Lyrics & Translation
Embark on a captivating journey into the English language with Alicia Keys' enchanting "Teenage Love Affair." This R&B and soul track offers a beautiful blend of classic and contemporary sounds, making it a perfect song for language learners. Its clear, heartfelt lyrics tell a relatable story of young love, full of simple yet powerful expressions and emotions. By immersing yourself in this song, you can pick up common phrases related to relationships and feelings, and appreciate the nuances of English delivered through Alicia Keys' expressive vocals. What makes it special is its timeless appeal, its ability to transport listeners back to their own youthful experiences, and its smooth, melodic structure that makes the English words flow naturally and memorably.
[English]
- What you doing right now?- [Person On The Phone] Just sitting here.
Wondering about what you doing.
- Nothing really.
What's up with you boo?
- Yeah, I'm just talking on the phone with you.
- You got homework?
- Yeah. I did it recently.
I did it hours ago. I'm a professional.
- No, you didn't?
- All right. I'm not doing nothing, then.
(Alicia Keys laughing)
- We need your help.
I can't do it alone.
But with you, we can change this world.
Beautiful people.
- Yes.
- I'm so glad I have your attention.
Today, there's a serious problem.
There's an epidemic in Africa.
You are the answer.
With you, we can change this world.
Will you help us?
- Yes.
- [Motivational Speaker] Will you help us?
- Yes.
- So what I need you to do...
♪ Can't wait to get home ♪
♪ Baby dial your number ♪
♪ Can you pick up the phone ♪
♪ 'Cause I wanna holla ♪
♪ Daydreaming about you all day in school can't concentrate ♪
♪ Wanna have your voice in my ear ♪
♪ 'Til mama comes and says it's too late ♪
♪ 'Cause the lights are on outside ♪
♪ Wish there was somewhere to hide ♪
♪ 'Cause I just don't want to say goodbye ♪
♪ 'Cause you are my baby baby ♪
♪ Nothing really matters ♪
♪ I don't really care ♪
♪ What nobody tell me ♪
♪ I'm gonna be here ♪
♪ It's a matter of extreme importance ♪
♪ My first teenage love affair ♪
♪ Aye aye aye aye ♪
♪ Aye aye aye aye aye ♪
♪ I love our secret meetings ♪
♪ On the fifth floor staircase ♪
♪ I'm gonna give you this letter ♪
♪ Of all the things I can't say ♪
♪ Want you to be my first my last ♪
♪ My ending and beginning yeah ♪
♪ I wrote your name in my book ♪
♪ Your last name my first ♪
♪ I'm your Mrs. ♪
- Wait a minute. - Probably one in your pocket.
- Nah. - Oh okay, I got enough.
This is cool.
- [Card Player] Ain't you supposed to be
at the talent show tonight?
- I'm a grown man. I do what I want to do.
- I don't know, man. I think you should go.
- [Card Player] Bro, you ain't going?
- No.
Got better things to do.
(crowd applauding)
♪ 'Cause the lights are on outside ♪
♪ Wish there was somewhere to hide ♪
♪ I just don't want to say goodbye ♪
♪ 'Cause you are my baby baby ♪
♪ Nothing really matters ♪
♪ I don't really care ♪
♪ What nobody tell me ♪
♪ I'm gonna be here ♪
♪ It's a matter of extreme importance ♪
♪ My first teenage love affair ♪
♪ Aye aye aye aye ♪
♪ Aye aye aye aye aye ♪
- Hey boy. What's up.
You know I really like being with you.
Just hanging out is fine.
So, so maybe we go to the...
♪ First base ♪
♪ Because I feel you ♪
♪ Second base ♪
♪ Want you to feel me too boy ♪
♪ Third base ♪
♪ Better pump the breaks ♪
♪ Ooh baby slow down ♪
♪ I gotta go home now ♪
♪ 'Cause the lights are on outside (Outside) ♪
♪ Wish there was somewhere to hide (To hide) ♪
♪ 'Cause I just don't want to say goodbye ♪
♪ 'Cause you are my baby baby ♪
Break it break it down
♪ Na na na na na no oh ♪
♪ Na no no ♪
♪ No no no no no no no ♪
♪ Na na na na na no oh ♪
♪ I got her telling you ♪
♪ Na no no ♪
(record breaking)
♪ Nothing really matters ♪
♪ I don't really care ♪
♪ What nobody tell me ♪
♪ I'm gonna be here ♪
♪ It's a matter of extreme importance ♪
♪ My first teenage love affair ♪
♪ My baby baby ♪
♪ Nothing really matters ♪
♪ I don't really care ♪
♪ What nobody tell me ♪
♪ I'm gonna be here ♪
♪ It's a matter of extreme importance ♪
♪ My first teenage love affair ♪
♪ Aye aye aye aye ♪
♪ Aye aye aye aye ♪
What you doing right now?
- You know, I'm just chilling.
- I'm chilling.
- So, how long you gonna be doing that?
(Alicia Keys laughing)
Key Vocabulary
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Key Grammar Structures
-
What you doing right now?
➔ present continuous (colloquial omission of auxiliary)
➔ The sentence uses the present continuous "you **doing**" without the auxiliary "are" which is common in informal spoken English.
-
I'm just talking on the phone with you.
➔ present continuous
➔ The verb "am **talking**" shows the present continuous formed with the auxiliary "am" + verb‑ing.
-
I did it hours ago.
➔ simple past
➔ "did" is the simple past of "do", indicating a completed action in the past.
-
We need your help.
➔ modal‑like verb "need" + object + infinitive omitted
➔ "need" functions like a modal here; the infinitive "to help" is understood but omitted: "We **need** your help (to help)."
-
Will you help us?
➔ future simple with modal "will" + subject‑verb inversion
➔ "Will" is used to form a polite request; the verb follows the subject: "**Will** you help us?"
-
Can't wait to get home.
➔ modal "can" + negative contraction + infinitive
➔ "Can't" is the contracted negative of "cannot"; the structure "can't wait **to get**" uses the infinitive "to get".
-
I'm gonna give you this letter.
➔ future intention with informal "going to" (gonna)
➔ "gonna" is the informal reduction of "going to"; it expresses a planned future action: "I **gonna give** you this letter."
-
I don't really care.
➔ present simple negative with adverb "really"
➔ "don't" is the negative auxiliary for the present simple; the adverb "really" intensifies the verb: "I **don't** really **care**."
