That Lady, Pts. 1 & 2 – English Lyrics

• By: The Isley Brothers

Lyrics & Translation

"That Lady, Pts. 1 & 2" by The Isley Brothers is an iconic funk-rock anthem that broke new ground in the 1970s. Its dynamic structure, powerful vocals, and legendary guitar solo offer a rich learning experience for those interested in the evolution of English-language music, particularly the blend of R&B, soul, and rock. The intricate instrumentation and passionate delivery make it a perfect song to explore vocabulary related to emotion, admiration, and desire, while its historical context within the Isley Brothers' career highlights a pivotal moment in music history.

[English]

Who's that lady? (Who's that lady?)

Beautiful lady (who's that lady?)

Lovely lady (who's that lady?)

Real fine lady (who's that lady?)

Hear me callin' out to you

'Cause that's all that I can do

Your eyes tell me to pursue

But you say, look yeah

But don't touch, baby

No, no, no, don't touch

Who's that lady? (Who's that lady?)

Sexy lady (who's that lady?)

Beautiful lady (who's that lady?)

Real fine lady (who's that lady?)

I would dance upon a string

Any gifts she'd wanna bring

I would give her anything

If she would just do what I say

Come around my way, baby

Shine my way!

...

Who's that lady? (Who's that lady?)

Beautiful lady (who's that lady?)

Lovely lady (who's that lady?)

Real, real fine lady (who's that lady?)

I would love to take her home

But her heart is made of stone

I gotta keep on keepin' on

If I don't, she'll do me wrong

She'll do me wrong, yeah

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
lady /ˈleɪdi/ A1	noun - a woman
beautiful /ˈbjuːtɪfl/ A2	adjective - pleasing the senses or mind
lovely /ˈlʌvli/ A2	adjective - pleasant or attractive
fine /faɪn/ A2	adjective - of high quality
call /kɔːl/ A1	verb - to speak loudly
eyes /aɪz/ A1	noun - organs of sight
touch /tʌtʃ/ A1	verb - to feel something with your hand
sexy /ˈseksi/ B1	adjective - sexually attractive
dance /dæns/ A1	verb - to move rhythmically to music
string /strɪŋ/ B1	noun - thin length of cord
gifts /ɡɪfts/ A2	noun - things given willingly to someone
shine /ʃaɪn/ A2	verb - to give out light
love /lʌv/ A1	verb - to have a strong feeling of affection
heart /hɑːrt/ A1	noun - organ pumping blood
stone /stoʊn/ A1	noun - a piece of rock
wrong /rɔːŋ/ A1	adjective - not correct

Key Grammar Structures

• Hear me callin' out to you

  ➔ Imperative used with a verb of perception (hear) + object + bare infinitive (call)

  ➔ This uses the structure where the verb of perception "hear" is followed by the object "me" and then the bare infinitive "call". It functions as an imperative; the implied subject is 'you'. It means 'Listen to me calling out to you'.

• Your eyes tell me to pursue

  ➔ Verb + object + infinitive (tell me to pursue)

  ➔ The verb "tell" takes an object "me" and an infinitive clause "to pursue". It expresses the idea that the eyes are communicating something that suggests chasing after the lady.

• But you say, look yeah

  ➔ Imperative mood (look)

  ➔ "Look" is used as a direct command. The subject is implied, it means "you look".

• But don't touch, baby

  ➔ Negative imperative (don't + base form)

  ➔ The use of "don't" followed by the base form of the verb "touch" indicates a negative command.

• Any gifts she'd wanna bring

  ➔ Conditional clause using 'would' contracted to 'd' (she'd) to express desire.

  ➔ The 'd here is a contraction of 'would'. "She'd wanna bring" translates to "she would want to bring". It indicates a hypothetical or desired action of bringing gifts.

• If she would just do what I say

  ➔ Conditional clause Type 2 with 'would' - expressing an unlikely condition.

  ➔ This is a Type 2 conditional. The condition "If she would just do what I say" is unlikely to happen. This implies a low probability of the woman following his instructions.

• I would love to take her home

  ➔ Conditional sentence type 2 - expressing an imaginary situation (I would + base form)

  ➔ The construction "I would love" expresses a desire in a hypothetical or unreal situation. It's something he wants but hasn't happened and may not happen.

• I gotta keep on keepin' on

  ➔ "Gotta" (got to) + keep on + gerund (keepin')

  ➔ "Gotta" is a colloquial shortening of "got to", meaning "have to". "Keep on" means to continue doing something. Following "keep on" is a gerund, "keepin'" which reinforces the ongoing nature of the action. The repetition emphasizes the need to persevere.