Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground) – English Lyrics

• By: The Jackson 5
• Album: Destiny

Lyrics & Translation

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - an intense feeling of affection verb - to feel deep affection for (someone)
walk /wɔːk/ A1	verb - to move at a regular pace by lifting and setting down each foot in turn. noun - an act of traveling or an excursion on foot.
town /taʊn/ A1	noun - an urban area that has a name, defined boundaries, and local government, and that is generally larger than a village and smaller than a city.
head /hed/ A1	noun - the part of the body above the neck where the eyes, nose, mouth, ears, and brain are.
sky /skaɪ/ A1	noun - the region of the atmosphere and outer space seen from the earth.
dance /dæns/ A1	verb - move rhythmically to music noun - a set of steps and movements that match the style of a particular song or piece of music.
shout /ʃaʊt/ A2	verb - to cry out loudly noun - a loud cry or call
shake /ʃeɪk/ A2	verb - to move something or someone quickly backward and forward or up and down noun - an act of shaking.
body /ˈbɒdi/ A1	noun - the physical structure of a person or an animal, including the bones, flesh, and organs.
ground /ɡraʊnd/ A1	noun - the solid surface of the earth
tease /tiːz/ B1	verb - to make fun of (someone) in a playful way
loving /ˈlʌvɪŋ/ B1	adjective - feeling or showing love noun - feeling or showing love.
play /pleɪ/ A1	verb - to engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose.
hard /hɑːrd/ A2	adjective - solid, firm, and rigid; not easily broken, bent, or pierced.
spark /spɑːrk/ B2	noun - a small flash of light produced by a sudden movement of electrical current verb - ignite; set off
fire /ˈfaɪər/ A1	noun - a process in which substances combine chemically with oxygen from the air and typically give out bright light, heat, and smoke; combustion or burning.
inside /ɪnˈsaɪd/ A2	noun - the inner part of something adverb - in or into a building or other place
soul /soʊl/ B1	noun - the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being or animal, regarded as immortal.
happen /ˈhæpən/ A2	verb - to take place; occur.

Key Grammar Structures

• I don't know whats going happen to you baby

  ➔ Non-standard contraction and omission of 'what is' and incorrect verb conjugation. Should be: I don't know what's going to happen to you, baby.

  ➔ This line uses colloquial language. The correct grammar would be "I don't know "what is" going to happen to you, baby". This shows a relaxed and informal tone. The contraction "what's" is used.

• But I do know that I love ya

  ➔ Emphasis using "do" + pronoun + verb and contraction of "you" to "ya".

  ➔ Using "do" before the verb emphasizes the action of loving. "I "do" love you" shows strong affection. Contraction of "you" to "ya" makes the lyrics informal.

• You walk around this town with your head all up in the sky

  ➔ Prepositional phrase "up in the sky" acting as an adverbial modifier to describe where the "head" is.

  ➔ The phrase "up in the sky" describes the manner in which the person walks around; they are proud or aloof.

• You tease me with your loving to play hard to get

  ➔ Infinitive phrase "to play hard to get" acting as an adverbial of purpose modifying "tease".

  ➔ The line means that the person teases the speaker with their love because they want "to play hard to get". The infinitive phrase explains the "why" behind the teasing.

• Cause you do know that I love it

  ➔ Emphasis using "do" before the verb "know" and the use of "it" as a pronoun referring to "playing hard to get".

  ➔ "Do know" emphasizes that the speaker is certain the other person is aware of the speaker's fondness of being teased. The pronoun "it" refers to the act of playing hard to get.

• You are the spark that lit the fire inside of me

  ➔ Relative clause "that lit the fire inside of me" modifying "spark".

  ➔ This is a metaphor. The relative clause describes the type of spark, which is the one that ignited a passion (fire) within the speaker.

• I need to do just something to get closer to your soul

  ➔ Incorrect word order and use of "just". More correct: "I need to do something just to get closer to your soul" or "I just need to do something..."

  ➔ The use of "just" makes the sentence awkward. Placing "just" before "something" emphasizes the simplicity or the singular nature of the needed action.