Super Freak – English Lyrics

• By: Rick James
• Album: Street Songs

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the infectious groove of Rick James' "Super Freak," a quintessential 80s funk anthem. This song offers a fantastic opportunity to explore the playful and bold language of American funk and new wave. Its memorable bassline and lively lyrics, describing an uninhibited woman, showcase common slang and expressions of the era. Learning this song will not only introduce you to Rick James' unique "punk-funk" style but also provide insight into the blending of genres that made it a lasting crossover hit.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
kinky /ˈkɪŋki/ B2	adjective - unconventional or sexually unusual.
spirits /ˈspɪrɪts/ B2	noun - the nonphysical part of a person, soul, feeling.
freak /friːk/ B2	noun - a very unusual person verb - to behave in a wild and irrational way adjective - very unusual or strange
taste /teɪst/ A2	verb - to perceive or experience the flavor of
special /ˈspeʃəl/ A2	adjective - different from what is usual
wait /weɪt/ A1	verb - to remain in place or delay action until a particular time or event
backstage /ˈbæksteɪdʒ/ B2	noun - the area behind the stage in a theatre
incense /ˈɪnsens/ B2	noun - a substance that is burned for its sweet smell
candles /ˈkændlz/ A2	noun - a stick of wax with a wick that is burned to give light
meet /miːt/ A1	verb - to encounter someone
move /muːv/ A1	verb - to go in a specified direction or manner
room /ruːm/ A1	noun - a space within a building, enclosed by walls
hard /hɑːrd/ A2	adjective - difficult to accomplish
please /pliːz/ A1	verb - to make someone happy or satisfied
wild /waɪld/ A2	adjective - living or growing in the natural environment; not domesticated or cultivated.

Key Grammar Structures

• The kind you don't take home to mother

  ➔ Relative clause with omitted relative pronoun (whom/that)

  ➔ The phrase "The kind you don't take home..." is short for "The kind *that/whom* you don't take home...". In informal English, the relative pronoun (that/whom) can be omitted when it's the object of the relative clause.

• Once you get her off the street...

  ➔ Subordinating conjunction "once" indicating a condition.

  ➔ "Once" here means "as soon as" or "after". It introduces a condition: *after* you get her off the street, something else will happen.

• She's never hard to please oh no

  ➔ Adjective followed by "to" + infinitive (expressing purpose/difficulty).

  ➔ "Hard to please" describes the difficulty of pleasing someone. The structure is *adjective + to + infinitive*.

• The kind of girl you read about in new wave magazines

  ➔ Prepositional phrase modifying a noun.

  ➔ The phrase "in new wave magazines" acts as an adjective, describing the type of girl. It answers the question "Where do you read about this kind of girl?".

• I really love to taste her every time we meet

  ➔ Use of "love to" + infinitive to express general enjoyment/preference.

  ➔ "Love to taste" expresses a general enjoyment of tasting her; it's a repeated action he enjoys. Compare this to "love tasting," which would emphasize the experience in a more continuous way.

• She's alright she's alright

  ➔ Ellipsis of the verb "is" or "is being", creating a shortened informal phrase.

  ➔ "She's alright" is short for "She is alright". The repetition emphasizes the affirmation. "Alright" itself is a slightly informal way of saying "all right".

• Going get back at Chinatown

  ➔ Non-standard grammar, specifically omission of "to" in "going to get"

  ➔ The correct phrase is "going *to* get back at Chinatown", indicating an intention to retaliate in some way. The omission of "to" here is a feature of some dialects or informal speech.