Playing Games – English Lyrics

• By: Summer Walker, Bryson Tiller
• Album: Over It

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music can be an incredibly rewarding experience, and Summer Walker's "Playing Games" offers a great opportunity to dive into contemporary English R&B. The song's lyrics are emotionally direct and relatable, touching on universal themes of love, respect, and communication in modern relationships. By exploring the conversational and expressive language used by both Summer Walker and Bryson Tiller, you can pick up on colloquialisms and a natural flow of speech. The song's soulful melodies and clear vocal delivery make it easier to follow along and appreciate the nuances of the lyrics, making the language learning process both enjoyable and culturally enriching.

[English]

Whip, bought it

Crib, got it

Job, on it

Did I ever

Ask you to take me to go

Shopping in Paris or go

Sailing overseas and just

Drape me in Gucci? No

All I ever asked was you to

Pick up the phone when you alone

All I ever asked was you to

Show me some love

Kisses and hugs

No I never had an issue

Go to the club with your boys, baby, I

Never wanted you to stay too long

Just wanted you to show me off

So won't you say my name, say my name

If you claim you want me

It ain't no thang

You acting kinda shady

You ain't been calling me baby, oh

Boy you can go and stop playing games

Playing games

I know you saying hit my line

I'm on your line, and that

You want this bad

So I'm cool with that

I'm just trying to match your words with your actions

I need more than satisfaction

Is you really 'bout that action

Really want to give you all

But flex in front of your friends

How that work?

Swear that you doing the most

But we take a picture, can't post it

How that work?

When you talking

Back that shit up

Won't you say my, say my

So won't you say my name say my name

If you claim you want me

It ain't no thang

You acting kinda shady

You ain't been calling me baby, oh

Boy, you can go and stop playing games

Playing games

Games (games)

Games (oh games)

...

(We got London on the track)

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
shopping /ˈʃɒpɪŋ/ A1	noun - the activity of buying things from shops
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - an intense feeling of affection verb - to feel affection for someone
club /klʌb/ A2	noun - a place where people go to dance and listen to music
name /neɪm/ A1	noun - a word or words by which someone or something is known verb - to give a name to
games /ɡeɪmz/ A1	noun - a form of play or sport, especially a competitive one played according to rules and decided by skill, strength, or chance
line /laɪn/ A1	noun - a length of cord or wire used for a particular purpose
words /wɜːdz/ A1	noun - a single distinct meaningful element of speech or writing, used with others (or sometimes alone) to form a sentence and typically shown with a space on either side when written or printed.
actions /ˈækʃənz/ A2	noun - the fact or process of doing something, typically to achieve an aim
friends /frendz/ A1	noun - a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically exclusive of sexual or family relations
picture /ˈpɪktʃər/ A1	noun - a painting or drawing
baby /ˈbeɪbi/ A1	noun - a very young child noun - (informal) a term of endearment
issue /ˈɪʃuː/ B1	noun - an important topic or problem for debate or discussion
shady /ˈʃeɪdi/ B2	adjective - of doubtful honesty or legality
satisfaction /ˌsætɪsˈfækʃn/ B2	noun - fulfillment of one's wishes, expectations, or needs, or the pleasure derived from this
flex /fleks/ B2	verb - (slang) to show off one's wealth, possessions, or achievements

Key Grammar Structures

• Did I ever ask you to take me to go shopping in Paris or go sailing overseas...

  ➔ Infinitive of purpose (to + verb)

  ➔ The phrase "to take me to go shopping" uses the infinitive "to go shopping" to express the *purpose* of the action 'take me'. It means 'for the purpose of going shopping'.

• All I ever asked was you to pick up the phone when you alone

  ➔ Cleft sentence with "all" and the subjunctive mood (implied)

  ➔ This is a cleft sentence that emphasizes what was asked. The structure "All I ever asked was you to..." focuses on the single request. The subjunctive is implied in "All I ever asked was (that) you pick...", but 'to pick' is grammatically acceptable. 'When you are alone' uses 'are' omitted.

• You ain't been calling me baby, oh

  ➔ Present Perfect Continuous Tense (Negative Contraction)

  ➔ "You ain't been calling" is a colloquial contraction of "You have not been calling". The Present Perfect Continuous describes an action that started in the past and continues to the present, emphasizing its duration.

• Boy you can go and stop playing games

  ➔ Modal Verb "can" for permission/suggestion, followed by "go and" + verb

  ➔ "Can go" is used to imply "You are permitted/should go". The construction "go and stop" is used for two consecutive actions.

• I'm just trying to match your words with your actions

  ➔ Present Continuous Tense (describing an ongoing attempt)

  ➔ "I'm trying" utilizes the present continuous to indicate that the action of trying to match words and actions is currently happening. It suggests a continuous effort, not a one-time event.

• Is you really 'bout that action

  ➔ Non-standard grammar with omission of 'are' and use of 'bout

  ➔ This is a slang expression. In standard English, it would be "Are you really about that action?". The omission of "are" and the use of "'bout" are common in informal speech, especially in African American Vernacular English (AAVE).