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

• By: The Jackson 5
• Album: Destiny

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the infectious groove of "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)"! This iconic disco-funk track by The Jacksons is a fantastic way to immerse yourself in English through its straightforward and repetitive lyrics, perfect for learning common phrases related to dancing and expression. Its upbeat tempo and clear vocals make it easy to follow along, helping you pick up new vocabulary and improve listening comprehension while you move to the beat.

[English]

I don't know whats going happen to you baby

...

But I do know that I love ya

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

And I do know that I want ya

Let's dance, let's shout

Shake you body down to the ground

Let's dance, let's shout

Shake you body down to the ground

Let's dance, let's shout

Shake you body down to the ground

You tease me with your loving to play hard to get

...

Cause you do know that I love it

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

And I do know that I want you

Let's dance, let's shout

Shake you body down to the ground

Let's dance, let's shout

Shake you body down to the ground

Let's dance, let's shout

Shake you body down to the ground

Let's dance, let's shout

Shake you body down to the ground

You are the spark that lit the fire inside of me

...

And you know that I love it

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

And you do know that I want to

Let's dance, let's shout

Let's dance, let's shout

...

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.