What You Need – English Lyrics

• By: Tems

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the rhythmic world of Tems with 'What You Need.' This song is a perfect gateway to learning contemporary Nigerian English and soulful phrasing, offering a masterclass in how melody and emotive delivery can convey deep self-assurance.

[English]

Hm

Okay now, sometimes

You find yourself in two ways

Yeah, yeah, yeah, sometimes

Your love, it feels divided

Yeah, mm

And my answer

My answer is to pull out

Your love is like an endless sea

It won't lead me to anywhere

But I'm so confused

To all the pain and suffering

You still wanna stay with me

I'm tired of this crisis

'Cause I feel like I'm in the dark

I'm not what you need

I'm not what you need

I'm not what you need

Get away from me

I'm not what you need

I'm not what you need

I'm not what you need, oh

I need to be alone now, I need to be alone

Your love is not my lifeline, your love is not my home

Returning you, you're not mine, to me, you don't belong

I'm better on my own, you're better when you're gone

And I'm so confused

To all the pain and suffering

You still wanna stay with me

I'm done with all this crisis

And I'm finally out the dark

I'm not what you need

I'm not what you need

I'm not what you need

Get away from me (I'm not what you need)

I'm not what you need (I'm not what you need)

I'm not what you need (I'm not what you need)

I'm not what you need (I'm not what you need)

I'm not what you need (I'm not what you need)

I'm not what you need (I'm not what you need)

I'm not what you need (I'm not what you need)

I'm not what you need (I'm not what you need)

Oh (I'm not what you need)

I'm not what you need (I'm not what you need)

Get away from me (I'm not what you need)

I'm not what you need

I'm not what you need (why are you needy?)

I'm not what you need (why are you needy?)

I'm not what you need (why are you needy?)

I'm not what you need (why are you needy?)

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
divided /dɪˈvaɪdɪd/ B1	adjective - separated into parts or portions
endless /ˈendləs/ B2	adjective - having or seeming to have no end or limit
confused /kənˈfjuːzd/ A2	adjective - unable to think clearly; bewildered
pain /peɪn/ A2	noun - physical or mental suffering
suffering /ˈsʌfərɪŋ/ B2	noun - the state of undergoing pain, distress, or hardship
crisis /ˈkraɪsɪs/ B2	noun - a time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger
tired /ˈtaɪərd/ A1	adjective - exhausted or weary of something
lifeline /ˈlaɪflaɪn/ C1	noun - a thing on which someone or something depends
belong /bɪˈlɔːŋ/ B1	verb - to be the property of; to be in the right place
needy /ˈniːdi/ B2	adjective - requiring much attention or emotional support

Key Grammar Structures

• You find yourself in two ways

  ➔ Reflexive pronouns

  ➔ The reflexive pronoun "yourself" is used here because the subject and the object of the verb are the same person.

• Your love is like an endless sea

  ➔ Simile (Comparison with 'like')

  ➔ The word "like" is used to create a direct comparison between 'love' and an 'endless sea'.

• I'm not what you need

  ➔ Noun clause as a subject complement

  ➔ The clause "what you need" functions as the complement following the linking verb "am".

• I need to be alone now

  ➔ Verb + Infinitive (to-infinitive)

  ➔ The verb "need" is followed by the to-infinitive "to be" to express a requirement or desire.

• I'm better on my own

  ➔ Idiomatic expression (on one's own)

  ➔ The phrase "on my own" means independently or without the help or company of others.

• You're better when you're gone

  ➔ Adverbial clause of time (when)

  ➔ The clause "when you're gone" specifies the time frame for the main clause condition.

• And I'm finally out the dark

  ➔ Prepositional phrase of place

  ➔ "out the dark" (colloquially used for 'out of the dark') functions as a prepositional phrase describing state/location.

• Why are you needy?

  ➔ Interrogative sentence

  ➔ This is a direct question using the question word "why" and the inversion of the subject and auxiliary verb "are".