Give You What You Like – English Lyrics

• By: Avril Lavigne
• Album: Avril Lavigne

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into Avril Lavigne's "Give You What You Like," a compelling folk-pop track that showcases a more mature side of the artist. Through its raw lyrics and stripped-back production, you can explore nuanced emotional expressions in English, particularly how vulnerability and longing are articulated when discussing complex relationships. This song offers a unique window into conversational English surrounding intimate themes and emotional trade-offs, making it special for language learners interested in depth beyond typical pop songs.

[English]

Please wrap your drunk arms around me

And I'll let you call me yours tonight

'Cause slightly broken's just what I need

And if you give me what I want

Then I'll give you what you like

Please tell me I'm your one and only

Or lie and say at least tonight

I've got a brand new cure for lonely

And if you give me what I want

Then I'll give you what you like

When you turn off the lights

I get stars in my eyes

Is this love?

Maybe someday

So don't turn on the lights

I'll give you what you like

...

Emotions aren't that hard to borrow,(Emotions aren't that hard to borrow)

When love's the word you never learned

(When love's the word you never learned)

And in a room of empty bottles

If you don't give me what I want

Then you'll get what you deserve

When you turn off the lights

I get stars in my eyes

Is this love?

Maybe someday

I've got this scene in my head

I'm not sure how it ends

Is it love?

Maybe one day

So don't turn on the lights

I'll give you what you like

(I'll give you what you like)

...

I'll give you one last chance to hold me

If you give me one last cigarette

But now it's early in the morning

Now that I gave you what you want

All I want is to forget

When you turn off the lights

I get stars in my eyes

Is this love?

Maybe someday

I've got this scene in my head

I'm not sure how it ends

Is it love?

Maybe one day

So don't turn on the lights

I'll give you what you like

(I'll give you what you like)

...

(I'll give what you like)

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
arms /ɑːrmz/ A1	noun - plural of arm: the upper limbs of the human body
drunk /drʌŋk/ B1	adjective - intoxicated with alcohol
broken /ˈbroʊkən/ B1	adjective - having been fractured or damaged
need /niːd/ A1	verb - require (something) because it is essential or very important noun - a thing that is necessary or wanted
want /wɑːnt/ A1	verb - have a desire to possess or do (something) noun - a desire or wish for something
lie /laɪ/ A2	verb - tell a falsehood noun - a false statement made with deliberate intent to deceive
cure /kjʊr/ B1	noun - a substance or treatment that cures a disease or condition verb - relieve (a person or animal) of the symptoms of a disease or condition
lonely /ˈloʊnli/ A2	adjective - sad because one has no friends or company
lights /laɪts/ A1	noun - plural of light: the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible
stars /stɑːrz/ A1	noun - plural of star: a fixed luminous point in the night sky which is a large, remote incandescent body like the sun
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - an intense feeling of affection verb - feel deep affection for (someone)
emotions /ɪˈmoʊʃənz/ B1	noun - plural of emotion: a strong feeling deriving from one's circumstances, mood, or relationships with others
room /ruːm/ A1	noun - a space that is or could be occupied
bottles /ˈbɒtəlz/ A1	noun - plural of bottle: a container, typically made of glass or plastic and with a narrow neck, used for storing liquids
chance /tʃæns/ A2	noun - a possibility of something happening
morning /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/ A1	noun - the period of time between sunrise and noon
forget /fərˈɡet/ A2	verb - fail to remember

Key Grammar Structures

• Please wrap your drunk arms around me And I'll let you call me yours tonight

  ➔ Modal verb "will" (shortened to "'ll") + infinitive for future intention or promise.

  ➔ The phrase "I'll let you call me yours tonight" uses "will" ('ll) to show the singer's intention or agreement for that night.

• If you give me what I want Then I'll give you what you like

  ➔ Conditional sentence type 1 (real or probable condition): "If + present simple, then + will + infinitive".

  ➔ This sentence shows a direct consequence based on a likely condition. "If" a condition is met, "then" a result will follow. This use of conditional sentences is very common.

• I've got a brand new cure for lonely

  ➔ Present perfect simple ("have/has + past participle") used to express a state that started in the past and continues to the present (although the 'time frame' of its start is unstated). "Got" here as colloquial substitute for "have".

  ➔ While technically, "I have got a brand new cure" is correct, "I've got" is a very common, more casual way of saying this. It implies that the speaker has obtained this 'cure' and possesses it now.

• Emotions aren't that hard to borrow

  ➔ Use of the verb "to be" in negative form + adjective + "to" + infinitive. Describing a quality or characteristic.

  ➔ This sentence expresses the idea that "borrowing" emotions isn't a difficult thing to do. The structure emphasizes how easy (or not) something is.

• When love's the word you never learned

  ➔ Relative clause with the relative pronoun omitted. The full clause would be "When love is the word *that* you never learned".

  ➔ The word "that" is often omitted in defining relative clauses, especially in informal speech or writing. It defines 'love' as the specific word not learned.

• If you don't give me what I want Then you'll get what you deserve

  ➔ Conditional sentence type 1 (real or probable condition). Similar to the previous example, but using a negative in the 'if' clause.

  ➔ The use of the negative "don't" in the 'if' clause changes the consequence, but the core structure of the conditional sentence remains the same.

• Now that I gave you what you want All I want is to forget

  ➔ Compound sentence with a subordinate clause introduced by "now that". "Now that" indicates reason/cause. The second part uses the structure "All + I + want + is + to + infinitive" emphasizing a singular desire.

  ➔ "Now that" expresses the causal relationship between giving and the desire to forget. The 'all I want' structure emphasizes the speaker's single, intense wish.