Tyrant – English Lyrics

• By: Kali Uchis, Jorja Smith

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the captivating world of "Tyrant" by Kali Uchis and Jorja Smith, a unique R&B track that offers a rich blend of smooth vocals and intricate production. This song is a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in the emotional depth of its English lyrics, and for language learners, to appreciate Kali Uchis's seamless integration of both English and Spanish phrases. Its compelling narrative about love and power dynamics makes it a special and insightful listen.

[English]

(upbeat music)

♪ Ohh ohhhh ♪

♪ Ohh oh oh ♪

♪ Ohh oh oh oh ♪

♪ Dime, dime, dímelo ♪

♪ Ohh ohhh ♪

♪ Dímelo, dímelo, dímelo ♪

(reggae music)

♪ All I hear is sirens ♪

♪ In a world so violent ♪

♪ Would you be a tyrant ♪

♪ If I gave you power ♪

♪ Would you take it out ♪

♪ Look me in my iris ♪

♪ I can read your silence ♪

♪ When everything is a riot ♪

♪ You're my peace and quiet ♪

♪ All around we go ♪

♪ Your lovin' is like a kaleidoscope ♪

♪ I don't wanna come down ♪

♪ Keep spinnin' me 'round and 'round ♪

♪ And 'round and 'round and 'round ♪

♪ Wanna seize the throne ♪

♪ But what would you do with all that control ♪

♪ I don't wanna come down ♪

♪ Keep spinnin' me 'round and 'round ♪

♪ And 'round and 'round and 'round ♪

♪ Word on the street you got hoes ♪

♪ I disappear like El Chapo ♪

♪ 'Til you said you would cut off the whole world ♪

♪ If little old me would be yours ♪

♪ Well, mira, mira, míralo (míralo, míralo) ♪

♪ Papi está rico ♪

♪ Papi está guapo (papi está guapo) ♪

♪ The world's been asking us to lose control ♪

♪ All we ever do is French ♪

♪ Like Brigitte Bardot (Brigitte Bardot) ♪

♪ All around we go (all around, all around) ♪

♪ Your lovin' is like a kaleidoscope ♪

♪ I don't wanna come down ♪

♪ Keep spinnin' me 'round and 'round ♪

♪ And 'round and 'round ♪

♪ And 'round (around, around, around) ♪

♪ Wanna seize the throne ♪

♪ (I know you wanna, I know you wanna) ♪

♪ But what would you do with all that control ♪

♪ I don't wanna come down ♪

♪ Keep spinnin' me 'round and 'round ♪

♪ And 'round and 'round ♪

♪ And 'round (around, around, around) ♪

♪ Ohh oh oh ♪

♪ Ohh oh oh ♪

♪ Ohhhh ♪

♪ Dímelo, dímelo, dímelo ♪

♪ Ohh oh oh ♪

♪ Ohh oh oh ♪

♪ Dímelo, dímelo, dímelo ♪

♪ Boy you're driving me crazy ♪

♪ Although I say nothing can phase me ♪

♪ Place the spark in my life back ♪

♪ Now I want to show you how I thank that ♪

♪ Don't think you can lie ♪

♪ I can see through your mind ♪

♪ Don't lose this, we have it all, all ♪

♪ All around we go (all around, all around) ♪

♪ Your lovin' is like a kaleidoscope ♪

♪ I don't wanna come down ♪

♪ Keep spinnin' me 'round and 'round ♪

♪ And 'round and 'round ♪

♪ And 'round (around, around, around) ♪

♪ Wanna seize the throne ♪

♪ (I know you wanna, I know you wanna) ♪

♪ But what would you do with all that control? ♪

♪ I don't wanna come down ♪

♪ Keep spinnin' me 'round and 'round ♪

♪ And 'round and 'round ♪

♪ And 'round (around, around, around) ♪

♪ Ohh oh oh ♪

♪ Ohh oh oh ♪

♪ Ohhhh ♪

♪ Ohh oh oh ♪

♪ Ohh oh oh ♪

♪ We're goin' 'round and ♪

♪ Around and around, and around now ♪

♪ Ohh oh oh ♪

♪ Ohh oh oh ♪

♪ Ohhhh ♪

♪ Ohh oh oh ♪

♪ Ohh oh oh ♪

♪ We're goin' 'round and ♪

♪ Around and around, goin' down, down ♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
sirens /ˈsaɪrənz/ B1	noun - a device that makes a loud prolonged signal
world /wɜːrld/ A1	noun - the earth, together with all of its countries, peoples, and natural features.
violent /ˈvaɪələnt/ B2	adjective - using or involving physical force intended to hurt, damage, or kill someone or something.
tyrant /ˈtaɪrənt/ C1	noun - a cruel and oppressive ruler.
power /ˈpaʊər/ A2	noun - the ability to do something or act in a particular way, especially as a faculty or quality.
iris /ˈaɪrɪs/ B2	noun - the flat, colored, ring-shaped membrane behind the cornea of the eye, with an adjustable circular opening (pupil) in the center.
silence /ˈsaɪləns/ B1	noun - the state of not speaking.
riot /ˈraɪət/ B2	noun - a violent disturbance of the peace by a crowd.
peace /piːs/ A2	noun - freedom from disturbance; tranquility.
quiet /ˈkwaɪət/ A2	adjective - making little or no noise.
kaleidoscope /kəˈlaɪdəskoʊp/ C1	noun - a toy consisting of a tube containing mirrors and pieces of colored glass or paper, whose reflections produce changing patterns that are visible through an eyepiece.
throne /θroʊn/ B2	noun - the chair of state of a monarch or bishop.
control /kənˈtroʊl/ B1	noun - the power to influence or direct people's behavior or the course of events. verb - determine the behavior or supervise the running of.
street /striːt/ A1	noun - a public road in a city or town, typically with houses and buildings on one or both sides.
crazy /ˈkreɪzi/ A2	adjective - mentally deranged, especially as manifested in a wild or aggressive way.
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.
spark /spɑːrk/ B2	noun - a small fiery particle thrown off from a fire, burning substance, or striking body.

Key Grammar Structures

• Would you be a tyrant if I gave you power?

  ➔ Conditional sentences (Type 2)

  ➔ This sentence uses a conditional structure to express a hypothetical situation. The phrase "if I gave you power" indicates a condition that is not real.

• I can read your silence.

  ➔ Present simple tense

  ➔ The present simple tense is used to express general truths or habits. Here, it indicates the speaker's ability to understand non-verbal cues.

• I don't wanna come down.

  ➔ Informal contractions

  ➔ The phrase "wanna" is an informal contraction of "want to". This is common in spoken English and informal writing.

• Your lovin' is like a kaleidoscope.

  ➔ Similes

  ➔ A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things using 'like' or 'as'. Here, love is compared to a kaleidoscope, suggesting it is colorful and ever-changing.

• I can see through your mind.

  ➔ Modal verbs

  ➔ The modal verb 'can' expresses ability or possibility. In this context, it indicates the speaker's capability to understand someone's thoughts.

• What would you do with all that control?

  ➔ Indirect questions

  ➔ Indirect questions are used to ask about something without directly posing a question. Here, it inquires about the consequences of having control.

• I disappear like El Chapo.

  ➔ Similes

  ➔ This simile compares the act of disappearing to El Chapo, suggesting a sudden and dramatic vanishing.