Number One – English Lyrics

• By: John Legend

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the early career of John Legend with "Number One," a compelling R&B track that offers a glimpse into complex human emotions. Learning English through this song allows you to explore expressions of love, conflict, and self-reflection. The song's clear vocals and engaging lyrics provide an excellent opportunity to understand idiomatic phrases and nuanced emotional language in English, making it special for its raw honesty and a unique window into the artist's personal growth.

[English]

(gentle music)

♪ Ooh I promise not to do it again ♪

♪ I promise not to do it ♪

♪ You can't say I don't love you ♪

♪ Just because I cheat on you ♪

♪ 'Cause you can't see all I do ♪

♪ To keep you from knowing the things I do ♪

♪ Like erase my phone ♪

♪ And keep it out of town ♪

♪ I keep it strapped up when I sleep around ♪

♪ Well I should have known one say you'd find out ♪

♪ But you can't go and leave me now ♪

♪ You know that I love you ♪

♪ There's no one above you ♪

♪ I said it the last time ♪

♪ But this is the last time ♪

♪ Don't make me over ♪

♪ 'Cause I can be faithful ♪

♪ Baby you're my number one ♪

♪ You're my number one ♪

♪ Now who is she ♪

♪ What's her name ♪

♪ You don't need to know about everything ♪

♪ We fight about this ♪

♪ We fight about that ♪

♪ You hang up the phone and call me right back ♪

♪ Well I'll never be something I'm not ♪

♪ Please don't throw away what we've got ♪

♪ 'Cause we've been together for way too long ♪

♪ I was playing around but I'm coming home ♪

♪ You know that I love you know that I love you ♪

♪ There's no one above you no one above you ♪

♪ I said it the last time hey, hey ♪

♪ But this is the last time ♪

♪ Don't make me over don't leave me baby ♪

♪ 'Cause I can be faithful you know I try ♪

♪ Baby you're my number one baby ♪

♪ You're my number one ♪

♪ You're making it hard for me ♪

♪ You're messing up everything ♪

♪ You tell me I gotta leave ♪

♪ Say we over ♪

♪ You saw that she came over ♪

♪ Came in the Range Rover ♪

♪ Left with a hangover ♪

♪ Say we over ♪

♪ I promise I won't cheat ♪

♪ I promise I won't lie ♪

♪ I promise I'll act right ♪

♪ Say we over ♪

♪ You can't tell me ♪

♪ I can't have you ♪

♪ I can't have that ♪

♪ We ain't over ♪

♪ Hey, it ain't over baby ♪

♪ We ain't over ♪

♪ Oh you don't need to go it's not over ♪

♪ We ain't over ♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ We ain't over ♪

♪ Oh it's gonna be alright now don't go now ♪

♪ Know that I love you ♪

♪ Know that I love you ♪

♪ Said it the last time, last time ♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
promise /ˈprɒmɪs/ A2	verb - to assure someone that you will definitely do something or that something will happen noun - a declaration assuring that one will do something or that a particular thing will happen.
love /lʌv/ A1	verb - an intense feeling of affection noun - an intense feeling of affection
cheat /tʃiːt/ B1	verb - to act dishonestly or unfairly in order to gain an advantage
know /noʊ/ A1	verb - to be aware of through observation, inquiry, or information
leave /liːv/ A2	verb - to go away from
fight /faɪt/ A2	verb - to take part in a violent struggle noun - a physical fight
faithful /ˈfeɪθfʊl/ B2	adjective - loyal and trustworthy
number /ˈnʌmbər/ A1	noun - a unit used for counting or labeling
name /neɪm/ A1	noun - a word or symbol used to identify a person, place, or thing
call /kɔːl/ A2	verb - to shout or cry out
throw /θroʊ/ A2	verb - to propel something through the air with a forward movement of the arm
together /təˈɡɛðər/ A2	adverb - with others
home /hoʊm/ A1	noun - the place where one lives
hard /hɑːrd/ A2	adjective - requiring considerable effort
messing /ˈmɛsɪŋ/ B1	verb - to make a mess of something
over /ˈoʊvər/ A2	adjective - finished
lie /laɪ/ B1	verb - to intentionally tell an untruth

Key Grammar Structures

• ♪ I promise not to do it again ♪

  ➔ Present simple with 'promise' for future intention

  ➔ The verb 'promise' here is used in the present simple to express a future commitment, emphasizing the speaker's intention.

• ♪ You can't say I don't love you ♪

  ➔ Modal verb 'can't' for impossibility

  ➔ The modal verb 'can't' is used to express that it is impossible for the listener to say the speaker doesn't love them.

• ♪ 'Cause you can't see all I do ♪

  ➔ Contraction 'can't' and present simple

  ➔ The contraction 'can't' is used for 'cannot,' and the present simple is used to describe a habitual action.

• ♪ I said it the last time ♪

  ➔ Past simple with 'said'

  ➔ The past simple with 'said' is used to refer to a specific past action or statement.

• ♪ Baby you're my number one ♪

  ➔ Present simple with 'are' for a permanent state

  ➔ The present simple with 'are' is used to describe a permanent or long-term state, such as the speaker's feelings.

• ♪ We fight about this ♪

  ➔ Present simple with 'fight' for habitual actions

  ➔ The present simple with 'fight' is used to describe a recurring or habitual action between the subjects.

• ♪ I promise I won't cheat ♪

  ➔ Future intention with 'will not' contracted to 'won't'

  ➔ The contraction 'won't' is used for 'will not' to express a future intention or promise.

• ♪ We ain't over ♪

  ➔ Contraction 'ain't' for 'are not'

  ➔ The contraction 'ain't' is an informal way to say 'are not,' commonly used in spoken English.