Who Says – English Lyrics

• By: John Mayer

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language can be a journey of personal discovery, and John Mayer's "Who Says" is the perfect soundtrack for it. The song's simple, conversational English and its powerful message about challenging limitations make it an inspiring and accessible piece for language learners. By exploring the lyrics, you can learn to express ideas of freedom and self-determination, all while enjoying a beautifully crafted acoustic melody. What makes this song special is its subtle rebellion and its reminder that you have the power to 'rewrite your history' – a sentiment that resonates deeply when embarking on the adventure of learning a new language.

[English]

Who says I can't get stoned?

Turn off the lights and the telephone

Me in my house alone

Who says I can't get stoned?

Who says I can't be free?

From all of the things that I used to be

Re-write my history

Who says I can't be free?

It's been a long night in New York City

It's been a long night in Baton Rouge

I don't remember you looking any better

But then again I don't remember you

Who says I can't get stoned?

Call up a girl that I used to know

Fake love for an hour or so

Who says I can't get stoned?

Who says I can't take time?

Meet all the girls at the county line

Wait on fate to send a sign

Who says I can't take time?

It's been a long night in New York City

It's been a long night in Austin, too

Don't remember you looking any better

But then again I don't remember you

...

Who says I can't get stoned?

Plan a trip to Japan alone

Doesn't matter if I even go

Who says I can't get stoned?

...

It's been a long night in New York City

It's been a long time since twenty-two

I don't remember you looking any better

But then again I don't remember

don't remember you

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
stoned /stoʊnd/ B2	adjective - affected by drugs or alcohol
lights /laɪts/ A1	noun - sources of illumination
telephone /ˈtelɪfoʊn/ A2	noun - a device for transmitting sound over a distance
house /haʊs/ A1	noun - a building for living in
free /friː/ A2	adjective - not under the control or power of someone else; able to act or be done as one wishes.
rewrite /ˌriːˈraɪt/ B2	verb - write (something) again so as to alter or improve it.
history /ˈhɪstəri/ A2	noun - a continuous chronological record of important or public events
night /naɪt/ A1	noun - the period of darkness between one day and the next
remember /rɪˈmembər/ A2	verb - have in or be able to bring to one's mind an awareness of (someone or something that one has known or experienced in the past).
looking /ˈlʊkɪŋ/ A1	verb - having a specified appearance
better /ˈbetər/ A1	adjective - more excellent or effective than something else.
girl /ɡɜːrl/ A1	noun - a female child or young woman.
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - an intense feeling of affection
hour /ˈaʊər/ A1	noun - a period of 60 minutes.
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole.
fate /feɪt/ B2	noun - the development of events beyond a person's control, regarded as predetermined by a supernatural power.
trip /trɪp/ A2	noun - a journey or excursion, especially for pleasure.
matter /ˈmætər/ A2	verb - be important or significant.

Key Grammar Structures

• Who says I can't get stoned?

  ➔ Modal verbs + base verb (can't) for expressing prohibition or impossibility

  ➔ Uses **modal verb** 'can' combined with 'not' (can't) to express **impossibility** or **prohibition**.

• Turn off the lights and the telephone

  ➔ Imperative sentence using **base verb** for **commands or requests**

  ➔ Uses the **imperative form** (base verb) to give **commands or instructions**.

• Who says I can't be free?

  ➔ Question formation with **interrogative 'who'** + **modal verb** + subject + complement

  ➔ Asks a **question** using **'who'** as the subject and a **modal verb** ('can') to inquire about possibility.

• It's been a long night in New York City

  ➔ Present perfect tense to describe an **experience or duration** that started in the past and continues to the present

  ➔ Uses **present perfect** ('has been') to express a **state or experience** that started in the past and continues now.

• It's been a long time since twenty-two

  ➔ Use of **'since'** with a specific point in time to denote the start of a duration

  ➔ Uses **'since'** + specific time to indicate when a **duration** started.

• Doesn't matter if I even go

  ➔ Conditional **'if'** clause to express **possibility or indifference**

  ➔ Uses **'if'** in a **conditional clause** to indicate whether an action **even happens or not** is significant.