Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) – English Lyrics

• By: Sly & The Family Stone

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into Sly & The Family Stone's iconic hit, "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)," a funk masterpiece that celebrates individuality and self-expression. Explore the song's unique blend of funk, soul, and psychedelic rock, and discover how its innovative bassline and powerful message made it a timeless classic. This song offers a lesson in rhythmic innovation and lyrical depth, inviting you to appreciate the importance of being true to yourself.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
devil /ˈdevəl/ B1	noun - the supreme spirit of evil
gun /ɡʌn/ A2	noun - a weapon incorporating a metal tube from which bullets, shells, or other projectiles are fired by explosive force
run /rʌn/ A1	verb - to move at a speed faster than a walk
bullets /ˈbʊlɪts/ A2	noun - a metal projectile for firing from a rifle, pistol, or other firearm.
chase /tʃeɪs/ B1	verb - pursue in order to catch or catch up with.
wrestle /ˈresəl/ B2	verb - take part in a fight, especially a wrestling match.
collar /ˈkɑːlər/ B1	noun - the part of a shirt, dress, coat, or jacket that fastens around or stands up about the neck.
fluffy /ˈflʌfi/ B2	adjective - of or like fluff.
party /ˈpɑːrti/ A1	noun - a social gathering of invited guests, typically involving eating, drinking, and entertainment.
mind /maɪnd/ A2	noun - the element of a person that enables them to be aware of the world and their experiences, to think, and to feel; the faculty of consciousness and thought.
music /ˈmjuːzɪk/ A1	noun - vocal or instrumental sounds (or both) combined in such a way as to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion.
people /ˈpiːpl/ A1	noun - human beings in general or considered collectively.
song /sɔːŋ/ A1	noun - a short poem or other set of words set to music or meant to be sung.
eyes /aɪz/ A1	noun - each of a pair of globular organs in the head through which people and vertebrate animals see.
fear /fɪər/ B1	noun - an unpleasant emotion caused by the perception of danger, real or imagined.
youth /juːθ/ B1	noun - the period between childhood and adult age.
truth /truːθ/ B1	noun - the quality or state of being true.

Key Grammar Structures

• Lookin' at the devil

  ➔ Present Participle for Concurrent Action

  ➔ The phrase "Lookin' at the devil" uses the present participle "Lookin'" to describe an action happening at the same time as the implied main action. It's short for "I am looking at the devil."

• Fingers start shakin'

  ➔ Ellipsis

  ➔ The auxiliary verb "are" is omitted. The full sentence is "Fingers are starting to shake."

• Thank you for lettin' me be myself again

  ➔ Causative Verb 'let'

  ➔ The verb "let" is used as a causative verb. It means to allow someone to do something. Here, it means "Thank you for allowing me to be myself again."

• Stiff all in the collar

  ➔ Adjective as Subject Complement with Omission of Verb

  ➔ The sentence is incomplete. The implied sentence is "He is stiff all in the collar." The adjective "stiff" describes the subject.

• Many things on my mind

  ➔ Prepositional Phrase as Post-Modifier, Ellipsis

  ➔ The phrase "on my mind" modifies "many things." There is an ellipsis of the verb "are." The complete sentence would be "Many things are on my mind."

• Mama's so happy

  ➔ Contraction and Omission

  ➔ "Mama's" is a contraction of "Mama is". This is a common feature in informal speech and song lyrics.

• You can make it if you try

  ➔ Conditional Clause (Zero Conditional)

  ➔ This sentence expresses a general truth or a fact. The 'if' clause describes a condition, and the main clause describes the result. In zero conditional, both clauses use the simple present tense.

• Dyin' young is hard to take

  ➔ Gerund Phrase as Subject

  ➔ "Dyin' young" is a gerund phrase acting as the subject of the sentence. It functions as a noun.