Record Collection – English Lyrics

• By: Mark Ronson, The Business Intl.
• Album: Record Collection

Lyrics & Translation

[English]

I take too long to answer telephones

I take too long to type my name and record messages

But my handwriting is excellent

In fact it's second to none, none

I just got in from somewhere really good

They offered me the part of Bono

And a speaking role

With all the merchandice and sunglasses

I could ever need, need

I drive round cities in a chariot

I get prefential treatment at the Marriot

But if the truth be told I'm naked under all these clothes

I tell you what it is on my mind

I only want to be in your record collection

I only want to be in your record collection

And I'll do anything it takes just to get there

My brain is buzzing and the room is strange

Like that scene in a trading places at the stock exchange

I made a million over night in '87

Now I'm living in my parking space, parking space

My teeth are bright and my hair is clean

I wear Paco Rabanne like I was Charlie Sheen

But in the rain we all look wet and in the snow we all look cold

I tell you what it is on my mind

I only want to be in your record collection

I only want to be in your record collection

And I'll do anything it takes just to get there

Discusted by all the flashness I think I'm a don

They think I'm an actor but I catch this

My two needs are a pillow and a matress

Once I can fill up the space with a famous actress

Give me a mil, I'll do a DJ set

I pull spickey green like a cactus

Show off, egos high you can't match this

Chauvinastic pig money mans tactics

I'm not as clever as I thought I was

It got pointed out to me as I was tying the knot

And all I want to know is how I got so far down, down

I'm not as lucky as I thought I was

My luck ran out they other day as I was crossing the road

Who would have thought a truck like that

Could have caused so much...

I tell you what it is on my mind

I only want to be in your record collection

I only want to be in your record collection

And I'll do anything it takes just to get there

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
record /ˈrɛkərd/ (N), /rɪˈkɔːrd/ (V) A1	noun - an item of information put on permanent form; a disc on which music is stored. verb - to set down in writing or other permanent form; to store (audio/video).
collection /kəˈlɛkʃən/ A2	noun - a group of things, especially things of the same type, that have been gathered together.
mind /maɪnd/ A1	noun - the element of a person that enables them to be aware of the world and their experiences, to think, and to feel.
excellent /ˈɛksələnt/ B1	adjective - extremely good; of very high quality.
merchandise /ˈmɜːrtʃəndaɪz/ B1	noun - goods to be bought and sold.
chariot /ˈtʃæriət/ B2	noun - a two-wheeled vehicle drawn by horses, used in ancient warfare and racing.
naked /ˈneɪkɪd/ B1	adjective - without clothes; unclothed.
buzzing /ˈbʌzɪŋ/ B1	verb - making a low, continuous humming sound; (of a place or person's mind) full of activity, excitement, or talk.
stock exchange /stɒk ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒ/ B2	noun - a market where securities (stocks and bonds) are bought and sold.
space /speɪs/ A1	noun - a continuous area or expanse which is free, available, or unoccupied; an area used for a particular purpose.
bright /braɪt/ A2	adjective - giving off or reflecting a lot of light; (of a colour) vivid and striking.
disgusted /dɪsˈɡʌstɪd/ B2	adjective - feeling profound disapproval or revulsion.
don /dɒn/ C1	noun - a Spanish or Portuguese title of respect; a head of a mafia family.
egos /ˈiːɡoʊz/ B2	noun - a person's sense of self-esteem or self-importance (plural of ego).
tactics /ˈtæktɪks/ B2	noun - an action or strategy carefully planned to achieve a specific end.
knot /nɒt/ B1	noun - a fastening made by tying a piece of string, rope, or something similar; (tying the knot) an idiom meaning to get married.
luck /lʌk/ A2	noun - success or failure apparently brought by chance rather than through one's own actions.
cause /kɔːz/ A2	verb - to make (something, especially something bad) happen.
part /pɑːrt/ A2	noun - a piece or segment of something; a role played by an actor.

Key Grammar Structures

• I take too long to answer telephones.

  ➔ Infinitive of purpose

  ➔ The phrase "to answer" is an infinitive used to show the purpose of taking too long.

• But my handwriting is excellent.

  ➔ Simple present (linking verb + adjective)

  ➔ "is" is the linking verb that connects the subject "handwriting" with the adjective "excellent".

• I just got in from somewhere really good.

  ➔ Simple past with adverb "just"

  ➔ "just" emphasizes that the action of "got in" happened a short time ago.

• They offered me the part of Bono.

  ➔ Double object construction (verb + indirect object + direct object)

  ➔ "offered" takes two objects: "me" (indirect object) and "the part of Bono" (direct object).

• I could ever need.

  ➔ Modal verb "could" + infinitive

  ➔ "could" expresses ability or possibility, followed by the infinitive "need".

• I'm naked under all these clothes.

  ➔ Present simple with stative verb "be" + adjective

  ➔ "I'm" (I am) uses the stative verb "be" to link the subject with the adjective "naked".

• I only want to be in your record collection.

  ➔ "want" + infinitive (to be)

  ➔ "want" is followed by the infinitive "to be" to express a desire.

• I made a million overnight in '87.

  ➔ Simple past (regular verb "made")

  ➔ "made" is the past form of "make" indicating a completed action in the past.

• My luck ran out the other day as I was crossing the road.

  ➔ Past simple + past continuous (ran out ... as I was crossing)

  ➔ "ran out" is in the simple past, while "was crossing" is past continuous, showing two actions happening at the same time.