Play This Song – English Lyrics

• By: Mariah Carey, Anderson .Paak
• Album: Here For It All

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the emotive storytelling in 'Play This Song' by Mariah Carey and Anderson .Paak. This track offers a beautiful opportunity to learn English through its conversational lyrics and heartfelt narrative of love and longing. The song is special for its smooth, throwback '70s R&B sound and the captivating vocal chemistry between two iconic artists.

[English]

Play this song, by yourself

And your friends don't talk about it

About your suffering in your silence

Boy I know you miss me

(Listen by yourself, you can listen by your damn self)

And I can't pretend to hold it all in

It all comes around again

You know we got some history

(Listen by yourself, please listen by your damn self)

Play this song, by yourself

There's a thing in my mind

I can't block this time

Ain’t no way around it

I told Pookie, DeShawn and Ron

We were getting back together

Although I highly doubt it

And I know you miss me babe

Don't pretend like you don't feel the same

Can't take all the pain and the sorrow

Come on and stay until tomorrow

And I know you miss me babe

Ain’t it hard when things don't go your way

I'm not the same, baby I promise

All I can say is that I'm sorry

Play this song, by yourself

Though you try so hard to hide it

I can tell by the way you're smiling

Girl I know you miss me

(Listen by yourself, you can listen by your damn self)

At the drive-in eatin’ with your little friend

I used to buy you steaks and scrimps

Don't act like you don't miss me

(Listen by yourself, please listen by your damn self)

Play this song, by yourself

There's a place in my heart

I can't hide at all, boy you can always find it

I told Keisha, Chante and Tots

We were getting back together

Although I highly doubt it

And I know you miss me babe

Don't pretend like you don't feel the same

Can't take all the pain and the sorrow

Come on and stay until tomorrow

And I know you miss me babe,

Ain’t it hard when things don't go your way

I'm not the same, baby I promise

All I can say is that I'm sorry

Play this song, by yourself

I know you're sitting all alone

and I get you to play this song

you didn't realize you was dead wrong

celebrating all along

hah

you gone lose lost to confusion

it's never too late to

to change that

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
play /pleɪ/ A1	verb - to perform music or a recording
song /sɒŋ/ A1	noun - a musical composition with vocals
miss /mɪs/ A2	verb - to feel sad about someone's absence
listen /ˈlɪsən/ A1	verb - to pay attention to sound
suffering /ˈsʌfərɪŋ/ B1	noun - pain or distress
silence /ˈsaɪləns/ A2	noun - a lack of sound
pretend /prɪˈtɛnd/ A2	verb - to behave as if something is true
history /ˈhɪstəri/ A2	noun - past events or experiences
doubt /daʊt/ A2	verb - to lack confidence in something
pain /peɪn/ A1	noun - physical or emotional suffering
sorrow /ˈsɒroʊ/ B1	noun - deep sadness
hide /haɪd/ A1	verb - to put something out of sight
smile /smaɪl/ A1	verb - to show happiness with one's face
promise /ˈprɒmɪs/ A2	verb - to commit to something
sorry /ˈsɒri/ A1	adjective - feeling regret or sadness

Key Grammar Structures

• Play this song, by yourself

  ➔ Imperative Mood

  ➔ The phrase "Play this song" uses the imperative mood to give a direct command or instruction.

• And I can't pretend to hold it all in

  ➔ Modal Verb (can't)

  ➔ The modal verb "can't" is used to express inability or impossibility.

• It all comes around again

  ➔ Present Simple for Future

  ➔ The present simple "comes" is used here to indicate a future action that is certain or cyclical.

• I told Pookie, DeShawn and Ron

  ➔ Past Simple

  ➔ The past simple "told" is used to describe a completed action in the past.

• Although I highly doubt it

  ➔ Concession with 'Although'

  ➔ The conjunction "Although" is used to introduce a contrasting idea despite the main clause.

• Don't pretend like you don't feel the same

  ➔ Negative Imperative

  ➔ The negative imperative "Don't pretend" is used to give a direct prohibition or order.

• All I can say is that I'm sorry

  ➔ Emphatic Structure

  ➔ The phrase "All I can say" uses an emphatic structure to highlight the limited nature of the statement.

• You didn't realize you was dead wrong

  ➔ Past Simple with 'Didn't'

  ➔ The negative past simple "didn't realize" is used to describe an action that did not happen in the past.