Talkin' Tennessee – English Lyrics

• By: Morgan Wallen
• Album: If I Know Me

Lyrics & Translation

“Talkin' Tennessee” by Morgan Wallen offers a delightful immersion into Southern American English, showcasing authentic country slang and charming colloquialisms. By listening to how Wallen "talks Tennessee," learners can grasp expressions of regional pride and affectionate flirtation, making it a special song for understanding heartfelt communication in a distinctly American Southern style.

[English]

You say those city boys living in those high rise condos

Only left you feeling low

Those little smoke glass fancy cars sure go fast

But never got you where you wanted to go

All I've ever owned is an old seat '72

Cuddled up, get you falling in love on the bench seat

Don't mind me, I'm just talking Tennessee

Girl, don't blame me if I slip and call you baby

That's just my way of letting the lady know she's working on me

There I go letting my south side show whiskey whispering on

Little sweet nothing southernisms, Jack and Seven sipping

Hoping that you're digging on me talking Tennessee

...

...

You say the street lights only ever let you see the skyline

It's been a long time

Since the Milky Way, Jupiter and Venus took your breath away

Yeah like you're taking mine

What you say we grab some tailgate underneath the stars

Catch a few fireflies in a moonshine jar

Don't mind me, I'm just talking Tennessee

Girl, don't blame me if I slip and call you baby

That's just my way of letting the lady know she's working on me

There I go letting my south side show whiskey whispering on

Little sweet nothing southernisms, Jack and Seven sipping

Hoping that you're digging on me talking Tennessee

...

There I go letting my south side show whiskey whispering on

Little sweet nothing southernisms, Jack and Seven sipping

Hoping that you're digging on me talking Tennessee

Talking Tennessee

Talking Tennessee

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
condos /ˈkɑːndoʊz/ B1	noun - plural of condo, a privately owned unit within a larger building with shared amenities.
falling /ˈfɔːlɪŋ/ A2	verb - to begin to love someone.
slip /slɪp/ A2	verb - to unintentionally say or do something.
whispering /ˈwɪspərɪŋ/ B1	verb - speaking very softly using breath rather than vocal cords.
southernisms /ˈsʌðərnɪzəmz/ C1	noun - characteristic features of the Southern United States, especially in language.
sipping /ˈsɪpɪŋ/ A2	verb - drinking something slowly, taking small mouthfuls.
digging /ˈdɪɡɪŋ/ B1	verb - to enjoy or appreciate something.
skyline /ˈskaɪlaɪn/ B1	noun - the outline of buildings and hills against the sky.
tailgate /ˈteɪlɡeɪt/ B1	noun - the social activity of gathering around the tailgate of a vehicle, often at sporting events.
fireflies /ˈfaɪərflaɪz/ B1	noun - small, glowing insects that fly at night.
moonshine /ˈmuːnʃaɪn/ B2	noun - illegally distilled liquor.
Jupiter /ˈdʒuːpɪtər/ B2	noun - a large gas planet in our solar system.
Venus /ˈviːnəs/ B2	noun - a planet in our solar system, often called the 'morning star' or 'evening star'.
breath /breθ/ A2	noun - the air that is inhaled and exhaled in breathing.
sweet /swiːt/ A1	adjective - having a pleasant taste like sugar.

Key Grammar Structures

• You say those city boys living in those high rise condos

  ➔ Present Simple with 'say'

  ➔ The verb 'say' is used in the present simple to describe a habitual action or a general truth.

• Those little smoke glass fancy cars sure go fast

  ➔ Adverb 'sure' for emphasis

  ➔ The adverb 'sure' is used to emphasize the certainty of the statement 'go fast'.

• All I've ever owned is an old seat '72

  ➔ Present Perfect with 'have ever owned'

  ➔ The present perfect with 'have ever owned' is used to describe an action that occurred in the past and has a result that is relevant in the present.

• Girl, don't blame me if I slip and call you baby

  ➔ Conditional sentence Type 1

  ➔ This is a Type 1 conditional sentence, indicating a possible situation and its probable result.

• That's just my way of letting the lady know she's working on me

  ➔ Present Continuous Passive

  ➔ The present continuous passive is used to describe an action that is currently happening to the subject.

• There I go letting my south side show

  ➔ Present Continuous for future action

  ➔ The present continuous is used here to describe a future action that is planned or certain.

• Little sweet nothing southernisms

  ➔ Noun + noun compound

  ➔ This is an example of a noun + noun compound, where two nouns are combined to form a new word with a specific meaning.

• Hoping that you're digging on me

  ➔ Present Continuous after 'hoping'

  ➔ The present continuous is used after 'hoping' to describe an action that is currently happening and is hoped to continue.