What's Love – English Lyrics

• By: Shaggy, Akon

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the nuances of love and relationships through Shaggy and Akon's hit "What's Love." This song offers a unique opportunity to learn some Jamaican Patois, as heard in Shaggy's verses, while enjoying the seamless fusion of reggae and R&B. The track is a great example of how two distinct musical styles can come together to create a memorable and internationally successful song.

[English]

Akon and Shaggy, ooh yeah

Love ain't got nothin' to do with it

Come on now

Me waan fi leave you long time

Nuff man a search for your sign

She say she love me till the end of time

But that a not really have pon me mind

Me want to leave you long time

You know enuff a man search for your sign

She say she love me 'til the end of time

But that a not really I have upon me mind

What's love gotta do with it?

Gotta do with it, gotta do with it?

What's love gotta do with it?

Gotta do with it, gotta do with it?

What's love-

That's it, can't take no more

I'm leavin', got one foot through the door

(But I love you)

I had my doubts before

I thought it through, now I'm gone for sure

(But I love you)

Can't let you tie me down

I wanna have fun and mess around

(But I love you)

I gotta stand my ground

Though you're the best thing I found

What's love gotta do with it?

Gotta do with it, gotta do with it?

What's love gotta do with it?

Gotta do with it, gotta do with it?

What's love-

I hope for goodness sake

That you would just cheat, make some mistake

(But I love you)

So perfect, wouldn't break

You gave me no reason to escape

(But I love you)

Won't hide, got skirts to chase

Don't wanna be throwin' it in your face

(But I love you)

I pray to God some days

We fight and go our separate ways

What's love gotta do with it?

Gotta do with it, gotta do with it?

What's love gotta do with it?

Gotta do with it, gotta do with it?

What's love-

Me want to leave you long time

Enuff of man a search for your sign

She say she love me 'til the end of time

But a that not really have upon me mind

Me want to leave you long time

Enuff of man a search for your sign

She say she love me 'til the end of time

But that I not really have upon me mind

What's love gotta do with it?

Gotta do with it, gotta do with it?

What's love gotta do with it?

Gotta do with it, gotta do with it?

What's love gotta do with it?

Gotta do with it, gotta do with it?

What's love gotta do with it?

Gotta do with it, gotta do with it?

What's love-

...

Key Grammar Structures

• Love ain't got nothin' to do with it.

  ➔ Negative contractions.

  ➔ The phrase "ain't" is a contraction for "is not" or "are not", used informally.

• I had my doubts before.

  ➔ Past perfect tense.

  ➔ The phrase "had my doubts" indicates a state of uncertainty that existed before another past event.

• I wanna have fun and mess around.

  ➔ Informal language and contractions.

  ➔ The word "wanna" is an informal contraction of "want to", commonly used in spoken English.

• I pray to God some days.

  ➔ Present simple tense.

  ➔ The phrase "I pray" indicates a habitual action in the present.

• What's love gotta do with it?

  ➔ Colloquial expressions.

  ➔ The phrase "gotta" is a colloquial contraction of "got to", indicating necessity or obligation.

• I thought it through, now I'm gone for sure.

  ➔ Past simple and present simple.

  ➔ The phrase "thought it through" indicates a completed action in the past, while "I'm gone" indicates a current state.

• Can't let you tie me down.

  ➔ Negative modal verbs.

  ➔ The phrase "can't" is a contraction of "cannot", indicating inability or prohibition.