Payback – English Lyrics

• By: Rascal Flatts

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the catchy rhythms and relatable story of Rascal Flatts' "Payback"! This song is a fantastic way to explore modern country English, offering upbeat lyrics about overcoming heartbreak with a fun, defiant spirit. You'll pick up everyday expressions related to relationships and going out, all wrapped in a memorable melody that encourages confidence and moving on. What makes it special is its energetic take on emotional 'payback', perfect for learning contemporary spoken English in a musical context.

[English]

THIS IS OUR BRAND-NEW SINGLE!

IT'S CALLED "PAYBACK"!

Y'ALL PUT YOUR HANDS IN THE AIR LIKE THIS!

♪♪♪

♪ FRONT OF THE LINE, STRAIGHT PAST THE BOUNCER ♪

♪ LOOKING SO FINE THAT THE BAND ANNOUNCED YA ♪

♪ GOT YOUR TIGHT JEANS ON AND YOUR HAIR DONE RIGHT ♪

♪ ALL YOUR GIRLFRIENDS SAY WE THROWIN' DOWN TONIGHT" ♪

♪ NOW, LET ME GUESS -- SOMEBODY DONE YOU WRONG ♪

♪ AND YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A WAY TO GET YOUR FEEL-GOOD ON ♪

♪ GET SOME PICTURES ON THE INSTAGRAM ♪

♪ AND SHOW HIM WHAT HE'S MISSING ♪

♪ STRAIGHT, NO CHASER, GIRL ON A MISSION ♪

♪ HMM ♪

♪ NOW, BABY, I COULD BE YOUR PAYBACK ♪

♪ HEY, GONNA HELP YOU GET YOUR SWAY BACK ♪

♪ TAKE YOU TO THE DANCE FLOOR ♪

♪ I'MA LEAN YOU WAY BACK ♪

♪ HA HA, YEAH, I'MA LEAN YOU WAY BACK ♪

♪ GONNA HAVE A REAL GOOD TIME ♪

♪ DON'T WORRY 'BOUT YOUR TAB, GIRL, PUT IT ON MINE ♪

♪ WE CAN SHOW HIM WHAT HE CAN'T HAVE ♪

♪ IF YOU WANT TO PLAY THAT GAME, YEAH ♪

♪ BABY, I CAN BE YOUR PAYBACK ♪

♪ DA-DA-DA-DA, DA, DA, DA ♪

YOU SING IT!

♪ DA-DA-DA-DA, DA, DA, DA ♪

♪ DA-DA-DA-DA, DA, DA, DA ♪

♪ DA-DA-DA-DA, DA, DA, DA ♪

♪ I'LL BET HE'S SITTING AT HOME, ALL ALONE IN THE DARK ♪

♪ PROBABLY TEXTING LIKE MAD, WANTS TO KNOW WHERE YOU ARE ♪

♪ 'CAUSE HE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT HE HAD TILL HE LOST IT ♪

♪ SHOULD'VE KNOWN RUNNING AROUND WAS GONNA COST HIM ♪

♪ NO WAY THAT GIRL IS AS PRETTY AS YOU ♪

♪ I NEVER EVEN SEEN HER, BUT I KNOW THAT ITS TRUE ♪

♪ IF HE WAS EVEN HALF A MAN, HE WOULDN'T HAVE BLOWN IT ♪

♪ THINKING 'BOUT IT THAT WAY FEELS GOOD, DON'T IT? ♪

♪ HMM ♪

♪ NOW, BABY, I COULD BE YOUR PAYBACK ♪

♪ HEY, GONNA HELP YOU GET YOUR SWAY BACK ♪

♪ TAKE YOU TO THE DANCE FLOOR ♪

♪ I'MA LEAN YOU WAY BACK ♪

♪ HA HA, YEAH, I'MA LEAN YOU WAY BACK ♪

♪ GONNA HAVE A REAL GOOD TIME ♪

♪ DON'T WORRY 'BOUT YOUR TAB, GIRL, PUT IN ON MINE ♪

♪ WE CAN SHOW HIM WHAT HE CAN'T HAVE ♪

♪ IF YOU WANT TO PLAY THAT GAME, YEAH ♪

♪ BABY, I CAN BE YOUR PAYBACK ♪

[ GUITAR SOLO ]

♪ I CAN BE YOUR PAYBACK ♪

♪ GONNA HELP YOU GET YOUR SWAY BACK ♪

LORD, HAVE MERCY! THAT BOY'S GONNA HATE THAT.

