Stare at Me – English Lyrics

• By: JANE HANDCOCK, Anderson .Paak

Lyrics & Translation

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
stare /stɛər/ B1	verb - to look fixedly with wide open eyes at someone or something.
spell /spɛl/ B2	noun - a form of words used as a magical charm or incantation; a magical effect or influence.
bust /bʌst/ B2	verb - (slang, in 'bust down') to spend a lot of money on something extravagant or flashy, often referring to customizing or acquiring expensive items.
ratchet /ˈrætʃɪt/ C1	adjective - (slang, often derogatory) behaving in a wild, uninhibited, or trashy way; unrefined or crude.
classy /ˈklæsi/ B2	adjective - stylish and sophisticated; having or showing high standards of behavior.
shook /ʃʊk/ C1	adjective - (slang) severely affected or disturbed, often emotionally; impressed or overwhelmed.
uptown /ˈʌptaʊn/ B1	noun - the residential part of a city or town, typically away from the main commercial center, often associated with affluence or a specific cultural vibe. adverb - in or towards the uptown area.
downtown /ˈdaʊntaʊn/ B1	noun - the central part or main business and commercial area of a town or city. adverb - in or towards the downtown area.
diamonds /ˈdaɪəməndz/ B1	noun - precious stones, crystalline forms of carbon, often used in jewelry.
chain /tʃeɪn/ B1	noun - a series of connected links or rings, typically of metal, often worn as an ornament around the neck (necklace) or wrist (bracelet).
frames /freɪmz/ B1	noun - the rigid structure that holds lenses in eyeglasses (eyeglass frames).
crooks /krʊks/ B2	noun - people who are dishonest or criminals.
gangsters /ˈɡæŋstərz/ B2	noun - members of a gang of criminals.
motion /ˈmoʊʃən/ B1	noun - the action or process of moving or being moved; (in 'motion deep') a state of being deeply involved, immersed, or continuously active.
deep /diːp/ B1	adjective - extending far down from the top or surface; (figurative) intense, profound, or thoroughly involved, as in 'motion deep'.
rip /rɪp/ B2	verb - (slang/idiomatic, in 'rip and run the streets') to move or act with great speed or force; to travel through or dominate an area energetically.
book /bʊk/ B2	verb - to arrange to meet or spend time with someone; to reserve something (like a spot or a table). (In context: 'book it with the gangsters and the crooks' suggests arranging encounters or dealings with them).
cook /kʊk/ B2	verb - (slang, in 'watch me cook') to perform or achieve something successfully or impressively, often implying skill or making something happen.
smile /smaɪl/ A1	noun - a pleased, kind, or amused facial expression, typically with the corners of the mouth turned up and the front teeth exposed. verb - to form one's features into a smile.
dancing /ˈdænsɪŋ/ B2	verb - (used as a present participle adjective, especially of light or reflections) appearing to move or sparkle, often in a lively or erratic way.
streets /striːts/ B2	noun - public roads in a city or town; (idiomatic, 'run the streets') the urban environment, often associated with a particular lifestyle, activities, or social dynamics.

Key Grammar Structures

• Diamonds dancing on his neck

  ➔ Present participle ('dancing') acting as an adjective.

  ➔ The word "dancing" is a present participle used here as an adjective to describe the noun 'Diamonds', indicating that the diamonds are sparkling or moving.

• I like what you did to me

  ➔ Noun clause ('what you did to me') as object.

  ➔ The phrase "what you did to me" is a noun clause, functioning as the direct object of the verb 'like'. It introduces an idea or action as a single unit.

• Won't you take me to the sky?

  ➔ Polite request / suggestion using 'Won't you...?'

  ➔ "Won't you" is used here to form a polite request or an invitation, softening the command or suggestion.

• But inside, I be ratchet in them sheets

  ➔ Habitual 'be' (AAVE - African American Vernacular English).

  ➔ In this context, "I be" is a characteristic of AAVE (African American Vernacular English), indicating an action or state that is habitual or occurs regularly, rather than a single instance. In Standard English, 'I am' would be used for a current state, or 'I am often' for a habitual one.

• So good it got me shook

  ➔ Implied 'that' clause after 'so + adjective' and Causative 'get' + past participle.

  ➔ This sentence implies 'that' after "So good", indicating a result. "got me shook" uses the causative verb 'get' followed by the object 'me' and the past participle 'shook', meaning 'caused me to be shaken' or 'made me feel surprised/impressed'.

• Think you might have put a spell on me

  ➔ Modal perfect (might have + past participle).

  ➔ "might have put" is a modal perfect construction, used to express a past possibility or an assumption about something that might have happened in the past.

• Keep watching, baby, please

  ➔ Imperative form + Phrasal verb 'keep + -ing' (gerund).

  ➔ "Keep watching" is an imperative verb phrase, giving a command or request. The structure 'keep + gerund' (verb + -ing) means to continue an action.

• Gon' take you to the spots it's hard to book

  ➔ Informal 'gon'' (going to) and Impersonal 'it' + adjective + infinitive.

  ➔ "Gon'" is an informal contraction of 'going to', used to express a future action. "it's hard to book" uses the impersonal 'it' with an adjective and an infinitive ("to book") to describe the difficulty of an action.

• If you wanna bust down, we can run it uptown

  ➔ First Conditional sentence structure.

  ➔ This sentence uses the first conditional structure (If + present simple, future simple/modal), expressing a real or probable condition and its likely result. "wanna" is an informal contraction of 'want to'.