Red Flags – English Lyrics

• By: Chris Brown

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into Chris Brown's "Red Flags" to explore the nuances of relationships and learn how to identify potential warning signs. This track offers a raw look at the struggles of toxic connections, providing a unique opportunity to improve your understanding of English through contemporary music and relatable themes .

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
flags /flæɡz/ A2	noun - a piece of cloth with a distinctive design, used as a symbol of a nation, organization, or set of beliefs. noun - signs or indications of something.
bad /bæd/ A1	adjective - not good
mad /mæd/ A2	adjective - angry
work /wɜːrk/ A2	verb - to perform tasks or duties to achieve a goal. noun - activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result.
run /rʌn/ A1	verb - to move at a speed faster than a walk
catch /kætʃ/ A2	verb - to take hold of something in motion
toxic /ˈtɒksɪk/ B2	adjective - poisonous or harmful adjective - extremely unpleasant or damaging
listen /ˈlɪsn/ A2	verb - to give one's attention to a sound
ride /raɪd/ A2	verb - to sit on and control the movement of (an animal or vehicle) verb - to support or defend someone
lie /laɪ/ A2	verb - to intentionally tell an untruth
hate /heɪt/ A2	verb - to feel intense dislike for
play /pleɪ/ A1	verb - engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation
win /wɪn/ A2	verb - achieve victory
hard /hɑːrd/ A2	adjective - requiring considerable effort
sick /sɪk/ A2	adjective - ill
rich /rɪtʃ/ A2	adjective - having a great deal of money

Key Grammar Structures

• You were mine, but you act like you wasn't

  ➔ Past Simple (wasn't)

  ➔ The use of 'wasn't' (was not) is the negative past simple form of the verb 'to be'. It refers to a state or condition in the past.

• You held me down, not down enough

  ➔ Phrasal Verb (held down)

  ➔ 'Held down' is a phrasal verb meaning to support or sustain someone, but in this context, it implies insufficient support.

• And I ran for miles just tryna catch up

  ➔ Present Participle (tryna)

  ➔ 'Tryna' is a colloquial contraction of 'trying to'. The present participle 'trying' indicates an ongoing action.

• Quit tellin' me you're toxic, girl, I still won't listen

  ➔ Imperative (Quit) and Present Continuous (you're)

  ➔ 'Quit' is an imperative verb giving a command. 'You're' is a contraction of 'you are', used in the present continuous to describe an ongoing state.

• If you ride for me, why would you lie to me?

  ➔ Conditional (If... would)

  ➔ This is a second conditional structure, used for hypothetical situations in the present or future and their probable results. 'Ride for me' is an idiom meaning to be loyal or supportive.

• Said you'll slide for me, what are you waitin' on?

  ➔ Future Simple (you'll slide) and Present Continuous (waitin' on)

  ➔ 'You'll slide' uses the future simple with 'will' to indicate a future action or promise. 'Waitin' on' is a colloquial contraction of 'waiting on', implying an ongoing state of anticipation.

• I should let sh- go, but it be hard because I'm him

  ➔ Modal Verb (should) and Colloquialism (it be)

  ➔ 'Should' expresses obligation or advisability. 'It be' is a non-standard, colloquial usage that omits the auxiliary verb 'is', common in some informal speech.

• You don't come home, I'm gon' be sick

  ➔ Contraction (gon') and Future Intent (I'm gon' be)

  ➔ 'Gon'' is a colloquial contraction of 'going to', used to express a future intention or prediction. 'I'm gon' be sick' means 'I am going to be upset or angry'.

• You gon' turn me back from bein' rich to hittin' licks

  ➔ Gerunds (bein', hittin') and Future Intent (gon' turn)

  ➔ 'Bein'' and 'hittin'' are colloquial contractions of 'being' and 'hitting', both gerunds. 'Gon' turn' indicates a future transformation.