♪ I CAN BE YOUR P-P-P-P-P-P-PAYBACK ♪

♪ I CAN BE YOUR P-P-P-P-P-P-PAYBACK ♪

♪ I CAN BE YOUR P-P-P-P-P-P-PAYBACK ♪

♪ DA-DA-DA-DA, DA, DA, DA ♪

♪ DA-DA-DA-DA, DA, DA, DA ♪

♪ OOH, YEAH! ♪

♪ DA-DA-DA-DA, DA, DA, DA ♪

♪ DA-DA-DA-DA, DA, DA, DA ♪

♪ DA-DA-DA-DA, DA, DA, DA ♪

[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
payback /ˈpeɪbæk/ B2	noun - the return of something, especially money or revenge verb - to return money to someone; to get revenge on someone
sway /sweɪ/ B2	noun - influence or control over someone or something verb - to move back and forth; to influence
dance /dæns/ A2	noun - a series of movements to music verb - to move rhythmically to music
floor /flɔːr/ A2	noun - the lower surface of a room
hands /hændz/ A1	noun - the end parts of the arms
line /laɪn/ A1	noun - a long narrow mark or series of points
bouncer /ˈbaʊnsər/ C1	noun - a person hired to check who may enter a club or event
jeans /dʒiːnz/ A2	noun - denim trousers
girlfriends /ˈɡɜːrlfrɛndz/ B1	noun - female romantic partners
mission /ˈmɪʃən/ B2	noun - an important task or assignment
worry /ˈwʌri/ B1	verb - to feel anxious or concerned about something
tab /tæb/ B2	noun - a small bill or a protruding piece of paper used for reference
game /ɡeɪm/ A2	noun - an activity for entertainment or competition
alone /əˈloʊn/ A2	adjective - by oneself; without others
dark /dɑːrk/ A1	adjective - having little or no light
texting /ˈtɛkstɪŋ/ B1	verb - sending short messages via a mobile phone
pretty /ˈprɪti/ A2	adjective - attractive in a delicate way
mercy /ˈmɜːrsi/ B2	noun - compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone in need

Key Grammar Structures

• NOW, LET ME GUESS -- SOMEBODY DONE YOU WRONG

  ➔ Subjunctive Mood with 'let'

  ➔ The phrase 'let me guess' uses the subjunctive mood with 'let' to express a suggestion or proposal, indicating the speaker is offering to guess something.

• AND YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A WAY TO GET YOUR FEEL-GOOD ON

  ➔ Infinitive of Purpose

  ➔ The phrase 'to get your feel-good on' uses the infinitive of purpose to indicate the reason or goal behind the action of looking for a way.

• IF HE WAS EVEN HALF A MAN, HE WOULDN'T HAVE BLOWN IT

  ➔ Second Conditional

  ➔ The sentence uses the second conditional to express a hypothetical situation in the past with an unlikely or contrary-to-fact result.

• SHOULD'VE KNOWN RUNNING AROUND WAS GONNA COST HIM

  ➔ Past Modal for Regret

  ➔ The phrase 'should've known' uses the past modal 'should have' to express regret or that something was expected but did not happen.

• I'MA LEAN YOU WAY BACK

  ➔ Colloquial Contraction

  ➔ The phrase 'I'MA' is a colloquial contraction of 'I am going to', commonly used in informal speech.

• DON'T WORRY 'BOUT YOUR TAB, GIRL, PUT IT ON MINE

  ➔ Apostrophe for Contraction

  ➔ The word ''BOUT' is a contraction of 'about' using an apostrophe to replace the omitted letters.

• WE CAN SHOW HIM WHAT HE CAN'T HAVE

  ➔ Double Negative

  ➔ The phrase 'what he can't have' uses a double negative to emphasize the idea of something being unattainable.

• IF YOU WANT TO PLAY THAT GAME, YEAH

  ➔ Conditional Clause

  ➔ The phrase 'if you want to play that game' is a conditional clause that introduces a condition for the following statement.