Raise A Man – English Lyrics

• By: Alicia Keys

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the heartfelt lyrics and smooth R&B melodies of Alicia Keys' "Raise A Man." This song offers a beautiful exploration of love, vulnerability, and the essence of a supportive relationship. By engaging with its emotional depth and accessible language, you can learn about expressing complex feelings in English and appreciate how Keys crafts a powerful message about human connection and mutual respect. It's a special track that encourages listeners to embrace their authentic selves in love, making it an excellent piece for language learning and emotional resonance.

[English]

(gentle music)

♪ Marble in a foyer ♪

♪ I've been lovin' on you all day ♪

♪ Would've stayed if you told me to stay ♪

♪ As you can see I stayed anyway ♪

♪ I'm just not like these other girls, I swear, I swear ♪

♪ I just have to love you ♪

♪ I just wanna need you, if that's okay ♪

♪ And you're just not like these other men out here ♪

♪ Oh no, you just wanna hold me ♪

♪ And that's okay ♪

♪ Can I be a woman for you, baby ♪

♪ In a time when it's not allowed ♪

♪ How am I supposed to pretend ♪

♪ That I don't want you, the way I do, oh yeah ♪

♪ 'Cause every time you're around me ♪

♪ I feel virgin all over again ♪

♪ And every time you're all around me ♪

♪ How can I renege ♪

♪ Boy I just need your hand ♪

♪ Is it okay that I'm not independent ♪

♪ Is it okay that I ♪

♪ Is it okay that I show weakness ♪

♪ Is it okay that I ♪

♪ Is it okay to can't wait to see you ♪

♪ Is it okay that I ♪

♪ Is it okay to love a man right now ♪

♪ If you understand ♪

♪ Then show me your hands, ooh hoo ♪

♪ Show me your hands ♪

♪ Boy if you understand ♪

♪ Somebody raised a man, ooh hoo ♪

♪ Raised a man ♪

♪ Ooh-ho-oh ♪

♪ Ooh-ho-oh ♪

♪ Everyday, and every night I pray for one accord ♪

♪ I adore you even more ♪

♪ And every minute that passes me by ♪

♪ We can't afford for us to be ignored ♪

♪ See we need each other more than we even know, oh ho ♪

♪ Somebody made a man ♪

♪ So show me how to raise a man, ooh hoo ♪

♪ Raise a man ♪

♪ You can't be a man ♪

♪ If we don't raise a man, ooh hoo ♪

♪ Raise a man ♪

♪ If you want a man ♪

♪ Then you gotta raise a man, ooh hoo ♪

♪ Raise a man ♪

♪ If you understand ♪

♪ Then show me your hands, ooh hoo ♪

♪ Show me your hands ♪

(gentle music)

♪ Oh, aye, aye ♪

♪ Aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye, aye ♪

♪ Woo ♪

(all clapping) (group cheering)

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
love /lʌv/ A1	verb - to have strong feelings of affection for someone noun - a strong feeling of affection
man /mæn/ A1	noun - an adult male human being
show /ʃəʊ/ A1	verb - to allow someone to see something noun - an event put on for people to watch
hands /hændz/ A1	noun - the end part of the arm, beyond the wrist
need /niːd/ A1	verb - to require something noun - a requirement
stay /steɪ/ A1	verb - to remain in a place noun - a period of time spent in a place
girls /ɡɜːrlz/ A1	noun - a female child
woman /ˈwʊmən/ A1	noun - an adult female human
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - a measure of duration
feel /fiːl/ A1	verb - to experience an emotion
baby /ˈbeɪbi/ A1	noun - a very young child noun - term of endearment
understand /ˌʌndərˈstænd/ A2	verb - to know the meaning of something
pray /preɪ/ A2	verb - to communicate with a deity
independent /ˌɪndɪˈpendənt/ B1	adjective - not controlled by others
adore /əˈdɔːr/ B1	verb - to love and respect someone deeply
weakness /ˈwiːknəs/ B1	noun - the state of lacking strength
ignore /ɪɡˈnɔːr/ B1	verb - to pay no attention to
around /əˈraʊnd/ A1	adverb - in a circle or approximately

Key Grammar Structures

• Would've stayed if you told me to stay

  ➔ Conditional Perfect

  ➔ The use of 'Would've stayed' (short for 'Would have stayed') indicates a past action that was dependent on a condition that was not met. It shows a hypothetical situation in the past.

• I'm just not like these other girls, I swear, I swear

  ➔ Emphasis with Repetition

  ➔ The repetition of 'I swear' is used to emphasize the speaker's sincerity and conviction in the statement. It adds strength to the assertion.

• Can I be a woman for you, baby

  ➔ Modal Verb (Can)

  ➔ The use of 'Can' here expresses a request or permission. It is a polite way of asking if the action is possible or allowed.

• How am I supposed to pretend that I don't want you, the way I do

  ➔ Relative Clause

  ➔ The phrase 'the way I do' is a relative clause that modifies 'want you'. It provides additional information about the manner in which the speaker wants the person.

• Is it okay that I show weakness

  ➔ Tag Question

  ➔ The phrase 'Is it okay that...' is a tag question used to seek confirmation or agreement. It turns a statement into a question, inviting a response.

• Somebody raised a man

  ➔ Passive Voice

  ➔ The sentence 'Somebody raised a man' uses the passive voice, where the focus is on the action ('raised') and the recipient ('a man') rather than the doer ('Somebody').

• Everyday, and every night I pray for one accord

  ➔ Comma Splice

  ➔ The use of a comma to join two independent clauses ('Everyday' and 'every night I pray for one accord') is known as a comma splice. It is often considered a grammatical error but can be used stylistically in creative writing.