Toxic
Lyrics:
[English]
Call us what we are, toxic from the start
Can't pretend that I was in the dark
When you met my friends, didn't even try with them
I should've known right then
That you were jealous and possessive
So manipulatin'
Honestly, impressive
You had me participatin'
Back then, when I was runnin' out of your place
I said, "I never wanna see your face"
I meant I couldn't wait to see it again
We were toxic till the end
Uh-huh, 'cause even when I said it was over
You heard, "Baby, can you pull me in closеr?"
You were plotting how to stay in my head
Wе were toxic till the end
Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you: The X
His favourite game is chess, who would ever guess?
Playing with the pieces in my chest
Now he's on the screen and saying, "Don't leave"
You stole that line from me
'Cause you're just jealous and possessive
So manipulatin'
Honestly, impressive
You had me participatin'
Back then, when I was runnin' out of your place
I said, "I never wanna see your face"
I meant I couldn't wait to see it again
We were toxic till the end
Uh-huh, 'cause even when I said it was over
You heard, "Baby, can you pull me in closer?"
You were plotting how to stay in my head
We were toxic till the end, end, end
I can forgive you for all of the things
For not giving me back my Tiffany rings
I'll never forgive you for one thing, my dear
You wasted my prettiest years
Back then, when I was runnin' out of your place
I said, "I never wanna see your face"
I meant I couldn't wait to see it again
We were toxic
Uh-huh, 'cause even when I said it was over
You heard, "Baby, can you pull me in closer?"
You were plotting how to stay in my head
We were toxic till the end, end, end
We were toxic till the end, end, end
...
Vocabulary in this song:
Vocabulary | Meanings |
---|---|
toxic /ˈtɒksɪk/ B2 |
|
pretend /prɪˈtɛnd/ B1 |
|
jealous /ˈdʒɛləs/ B1 |
|
possessive /pəˈzɛsɪv/ B2 |
|
manipulating /məˈnɪpjʊleɪtɪŋ/ C1 |
|
impressive /ɪmˈprɛsɪv/ B2 |
|
plotting /ˈplɒtɪŋ/ C1 |
|
favourite /ˈfeɪvərɪt/ A2 |
|
guess /ɡɛs/ A2 |
|
pieces /ˈpiːsɪz/ A1 |
|
stole /stoʊl/ B1 |
|
forgive /fərˈɡɪv/ B1 |
|
wasted /ˈweɪstɪd/ B1 |
|
dear /dɪər/ A2 |
|
Grammar:
-
Call us what we are, toxic from the start
➔ Imperative mood
➔ Uses the bare infinitive "call" to issue a command or make a direct request. It directly instructs the listener (or oneself) to acknowledge the relationship's toxic nature. It implies a sense of urgency and acceptance.
-
I should've known right then
➔ Modal perfect (should have + past participle)
➔ "should've known" expresses regret or criticism about a past action or lack thereof. It means the speaker now believes they made a mistake and wishes they had realized something earlier. "Right then" emphasizes the immediacy of the missed opportunity.
-
When you met my friends, didn't even try with them
➔ Past simple (met), negative past simple (didn't try)
➔ Use of past simple to describe completed actions in the past. "met" indicates the action of meeting occurred at a specific time in the past. "didn't try" indicates a lack of effort or attempt during that same past period.
-
Honestly, impressive
➔ Adverb modifying adjective
➔ The adverb "Honestly" modifies the adjective "impressive," intensifying its meaning and expressing the speaker's genuine feeling about the subject's manipulative skills. This structure is often used for emphasis or dramatic effect.
-
You had me participatin'
➔ Causative "have" + object + present participle
➔ The structure "have someone doing something" implies that the subject (you) caused or influenced the object (me) to perform the action (participatin'). This highlights the manipulative nature of the relationship, where the speaker was drawn into undesirable actions by the other person's influence.
-
I meant I couldn't wait to see it again
➔ Past Simple, Negative Conditional
➔ "meant" is a simple past verb showing a statement of what was intended or felt. "couldn't wait" used within this structure implies anticipation and eagerness, reversing the literal negative to express a strong positive desire.
-
You were plotting how to stay in my head
➔ Past continuous tense, "how to" infinitive phrase
➔ "were plotting" uses the past continuous to depict an ongoing action or plan in the past. The "how to" infinitive phrase indicates a specific method or way of achieving something, in this case, staying in the speaker's thoughts.
-
I'll never forgive you for one thing, my dear
➔ Future simple with "never", adjective of address ("dear")
➔ "I'll never forgive" states a firm, unconditional intention in the future. The use of "never" emphasizes the impossibility of forgiveness. "My dear" is used for address and can carry sarcasm or affection depending on context.