WHY – English Lyrics

• By: NF

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into NF's compelling rap in "WHY" to experience a masterclass in emotional storytelling and a powerful example of direct, impactful English lyricism. This song offers a unique opportunity to grasp authentic expressions of vulnerability and introspection, making it an excellent listen for understanding nuanced English used to convey raw feelings and personal struggles.

[English]

♪♪♪

♪ YEAH ♪

♪ WHAT'S YOUR DEFINITION OF SUCCESS ♪

♪ I DON'T TRUST THE THOUGHTS THAT COME INSIDE MY HEAD ♪

♪ I DON'T TRUST THIS THING THAT BEATS INSIDE MY CHEST ♪

♪ WHO I AM AND WHO I WANNA BE CAN NOT CONNECT, WHY ♪

♪ DON'T THINK I DESERVE IT YOU GET NO RESPECT ♪

♪ I JUST MADE A COUPLE MILL STILL NOT IMPRESSED ♪

♪ LET YOU DOWN WAS TRIPLE PLATINUM YEAH, OK, OK, I GUESS ♪

♪ SMILE FOR A MOMENT THEN THESE QUESTIONS START TO FILL MY HEAD, NOT AGAIN ♪

♪ I PUSH AWAY THE PEOPLE THAT I LOVE THE MOST ♪

♪ WHY ♪

♪ I DON'T WANT NO ONE TO KNOW I'M VULNERABLE ♪

♪ WHY ♪

♪ THAT MAKES ME FEEL WEAK AND SO UNCOMFORTABLE ♪

♪ WHY ♪

♪ STOP ASKING ME QUESTIONS I JUST WANNA FEEL ALIVE ♪

♪ UNTIL I DIE ♪

♪ THIS ISN'T NATE'S FLOW ♪

♪ JUST LET ME RHYME ♪

♪ I'M IN DISGUISE ♪

♪ I'M A BUSY PERSON GOT NO TIME FOR LIES ♪

♪ ONE OF A KIND ♪

♪ THEY DON'T SEE IT, I PULL OUT THEY EYES ♪

♪ I'M ON THE RISE ♪

♪ I BEEN DOING THIS FOR MOST MY LIFE ♪

♪ WITH NO ADVICE ♪

♪ TAKE MY CHANCES I JUST ROLL THE DICE ♪

♪ DO WHAT I LIKE ♪

♪ AS A KID I WAS AFRAID OF HEIGHTS ♪

♪ PUT THAT ASIDE ♪

♪ NOW I'M HERE, AND THEY LOOK SO SURPRISED ♪

♪ WELL SO AM I, WHOO ♪

♪ THEY DON'T INVITE ME TO THE PARTIES, BUT I STILL ARRIVE ♪

♪ KICK DOWN THE DOOR AND THEN I GO INSIDE ♪

♪ GIVE OFF THAT I DO NOT BELONG HERE VIBE ♪

♪ THEN TAKE THE KEYS RIGHT OFF THE COUNTER LET'S GO FOR A RIDE ♪

♪ WHY DO Y'ALL LOOK MORTIFIED ♪

♪ I KEEP TO MYSELF THEY THINK I'M SORTA SHY ♪

♪ ORGANIZED ♪

♪ LET YOU DOWN'S THE ONLY SONG YOU'VE HEARD OF WELL THEN YOU'RE BEHIND ♪

♪ STORYTIME ♪

♪ WISH THAT I COULD THINK LIKE BIG SEAN DOES, BUT I JUST CAN'T DECIDE ♪

♪ IF I SHOULD STICK MY KNIFE INSIDE OF PENNYWISE ♪

♪ I ♪

♪ I DON'T CARE WHAT ANYBODY ELSE THINKS ♪

♪ LIES ♪

♪ I DO NOT NEED NOBODY TO HELP ME ♪

♪ LIES ♪

♪ I KIND OF FEEL GUILTY 'CAUSE I'M WEALTHY ♪

♪ WHY ♪

♪ I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS GOT ME QUESTIONING LIKE WHY ♪

