Repent

• By: Shaggy
• Album: Clothes Drop

Lyrics:

Vocabulary in this song:

Vocabulary	Meanings
repent /rɪˈpɛnt/ B2	verb - to feel or express sincere regret or remorse about one's wrongdoing or sin
world /wɜːld/ A1	noun - the earth, together with all of its countries, peoples, and natural features
shame /ʃeɪm/ B1	noun - a feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior
leadership /ˈliːdərʃɪp/ B2	noun - the action of leading a group of people or an organization
fail /feɪl/ A2	verb - to be unsuccessful in achieving a goal
motivate /ˈmoʊtɪveɪt/ B2	verb - to provide someone with a reason for doing something
personal /ˈpɜːrsənəl/ A2	adjective - relating to or affecting a particular person
temper /ˈtempər/ B2	noun - a person's state of mind seen in terms of their being angry or calm verb - to moderate
patience /ˈpeɪʃəns/ B1	noun - the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset
blame /bleɪm/ B1	verb - to assign responsibility for a fault or wrong
disaster /dɪˈzæstər/ B2	noun - a sudden event, such as an accident or a natural catastrophe, that causes great damage or loss of life
boss /bɔːs/ A2	noun - a person who is in charge of a worker or organization
master /ˈmæstər/ B1	noun - a person having control or authority
pace /peɪs/ B1	noun - a rate of movement, speed
pray /preɪ/ A2	verb - to address a solemn request or expression of thanks to God or another deity
peace /piːs/ A1	noun - freedom from disturbance; tranquility
pain /peɪn/ A2	noun - physical suffering or discomfort caused by illness or injury
fate /feɪt/ B1	noun - the development of events beyond a person's control, regarded as predetermined by a supernatural power.
power /ˈpaʊər/ A2	noun - the ability to do something or act in a particular way, especially as a faculty or quality
insane /ɪnˈseɪn/ B2	adjective - in a state of mind that prevents normal perception, behavior, or social interaction; seriously mentally ill
cure /kjʊr/ B1	noun - a substance or treatment that cures a disease or condition.
defend /dɪˈfend/ B1	verb - resist an attack made on (someone or something); protect from harm or danger.

Grammar:

• Yuh hear mi, God fi repent, yuh know

  ➔ Use of Jamaican Patois/Creole: "fi" meaning "to/for"

  ➔ The word "fi" is used here as a preposition, meaning 'to' or 'for'. It's a common feature of Jamaican Patois.

• Can't you see it's a cryin' shame?

  ➔ Gerund as adjective ("cryin'")

  ➔ The word "cryin'" which is a shortened form of 'crying' is used as an adjective here to describe "shame", adding emotional intensity to the phrase.

• Think they're the boss but a who are the master?

  ➔ Interrogative sentence structure with subject-verb inversion, and use of Jamaican Patois ('a' before 'who').

  ➔ Instead of the standard "who is the master?", the sentence uses "a who are the master?". The 'a' is typical of Jamaican Patois. Also, the inverted structure emphasises the question.

• Life set a pace, every thing's much faster

  ➔ Ellipsis (omission) of auxiliary verb ("has" or "is") and comparative adverb ("much") with adjective.

  ➔ The sentence "Life set a pace" could be interpreted as "Life has set a pace." Also, "every thing's much faster" is a casual way to say "everything is much faster" omitting the auxiliary verb for brevity.

• Fightin' for what they did not create

  ➔ Relative clause with a reduced form of "fighting" and negative past simple tense

  ➔ The word 'fightin'' is a colloquial shortening of 'fighting'. The 'what' introduces the clause that describes the object they are fighting for, but it's something that they didn't create.

• Instead of finding a cure, we should look for the means to prevent

  ➔ "Instead of" + gerund (finding), modal verb (should) + infinitive (look), "the means to" + infinitive (prevent)

  ➔ This sentence uses 'instead of' followed by a gerund to introduce an alternative action. The 'should look' expresses a suggestion or obligation. 'The means to prevent' indicates purpose or capability.