Tell It Like It Is

• By: Aaron Neville
• Album: Tell It Like It Is - The Par Lo Years

Lyrics:

Vocabulary in this song:

Vocabulary	Meanings
play /pleɪ/ A1	verb - to engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose noun - activity engaged in for enjoyment and recreation, especially by children.
toy /tɔɪ/ A1	noun - an object for a child to play with
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole
boy /bɔɪ/ A1	noun - a male child or young man
heart /hɑːrt/ A1	noun - a hollow muscular organ that pumps the blood through the circulatory system by rhythmic contraction and dilation.
love /lʌv/ A1	verb - have a strong feeling of affection for noun - an intense feeling of deep affection
girl /ɡɜːrl/ A1	noun - a female child or young woman
ashamed /əˈʃeɪmd/ B1	adjective - feeling shame or embarrassment about something
conscience /ˈkɒnʃəns/ B2	noun - a person's moral sense of right and wrong, viewed as acting as a guide to one's behavior.
guide /ɡaɪd/ B1	noun - a person who shows the way to others verb - show or direct (someone) along a way
pride /praɪd/ B1	noun - a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's own achievements, the achievements of one's close associates, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired.
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death.
short /ʃɔːrt/ A1	adjective - measuring a small distance from end to end.
sorrow /ˈsɒroʊ/ B2	noun - a feeling of deep distress caused by loss, disappointment, or other misfortune suffered by oneself or others.
expensive /ɪkˈspɛnsɪv/ B1	adjective - costing a lot of money
serious /ˈsɪəriəs/ B1	adjective - (of a subject, matter, or event) demanding careful consideration or thought
furious /ˈfjʊəriəs/ B2	adjective - extremely angry

Grammar:

• If you want something to play with

  ➔ Conditional Sentences (Type 1)

  ➔ This uses the "if + present simple, will + base form" structure. The condition "if you want something to play with" is followed by an implied main clause (likely an imperative, such as "then find it elsewhere").

• Baby, my time is too expensive

  ➔ Adjective "too" + Adjective

  ➔ The word "too" before "expensive" indicates that the time is excessively valuable for the purpose implied (playing with someone).

• Don't play with my heart, it makes me furious

  ➔ Imperative (Negative) + Pronoun + Verb

  ➔ "Don't play" is a negative imperative used to give a command *not* to do something. It directly addresses the listener.

• Then baby I will, girl, you know that I will

  ➔ Emphasis with Auxiliary Verb "will"

  ➔ Repetition of "I will" provides emphasis and assurance. Using "will" in this way signifies a strong intention.

• Don't be ashamed to let your conscience be your guide

  ➔ Imperative (Negative) + "to" Infinitive

  ➔ "Don't be ashamed" is a negative imperative. "to let your conscience be your guide" is an infinitive phrase functioning as the object of the imperative.

• Life is too short to have sorrow

  ➔ "Too" + adjective + "to" infinitive

  ➔ The structure "too + adjective + to + infinitive" indicates that something is excessive in relation to something else. In this case, life is excessively short *to* allow for sorrow.

• You might as well get what you want

  ➔ "Might as well"

  ➔ "Might as well" expresses that there is no strong reason not to do something. It implies a sense of accepting the situation and choosing the best option available.