PUSH 2 START – English Lyrics

• By: Tyla

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the vibrant world of Tyla's music with “PUSH 2 START,” a track that perfectly blends English with the rhythms of amapiano. Learning the lyrics offers a great opportunity to pick up on the playful slang and confident assertions that define Tyla's style. This song is special because it showcases the global appeal of African pop, inviting you to not just listen, but to feel the energy and dance along while you learn.

[English]

Ayy

Ayy, yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah

Oh, oh, oh

The way we move, uh, skin on to skin

No separation, need no competition, na, na, na

Uh, on everything

It's automatic, goin' zero to a hun', na, na

Ridin', wishin' the wheels will fall off

Time is tickin', it's takin' you too long

Ride before I decide to go home

Act like you heard me

Only serve it up if you deserve me, yeah

Pull up and earn me (pusha, pusha)

Push to start (pusha, pusha)

Act like you heard me

Only serve it up if you deserve me, yeah

Pull up and earn me (pusha, pusha)

Push to start (pusha, pusha)

Mum, pushin' on my buttons with no hesitation ('tation)

Gas me up, give me motivation ('vation)

So tell me where we goin', pick a destination ('nation)

Gas me up, give me motivation now ('vation)

Pushin' on my buttons with no hesitation ('tation)

Gas me up, give me motivation ('vation)

So tell me where we goin', pick a destination ('nation)

Gas me up, give me motivation now (nah)

Come give me life, and I'll change yours

Who needs signs? I say floor it

On a highway, we load it

Hold me, load me, hold me

Act like you heard me

Only serve it up if you deserve me, yeah

Pull up and earn me (pusha, pusha)

Push to start (pusha, pusha)

Act like you heard me

Only serve it up if you deserve me, yeah

Pull up and earn me (pusha, pusha)

Push to start (pusha, pusha)

Mum, pushin' on my buttons with no hesitation ('tation)

Gas me up, give me motivation ('vation)

So tell me where we goin', pick a destination ('nation)

Gas me up, give me motivation now ('vation)

Pushin' on my buttons with no hesitation ('tation)

Gas me up, give me motivation ('vation)

So tell me where we goin', pick a destination (nation)

Gas me up, give me motivation now (nah)

Give me life, I'll change yours

Who needs signs? I say floor it

On a highway, we load it

Oh, oh, oh

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
push /pʊʃ/ B1	verb - to exert force on someone or something in order to move or transport it
start /stɑːrt/ A2	verb - to begin to do something
move /muːv/ A2	verb - to change position or go from one place to another
serve /sɜːrv/ B2	verb - to provide or offer something to someone
earn /ɜːrn/ B1	verb - to gain something by work or effort
deserve /dɪˈzɜːrv/ B2	verb - to be worthy of or entitled to something because of actions or qualities
go /ɡoʊ/ A1	verb - to move from one place to another
load /loʊd/ B2	verb - to put a large quantity of something onto or into a vehicle or container
change /tʃeɪndʒ/ B1	verb - to make or become different
wish /wɪʃ/ A2	verb - to want something to happen or be true
fall /fɔːl/ B2	verb - to move downward under gravity
give /ɡɪv/ A1	verb - to transfer the possession of something to someone

Key Grammar Structures

• The way we move, uh, skin on to skin

  ➔ Noun phrase as subject/object + Simple Present Tense

  ➔ This line uses the simple present tense to describe a habitual or ongoing action. "The way we move" is a noun phrase acting as the subject. "skin on to skin" acts as a prepositional phrase that describes the type of connection.

• Need no competition, na, na, na

  ➔ "Need" + Noun (negative)

  ➔ The structure "Need no" expresses the absence of something. It's a somewhat informal but understandable way of saying "There is no need for..." or "We don't need any..."

• It's automatic, goin' zero to a hun', na, na

  ➔ Present Continuous (shortened) with slang

  ➔ "goin'" is a shortened, informal version of "going." This line uses the present continuous to describe an action that is in progress. The phrase "zero to a hun'" (short for hundred) is slang for accelerating very quickly.

• Ridin', wishin' the wheels will fall off

  ➔ Present Participle for Concurrent Action + Subjunctive Mood

  ➔ "Ridin'" is a shortened form of "riding," and it's used here as a present participle to describe an action happening at the same time as the wishing. "Wishin' the wheels will fall off" uses "will" in a way that expresses a strong desire or wish, bordering on the subjunctive mood (though technically not the subjunctive).

• Time is tickin', it's takin' you too long

  ➔ Present Continuous Tense

  ➔ This line uses the present continuous tense to describe actions that are currently in progress. "Time is tickin'" and "it's takin' you too long" both indicate ongoing processes.

• Ride before I decide to go home

  ➔ Imperative + Future Time Clause (present simple)

  ➔ "Ride" is an imperative, a command or instruction. "Before I decide to go home" is a future time clause. Note that in English, we use the present simple ("decide") to refer to a future action after words like "before," "after," "when," "as soon as," etc.

• Act like you heard me

  ➔ Imperative + "as if/as though" Clause (past simple)

  ➔ "Act" is an imperative verb. "Act like you heard me" is a command to behave *as if* you had heard what was said. Even though the 'hearing' is happening at the moment of the acting, in English we use the past simple in 'as if' clauses to express unreality.

• Only serve it up if you deserve me, yeah

  ➔ Conditional Sentence (Type 1: possible condition)

  ➔ This line uses a Type 1 conditional sentence. The structure is: "If + present simple, will + infinitive" (or an imperative, as is the case here). It expresses a possible condition and its likely result. "Serve it up" is an imperative, dependent on the "if" clause.