She's Got Nothing On (But The Radio) – English Lyrics

• By: Roxette

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the story behind Roxette's vibrant comeback single, "She's Got Nothing On (But The Radio)." Learn about the song's Marilyn Monroe reference, its energetic fusion of rock and electropop, and how it marked Marie Fredriksson's return after her illness, making it a special and triumphant moment in the band's history .

[English]

What she got, she got to give it to somebody

What she got, she got to give it to someone

It's not a case of growin' up or lots of money

It's just the fundamental twist of the sun

What she got, she got to let somebody find it (really?)

What she got is not for her to keep alone (oh)

Nobody's got a clue if there is such a reason (yea?)

Why she wanna play it o-on her own

She's got nothing on but the radio

She's a passion play

And like the break of day

She takes my breath away

...

What she got, she got to give to some contender

What she got is just like gold dust on a shelf

And no one's got a clue what's on her brave agenda

Why she wanna keep it, keep it to herself

She's got nothing on but the radio

It's a passion play

And like the break of day

She takes my breath away

Who did the painting on my wall?

Who left a poem down the hall?

Oh I don't understand at all

He-he-hey

...

She's got nothing on but the radio

She's a passion play

And like the break of day

She takes my breath away

She's got nothing on but the radio

It's a passion play

And like the break of day

She takes my breath away

She takes my breath away

She takes my breath away

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
got /ɡɒt/ A1	verb - past tense of get
give /ɡɪv/ A1	verb - to present something to someone
someone /ˈsʌmwʌn/ A1	noun - a person who is not known or named
money /ˈmʌni/ A1	noun - currency
sun /sʌn/ A1	noun - the star that the earth orbits
find /faɪnd/ A1	verb - to discover something
keep /kiːp/ A2	verb - to retain possession of
reason /ˈriːzn/ A2	noun - a cause, explanation, or justification for an action or event.
play /pleɪ/ A1	verb - to engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation
radio /ˈreɪdioʊ/ A2	noun - a device that receives and transmits radio signals
passion /ˈpæʃən/ B1	noun - a strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement for something
play /pleɪ/ A2	noun - a dramatic performance.
break /breɪk/ A2	noun - the moment when something begins or ends
day /deɪ/ A1	noun - a period of 24 hours
breath /breθ/ A2	noun - the air that is taken into and let out of the lungs
away /əˈweɪ/ A1	adverb - to or at a distance from a particular place, person, or thing
contender /kənˈtendər/ B1	noun - a person or thing competing to win something
gold /ɡoʊld/ A2	noun - a yellow precious metal
shelf /ʃelf/ A2	noun - a flat length of wood or other rigid material, fixed horizontally to a wall or in a frame, for storing things
brave /breɪv/ A2	adjective - ready to face and endure danger or pain; showing courage.
agenda /əˈdʒendə/ B1	noun - a list of things to be done or discussed
painting /ˈpeɪntɪŋ/ A2	noun - the process or art of using paint
poem /ˈpoʊəm/ A2	noun - a piece of writing that uses words in a beautiful and imaginative way
understand /ˌʌndərˈstænd/ A1	verb - to perceive the meaning of something

Key Grammar Structures

• What she got, she got to give it to somebody

  ➔ have got to + infinitive (obligation)

  ➔ In this sentence the phrase **"got to"** functions like "must": "she **got to** give it to somebody."

• It's not a case of growin' up or lots of money

  ➔ not a case of + gerund (noun phrase with gerund)

  ➔ The expression **"case of"** is followed by a gerund to nominalise an action: **"growin' up"**.

• What she got, she got to let somebody find it (really?)

  ➔ let + object + bare infinitive (causative)

  ➔ **"let"** is used to allow someone to do something: "she **let** somebody **find** it."

• Nobody's got a clue if there is such a reason

  ➔ if‑clause as indirect question (noun clause)

  ➔ The **"if"** clause functions as a noun clause, giving the content of "a clue": "a clue **if there is such a reason**."

• Why she wanna (want to) play it on her own

  ➔ why + clause (indirect question) + want to + infinitive

  ➔ The **"why"** introduces an indirect question, followed by **"wanna"** (colloquial *want to*) and the infinitive **"play"**.

• She's got nothing on but the radio

  ➔ nothing ... but ... (negative polarity construction)

  ➔ The phrase **"nothing ... but"** means "only": **"nothing on but the radio"** = "only the radio".

• She takes my breath away

  ➔ verb + object + adverbial particle "away" (phrasal verb)

  ➔ The verb **"takes"** combined with **"away"** forms a phrasal verb meaning "to astonish": **"She **takes** my breath **away**."

• Who did the painting on my wall?

  ➔ do + gerund as noun phrase (verb‑noun construction) in interrogative

  ➔ The verb **"did"** is followed by the gerund **"painting"**, turning the action into a noun: **"did the painting"**.

• Who left a poem down the hall?

  ➔ simple past interrogative with wh‑question

  ➔ The sentence starts with **"Who"**, forming a wh‑question in the simple past: **"Who left..."**.