Take A Bow – English Lyrics

• By: Rihanna
• Album: ANTI

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a powerful tool, and Rihanna's “Take A Bow” offers a masterclass in conversational English, particularly for expressing frustration and ending a relationship. The song is filled with direct, emotionally charged phrases and sarcastic undertones that are common in everyday speech but can be tricky to master. What makes this song special is its theatrical metaphor, turning a painful breakup into an empowering final performance, making the language of setting boundaries both memorable and cathartic.

[English]

("TAKE A BOW" BY RIHANNA)

♪ OH, HOW 'BOUT A ROUND OF APPLAUSE ♪

♪ YEAH ♪

♪ STANDIN' OVATION ♪

♪ OOH OH OH, YEAH, YEAH ♪

♪ YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH ♪

♪ YOU LOOK SO DUMB RIGHT NOW ♪

♪ STANDIN' OUTSIDE MY HOUSE ♪

♪ TRYIN' TO APOLOGIZE ♪

♪ YOU'RE SO UGLY WHEN YOU CRY ♪

♪ PLEASE ♪

♪ JUST CUT IT OUT ♪

♪ AND DON'T TELL ME YOU'RE SORRY 'CAUSE YOU'RE NOT ♪

♪ AND BABY WHEN I KNOW YOU'RE ONLY SORRY YOU GOT CAUGHT ♪

♪ BUT YOU PUT ON QUITE A SHOW, OOH OH ♪

♪ REALLY HAD ME GOIN' ♪

♪ BUT NOW IT'S TIME TO GO, OOH OH ♪

♪ CURTAIN'S FINALLY CLOSIN' ♪

♪ THAT WAS QUITE A SHOW, OOH OH ♪

♪ VERY ENTERTAINING ♪

♪ BUT IT'S OVER NOW, BUT IT'S OVER NOW ♪

♪ GO ON AND TAKE A BOW, OH OH OH-OH-OH ♪

♪ GRAB YOUR CLOTHES AND GET GONE, GET GONE ♪

♪ YOU BETTER HURRY UP ♪

♪ BEFORE THE SPRINKLERS COME ON, COME ON ♪

♪ TALKIN' 'BOUT "GIRL, I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE THE ONE" ♪

♪ THIS JUST LOOKS LIKE A RE-RUN ♪

♪ PLEASE ♪

♪ WHAT ELSE IS ON, OH OH ♪

♪ AND DON'T TELL ME YOU'RE SORRY 'CAUSE YOU'RE NOT ♪

♪ BABY WHEN I KNOW YOU'RE ONLY SORRY YOU GOT CAUGHT ♪

♪ AH AH AH ♪

♪ BUT YOU PUT ON QUITE A SHOW, OOH OH ♪

♪ REALLY HAD ME GOIN' ♪

♪ BUT NOW IT'S TIME TO GO, OOH OH ♪

♪ CURTAIN'S FINALLY CLOSIN' ♪

♪ THAT WAS QUITE A SHOW, OOH OH ♪

♪ VERY ENTERTAINING ♪

♪ BUT IT'S OVER NOW, BUT IT'S OVER NOW ♪

♪ GO ON AND TAKE A BOW ♪

♪ OH OH OH, AND THE AWARD FOR ♪

♪ THE BEST LIAR ♪

♪ GOES TO YOU, GOES TO YOU ♪

♪ FOR MAKIN' ME BELIEVE ♪

♪ THAT YOU COULD BE ♪

♪ FAITHFUL TO ME ♪

♪ LET'S HEAR YOUR SPEECH OUT ♪

♪ HOW 'BOUT A ROUND OF APPLAUSE ♪

♪ A STANDIN' OVATION, OVATION ♪

♪ BUT YOU PUT ON QUITE A SHOW, OOH OH ♪

♪ YOU REALLY HAD ME GOIN' ♪

♪ NOW IT'S TIME TO GO, OOH OH ♪

♪ CURTAIN'S FINALLY CLOSIN' ♪

♪ THAT WAS QUITE A SHOW, OOH OH ♪

♪ VERY ENTERTAINING, HEY YEAH ♪

♪ BUT IT'S OVER NOW, BUT IT'S OVER NOW ♪

♪ GO ON AND TAKE A BOW ♪

♪ BUT IT'S OVER NOW ♪

♪♪♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
applause /əˈplɔːz/ B2	noun - clapping to show approval
ovation /oʊˈveɪʃən/ B2	noun - long, enthusiastic applause
show /ʃoʊ/ A2	noun - a performance or event for entertainment verb - to display or present
curtain /ˈkɜːrtən/ B1	noun - a piece of cloth used to cover a window or stage
goin' /ˈgoʊɪn/ A2	verb - going, moving towards a destination
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - a measurement of duration
show /ʃoʊ/ A2	noun - a performance or event for entertainment
know /noʊ/ A2	verb - to have information or understanding
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - a measurement of duration
over /ˈoʊvər/ A2	adjective - finished or ended
want /wɑːnt/ A2	verb - to desire or wish for
sorry /ˈsɔːri/ B1	adjective - feeling regret or penitence