Percolator – English Lyrics

• By: SZA
• Album: CTRL (Deluxe Version)

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into SZA's "Percolator," a raw and introspective track that offers a window into the complexities of modern relationships and the courage it takes to reveal one's true self. Through its vulnerable lyrics and emotive delivery, this song is a fantastic way to engage with the nuanced storytelling and authentic expression that defines SZA's artistry. Explore the rich language of emotion as SZA masterfully articulates the struggle between holding back and yearning for genuine connection, making it a compelling listen for anyone eager to understand contemporary R&B at its most intimate.

[English]

Say you got love for me

Say you don't mind that we don't really fuck a lot

I-I-I-I just wanna smoke a little

Then take off all my makeup, so we can touch a little

Don't really rush a lot

I keep anxiety

Thank you for waiting anyway

Don't really trust a lot

I keep a side of me under wraps, uh

Ooh-wee-ooh-wee-ooh-ooh

I wanna be a percolator ('lator)

Na-na-na-na-na, na-na

I gots to be a live wire

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - a deep affection or emotional attachment
smoke /smoʊk/ A2	verb - to inhale and exhale tobacco or other substances
makeup /ˈmeɪkˌʌp/ A2	noun - cosmetics applied to the face
touch /tʌtʃ/ A1	verb - to come into contact with something
rush /rʌʃ/ A2	verb - to move or act with urgency
anxiety /æŋˈzaɪəti/ B1	noun - a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease
trust /trʌst/ A2	verb - to believe in the reliability or truth of someone or something
wire /waɪər/ A2	noun - a strand of metal used for conducting electricity
percolator /ˈpɜːrkəleɪtər/ C1	noun - a device for making coffee by filtering boiling water through ground coffee
live /lɪv/ A1	adjective - having life verb - to have life; to exist
waiting /ˈweɪtɪŋ/ A1	verb - to stay in one place while expecting something
wraps /ræps/ B1	noun - coverings or foldings
mind /maɪnd/ A2	noun - the faculty of thought and consciousness verb - to be bothered or concerned about something
fuck /fʌk/ B2	verb - to have sexual intercourse
keep /kiːp/ A1	verb - to retain possession of

Key Grammar Structures

• Say you got love for me

  ➔ Present simple in indirect speech

  ➔ The verb 'got' is in the present simple tense, used in indirect speech to express a statement.

• I-I-I-I just wanna smoke a little

  ➔ Emphatic pronoun repetition

  ➔ The repetition of 'I' emphasizes the speaker's personal desire or insistence.

• Then take off all my makeup, so we can touch a little

  ➔ Sequential conjunctions

  ➔ 'Then' and 'so' are used to show the order of actions.

• Don't really rush a lot

  ➔ Adverb of degree with 'really'

  ➔ 'Really' modifies 'rush' to indicate a lack of urgency.

• I keep anxiety

  ➔ Present simple with 'keep'

  ➔ 'Keep' is used to describe a habitual state or action.

• I wanna be a percolator ('lator)

  ➔ Contraction and slang

  ➔ The contraction 'wanna' and the slang 'percolator' reflect informal language.

• Na-na-na-na-na, na-na

  ➔ Onomatopoeia

  ➔ The repetition of 'na-na' is an onomatopoeic expression, mimicking a sound.