ A2 |
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distant /ˈdɪstənt/ B1 |
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emotions /ɪˈmoʊʃənz/ B1 |
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fool /fuːl/ B1 |
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forever /fərˈevər/ A2 |
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severed /ˈsevərd/ C1 |
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effort /ˈefərt/ B1 |
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granted /ˈɡræntɪd/ B2 |
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promise /ˈprɑːmɪs/ A2 |
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stupid /ˈstuːpɪd/ A2 |
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clues /kluːz/ B1 |
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Key Grammar Structures
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You act like you need remindin'.
➔ Present simple tense with 'act like' + gerund
➔ The phrase "act like" is used to describe behavior that resembles something else. Here, it suggests the person is behaving as if they *need reminding*. Reminding (gerund) acts as the object of the preposition 'like'.
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All that glitters isn't gold, I was blinded.
➔ Proverb; passive voice ('I was blinded')
➔ "All that glitters isn't gold" is a common proverb meaning that appearances can be deceptive. "I was blinded" is in the passive voice, indicating that an external force (likely the other person's behavior) caused the speaker to be unable to see clearly.
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Should have never gave you my heart on consignment.
➔ Modal perfect ('should have' + past participle) for regret
➔ "Should have never gave" expresses regret. The speaker feels they made a mistake by giving their heart on consignment. 'Consignment' here means giving something but retaining legal ownership until it's sold, implying they were cautious but still got hurt.
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If I called, would you pick it up?
➔ Second conditional (If + past simple, would + infinitive)
➔ This is a second conditional sentence, used to talk about an unreal or hypothetical situation in the present or future. It implies the speaker doubts whether the person would answer the phone if they called.
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You gon' say you want me, then go switch it up
➔ Future with 'gon' (going to); phrasal verb ('switch it up')
➔ 'Gon'' is a colloquial shortening of 'going to', used to express future intention. "Switch it up" is a phrasal verb meaning to change something, often in an unexpected way. The sentence describes inconsistent behavior.
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Just gon' play with my emotions just because, no (Oh)
➔ Use of "just" for emphasis; casual future tense ("gon' play"); reason clause ("just because")
➔ The word "just" is used here for emphasis, indicating the speaker's frustration. "gon' play" is a casual pronunciation of "going to play," indicating a future action. The phrase "just because" indicates there is no real reason for the other person's behavior other than their own whim.
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Used to promise me you'd never switch on me like Gemini
➔ Used to + infinitive; conditional would
➔ "Used to promise" indicates a past habit or repeated action that is no longer true. "You'd never switch on me" is a contraction of "you would never switch on me," expressing a promise. The comparison "like Gemini" references the astrological sign known for being two-faced.
