Self Control – English Lyrics

• By: Frank Ocean

Lyrics & Translation

[English]

Poolside convo about your summer last night, ooh, yeah

About your summer last night

Ain't give you no play, mmm

Could I make it shive last night?

Could I make it shive on the last night (last night?)

Could we make it in? Do we have time?

I'll be the boyfriend in your wet dreams tonight

Noses on a rail, little virgin wears the white

...

You cut your hair, but you used to live a blonded life

Wish I was there, wish we'd grown up on the same advice

And our time was right

...

Keep a place for me, for me

I'll sleep between y'all, it's nothing

It's nothing, it's nothing

Keep a place for me, for me

...

Now and then you miss it, sounds make you cry

Some nights you dance with tears in your eyes

And I came to visit 'cause you see me like a UFO

That's like never, 'cause I made you use your self-control

And you made me lose my self-control, my self-control

Keep a place for me, for me

I'll sleep between y'all, it's nothing

Keep a place for me

It's nothing, it's nothing

...

It's nothing, it's nothing

...

I, I, I know you gotta leave, leave, leave

Take down some summer time

Give up, just tonight, night, night

I, I, I know you got someone comin'

You're spitting game, know you got it

...

I, I, I know you gotta leave, leave, leave

Take down some summer time

Give up, just tonight, night, night

I, I, I know you got someone comin'

You're spitting game, know you got it (yeah)

...

I, I, I know you gotta leave, leave, leave

Take down some summer time

Give up, just tonight, night, night

I, I, I know you got someone comin'

You're spitting game, know you got it

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
control /kənˈtroʊl/ A2	noun - the power to influence or direct people's behavior or the course of events verb - to direct or regulate the actions of someone or something
summer /ˈsʌmər/ A1	noun - the warmest season of the year
dream /driːm/ A1	noun - a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep
dance /dæns/ A1	verb - to move rhythmically to music, typically following a set sequence of steps
tear /tɪr/ A1	noun - a drop of clear salty liquid that forms in the eye
visit /ˈvɪzɪt/ A1	verb - to go to see and spend time with someone socially
blonded /ˈblɒndɪd/ B2	adjective - having fair hair
advice /ədˈvaɪs/ A2	noun - guidance or recommendations offered with regard to prudent action
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future
place /pleɪs/ A1	noun - a particular position or point in space
night /naɪt/ A1	noun - the period of darkness in each twenty-four hours
spit /spɪt/ B1	verb - to eject saliva from the mouth verb - to say something quickly and aggressively
game /ɡeɪm/ A1	noun - a form of play or sport, especially a competitive one
virgin /ˈvɜːrdʒɪn/ A2	noun - a person who has never had sexual intercourse
rail /reɪl/ B1	noun - a long, narrow bar fixed to a wall or ceiling for support
UFO /ˌjuːɛfˈoʊ/ B1	noun - an unidentified flying object

Key Grammar Structures

• Could I make it shive last night?

  ➔ Modal verb + base form (question)

  ➔ The modal verb **"Could"** is used to form a polite question; it is followed by the base verb **"make"**.

• I'll be the boyfriend in your wet dreams tonight.

  ➔ Future simple with "will" + be + noun phrase

  ➔ The contraction **"I'll"** (I will) expresses a future intention, followed by **"be"** and the noun phrase **"the boyfriend in your wet dreams tonight"**.

• You cut your hair, but you used to live a blonded life.

  ➔ Past simple vs. past habitual "used to"

  ➔ The verb **"cut"** is in the simple past, describing a completed action. **"Used to"** introduces a past habit or state that no longer exists: **"used to live"**.

• Keep a place for me, for me.

  ➔ Imperative mood

  ➔ The verb **"Keep"** is used in the imperative form to give a direct request or instruction.

• I, I, I know you gotta leave, leave, leave.

  ➔ Informal contraction "gotta" = "have got to" (modal-like)

  ➔ The informal **"gotta"** replaces **"have got to"** and functions like a modal verb meaning "must"; it is followed by the base verb **"leave"**.

• And you made me lose my self‑control, my self‑control.

  ➔ Causative construction with "make" + object + base verb

  ➔ The verb **"made"** (past of "make") is a causative verb that takes the object **"me"** and the base verb **"lose"** to indicate that the subject caused the object to perform the action.

• Now and then you miss it, sounds make you cry.

  ➔ Adverbial phrase "now and then" + simple present

  ➔ The adverbial phrase **"Now and then"** indicates occasional frequency and is followed by the simple present verbs **"miss"** and **"make"**.

• That's like never, 'cause I made you use your self‑control.

  ➔ Conjunction "'cause" (because) + past simple causative

  ➔ The colloquial contraction **"'cause"** stands for **"because"**. The clause **"I made you use"** uses the past simple of the causative verb **"made"** followed by the object **"you"** and the base verb **"use"**.

• I know you got someone comin'.

  ➔ Present simple with "got" (have) + object

  ➔ The verb **"got"** functions as the present form of **"have"** meaning possession: **"you got someone"** = **"you have someone"**.