♪ JUST TELL ME WHY ♪

♪ NOT BACK TO THIS FLOW ♪

♪ INSIDE ♪

♪ I FEEL DIVIDED ♪

♪ BACK WHEN I AIN'T HAD A DIME ♪

♪ BUT HAD THE DRIVE ♪

♪ BACK BEFORE I EVER SIGNED ♪

♪ I QUESTIONED LIFE ♪

♪ LIKE WHO AM I MAN, WHOO ♪

♪ NOTHING TO ME'S EVER GOOD ENOUGH ♪

♪ I COULD BE WORKING WITH 24 HOURS A DAY AND THINK I NEVER DID ENOUGH ♪

♪ MY LIFE IS A MOVIE, BUT THERE AIN'T NO TELLIN' ♪

♪ WHAT YOUR GUNNA SEE IN MY CINEMA ♪

♪ I WANNA BE GREAT, BUT I GET IN THE WAY OF MYSELF ♪

♪ AND I THINK ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT I COULD NEVER BE WHY DO I DO IT THO, HEY ♪

♪ WHY YOU ALWAYS LOOKING AGGRAVATED ♪

♪ NOT A CHOICE YOU KNOW I HAD TO MAKE IT ♪

♪ WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT THE GREATEST ♪

♪ THEY GOIN' PROLLY NEVER PUT US IN THE CONVERSATION ♪

♪ LIKE SOMETHING THEN I GOTTA TAKE IT ♪

♪ WRITE SOMETHING THEN I MIGHT ERASE IT ♪

♪ I LOVE IT THEN I REALLY HATE IT ♪

♪ WHAT'S THE PROBLEM NATHAN, I DON'T KNOW ♪

♪ I KNOW I LIKE TO PREACH TO ALWAYS BE YOURSELF ♪

♪ BUT MY EMOTIONS MAKE ME FEEL LIKE I AM SOMEONE ELSE ♪

♪ ME AND PRIDE HAD MADE A PACT THAT WE DON'T NEED NO HELP ♪

♪ WHICH FEELS LIKE I'M AT WAR INSIDE MYSELF, BUT I FORGOT THE SHELLS ♪

♪ I HOLD MY ISSUES UP FOR ALL TO SEE LIKE SHOW AND TELL ♪

♪ A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW ME BUT NOT A LOT KNOW ME WELL ♪

♪ HOLD MY ISSUES UP FOR ALL TO SEE LIKE SHOW AND TELL ♪

♪ A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW ME BUT THEY DON'T KNOW ME WELL ♪

♪♪♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
trust /trʌst/ B1	verb - to believe that someone is honest and reliable noun - belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something
respect /rɪˈspekt/ B1	noun - a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements verb - to admire someone or something deeply as a result of their abilities, qualities, or achievements
questions /ˈkwes.tʃənz/ A2	noun - a sentence worded or expressed so as to elicit information verb - ask (someone) questions
people /ˈpiːpl/ A1	noun - human beings in general or considered collectively
love /lʌv/ A1	verb - have a strong feeling of affection for (someone) noun - an intense feeling of affection
vulnerable /ˈvʌlnərəbl/ B2	adjective - susceptible to physical or emotional harm
weak /wiːk/ B1	adjective - lacking the power to perform physically demanding tasks; lacking physical strength and energy
alive /əˈlaɪv/ A2	adjective - living; not dead
die /daɪ/ A1	verb - stop living
lies /laɪz/ B1	noun - a false statement made with deliberate intent to deceive verb - to speak falsely or utter untruth knowingly, as with intent to deceive
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death.
guilty /ˈɡɪlti/ B2	adjective - responsible for doing something bad
wealthy /ˈwelθi/ B2	adjective - having a great deal of money or assets; rich
divided /dɪˈvaɪdɪd/ B2	adjective - separated into parts or pieces
drive /draɪv/ B1	noun - determination and energy to succeed verb - operate and control the direction and speed of a motor vehicle.
great /ɡreɪt/ A2	adjective - of an extent, amount, or intensity considerably above the average.
choice /tʃɔɪs/ A2	noun - an act of selecting or making a decision when faced with two or more possibilities.
emotions /ɪˈmoʊʃənz/ B1	noun - a strong feeling deriving from one's circumstances, mood, or relationships with others.
war /wɔːr/ B1	noun - a state of armed conflict between different countries or different groups within a country.
issues /ˈɪʃuːz/ B1	noun - an important topic or problem for debate or discussion.

Key Grammar Structures

• I DON'T TRUST THE THOUGHTS THAT COME INSIDE MY HEAD

  ➔ Present Simple Tense

  ➔ The phrase uses the present simple tense to express a general truth or habitual action.

• I DON'T WANT NO ONE TO KNOW I'M VULNERABLE

  ➔ Double Negation

  ➔ The use of double negation emphasizes the speaker's desire for privacy regarding their vulnerability.

• I QUESTIONED LIFE LIKE WHO AM I MAN, WHOO

  ➔ Past Simple Tense

  ➔ The past simple tense is used to describe actions or thoughts that occurred in the past.

• I WANNA BE GREAT, BUT I GET IN THE WAY OF MYSELF

  ➔ Conjunctions

  ➔ The conjunction 'but' is used to connect contrasting ideas in the sentence.

• I HOLD MY ISSUES UP FOR ALL TO SEE LIKE SHOW AND TELL

  ➔ Present Simple Passive

  ➔ The present simple passive is used to indicate that the subject is the recipient of the action.

• I DON'T CARE WHAT ANYBODY ELSE THINKS

  ➔ Reported Speech

  ➔ The phrase expresses the speaker's indifference to others' opinions, which can be seen as a form of reported speech.

• I LOVE IT THEN I REALLY HATE IT

  ➔ Contrastive Conjunctions

  ➔ The conjunction 'then' is used to show a contrast between two feelings.