(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman – English Lyrics

• By: Aretha Franklin
• Album: Lady Soul

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a soulful journey with Aretha Franklin's iconic "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman." This timeless classic, a cornerstone of soul music, offers a rich tapestry of emotion and powerful lyricism that makes it an excellent song for learning English. Through its heartfelt expressions of self-discovery and empowerment, you can grasp profound vocabulary and idiomatic phrases, while its gospel-infused melody and Franklin's unparalleled vocal delivery provide an immersive cultural experience. Dive into the Queen of Soul's masterpiece and connect with its universal message of authenticity and inner strength.

[English]

Looking out on the morning rain

I used to feel so uninspired

And when I knew I had to face another day

Lord, it made me feel so tired

Before the day I met you, life was so unkind

But you're the key to my peace of mind

'Cause you make me feel

You make me feel

You make me feel like

A natural woman (woman)

When my soul was in the lost and found

You came along to claim it

I didn't know just what was wrong with me

'Til your kiss helped me name it

Now I'm no longer doubtful, of what I'm living for

And if I make you happy I don't need to do more

'Cause you make me feel

You make me feel

You make me feel like

A natural woman (woman)

Oh, baby, what you've done to me (what you've done to me)

You make me feel so good inside (good inside)

And I just want to be, close to you (want to be)

You make me feel so alive

You make me feel

You make me feel

You make me feel like

A natural woman (woman)

You make me feel

You make me feel

You make me feel like a natural woman (woman)

You make me feel

You make me feel

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
rain /reɪn/ A1	noun - water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere verb - to fall as rain
morning /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/ A1	noun - the period of time between sunrise and noon
feel /fiːl/ A1	verb - to experience an emotion or sensation
face /feɪs/ A2	verb - to confront and deal with
tired /ˈtaɪərd/ A2	adjective - in need of sleep or rest; weary
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic matter, including capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death.
unkind /ˌʌnˈkaɪnd/ B2	adjective - lacking in sympathy or understanding; harsh
peace /piːs/ B1	noun - freedom from disturbance; tranquility
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
natural /ˈnætʃərəl/ B1	adjective - existing in or caused by nature; not made or caused by humankind.
woman /ˈwʊmən/ A1	noun - an adult female human being.
soul /soʊl/ B1	noun - the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being or animal, regarded as immortal.
lost /lɔːst/ A2	adjective - unable to be found; no longer possessed
kiss /kɪs/ A2	noun - an act of touching with the lips as a sign of love, greeting, respect, etc. verb - to touch with the lips as a sign of love, greeting, respect, etc.
doubtful /ˈdaʊtfəl/ B2	adjective - feeling uncertainty or lack of conviction.
happy /ˈhæpi/ A1	adjective - feeling or showing pleasure or contentment
alive /əˈlaɪv/ B1	adjective - living, not dead.

Key Grammar Structures

• Looking out on the morning rain

  ➔ Present Participle as Reduced Adverbial Clause

  ➔ The phrase "Looking out" is a reduced adverbial clause. The full clause could be "As I was looking out on the morning rain...", but it's shortened for a more concise expression. It indicates the action happening simultaneously with the feeling of being uninspired.

• I used to feel so uninspired

  ➔ Used to + Infinitive

  ➔ "Used to" expresses a past habit or state that is no longer true in the present. Here, it signifies that the speaker *no longer feels uninspired* after meeting the person she's addressing.

• life was so unkind

  ➔ Past Simple with Adjective Intensifier

  ➔ "So" is used as an intensifier to emphasize the degree to which life was unkind. It strengthens the adjective "unkind."

• But you're the key to my peace of mind

  ➔ Subject Complement (linking verb 'are')

  ➔ "The key to my peace of mind" is a noun phrase that acts as a subject complement. It renames or describes the subject, "you". The linking verb "are" connects the subject and its complement.

• When my soul was in the lost and found

  ➔ Past Simple Passive voice (metaphorical usage)

  ➔ The phrase "was in the lost and found" uses passive voice metaphorically. It doesn't mean the soul was literally a lost item. It expresses a feeling of being lost, abandoned, or without purpose.

• I didn't know just what was wrong with me

  ➔ Embedded Question with 'what'

  ➔ "Just what was wrong with me" is an embedded question acting as the object of the verb "know." The word order changes from question word + auxiliary verb + subject (as in a direct question) to question word + subject + verb.

• Now I'm no longer doubtful, of what I'm living for

  ➔ Prepositional Phrase with 'what' clause

  ➔ The phrase "of what I'm living for" is a prepositional phrase where the object of the preposition "of" is a 'what' clause. The 'what' clause functions as a noun clause and specifies the thing for which the speaker is living.

• And if I make you happy I don't need to do more

  ➔ Conditional Sentence (Zero Conditional in meaning, but with "if")

  ➔ While often considered a first conditional, this sentence expresses a general truth or habitual action (like a zero conditional). The speaker implies that making the other person happy is *always* sufficient. Present Simple in both clauses: If + Present Simple, Present Simple.