Breakin' Dishes – English Lyrics

• By: Rihanna

Lyrics & Translation

[English]

Ow-ow (ow-ow)

Ow-ow (ow-ow)

Ow-ow (ow-ow-ow)

I don't know who you think I am

I don't know who you think I am

I don't know who you think I am

I don't know who you think I am, am, am, am, am, am, am, am, am (ow)

He been gone (g-g-gone) since 3:30 (3:30)

Been comin' home lately at 3:30 (3:30)

I'm super cool, I've been a fool

But now I'm hot and baby, you gon' get it

Now I ain't trippin', I, I ain't twisted, I

I ain't demented, huh, well, just a lil' bit, huh

I'm kickin'-, I'm takin' names

I'm on flame, don't come home, babe

I'm breakin' dishes up in here, all night (uh-huh)

I ain't gon' stop until I see police lights (uh-huh)

I'ma fight a man tonight, I'ma fight a man tonight

I'ma fight a man, a man, a ma-e-a-a-an

A man, a man, a ma-e-a-a-an, oh

I'm still waitin', come through the door

I'm killin' time, you know, bleachin' your clothes

I'm roastin' marshmallows on the fire

And what I'm burnin', ah, is your attire

I'm gettin' restless, I'm gettin' tested

And I can't believe he's always out every night and never checks in

Is he cheatin'? Man, I don't know

I'm lookin' 'round for somethin' else to throw

I'm breakin' dishes up in here, all night (uh-huh)

I ain't gon' stop until I see police lights (uh-huh)

I'ma fight a man tonight, I'ma fight a man tonight

I'ma fight a man, a man, a ma-e-a-a-an

A man, a man, a ma-e-a-a-an, oh

...

(Ah) I don't know who you think I am (I don't know who you think I am)

But I really don't give a damn right now

(Ah) if you don't come, I'ma huff and puff

And blow this, blow this, oh, blow this, blow this

I'ma blow this, blow this, oh, blow this, blow this

I'ma blow this, blow this, oh, blow this house, house down

Dishes, breakin' dishes, breakin' dishes

I'm breakin' dishes up in here, all night (uh-huh)

I ain't gon' stop until I see police lights (uh-huh)

I'ma fight a man tonight, I'ma fight a man tonight

I'ma fight a man, a man, a ma-e-a-a-an

A man, a man, a ma-e-a-a-an

Fight a man, a man, a ma-e-a-a-an

A man, a man, a ma-e-a-a-an

Breakin', breakin', breakin', breakin' (dishes, dishes, dishes)

Breakin', breakin', breakin', breakin' (dishes, dishes, dishes)

Breakin', breakin', breakin', breakin' (dishes, dishes, dishes)

Breakin', breakin', breakin', breakin' (dishes, dishes, dishes)

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
breakin' /ˈbreɪkɪn/ A2	verb - to separate into pieces as a result of force
fight /faɪt/ A2	verb - to take part in a physical fight noun - a physical fight
cool /kuːl/ A2	adjective - fashionable and attractive
hot /hɒt/ A2	adjective - having a high temperature adjective - sexually attractive
burn /bɜːrn/ B1	verb - to be on fire
restless /ˈrestləs/ B1	adjective - unable to rest or relax
tested /ˈtestɪd/ B1	verb - to try someone's patience or endurance
cheatin' /ˈtʃiːtɪn/ B1	verb - to act dishonestly or unfairly in order to gain an advantage
damn /dæm/ B2	interjection - used to express anger or frustration
demented /dɪˈmentɪd/ B2	adjective - mad or insane
roastin' /ˈroʊstɪn/ B2	verb - to cook by exposure to radiant heat
attire /əˈtaɪər/ C1	noun - clothing
police /pəˈliːs/ B1	noun - the official force responsible for maintaining order
blow /bloʊ/ A1	verb - to expel air from the lungs verb - to destroy
waitin' /ˈweɪtɪn/ A1	verb - to remain inactive in expectation

Key Grammar Structures

• I don't know who you think I am

  ➔ Embedded/Indirect Question

  ➔ An embedded question is a question that is part of a larger sentence, often following verbs like "know," "wonder," or "ask." The word order in the embedded question is subject-verb, not inverted like a direct question (e.g., "who you think I am" instead of "who do you think I am?").

• He been gone (g-g-gone) since 3:30

  ➔ Informal Present Perfect Simple (reduced auxiliary)

  ➔ In informal English, especially in spoken language, the auxiliary verb "has" or "have" can be omitted before "been" when forming the Present Perfect Simple, particularly when referring to a state that started in the past and continues to the present (e.g., "He been gone" instead of "He has been gone").

• Been comin' home lately at 3:30

  ➔ Informal Present Perfect Continuous (reduced auxiliary)

  ➔ Similar to the Present Perfect Simple, the auxiliary "has" or "have" is informally omitted before "been" in the Present Perfect Continuous. This tense emphasizes an action that started in the past, has been ongoing, and may still be continuing or has recently stopped, often with time adverbs like "lately" or "recently" (e.g., "Been comin'" instead of "He has been coming").

• But now I'm hot and baby, you gon' get it

  ➔ Informal "Going to" Future ("gon'")

  ➔ "Gon'" is a common colloquial contraction of "going to." It is used to express future intentions, predictions, or consequences, often with a strong sense of certainty or immediate action. This usage is very common in informal speech and song lyrics.

• I'm breakin' dishes up in here, all night

  ➔ Present Continuous for an ongoing, intense, or deliberate action

  ➔ While the Present Continuous typically describes actions happening at the moment of speaking, it can also emphasize an ongoing, deliberate, or emotionally charged action over a period, especially when combined with phrases like "all night." It conveys a strong sense of the speaker's current state and intent.

• I ain't gon' stop until I see police lights

  ➔ Informal Negation ("ain't") + "Until" Clause

  ➔ "Ain't" is a very informal contraction used for "am not," "is not," "are not," "has not," and "have not." It's common in casual speech and song lyrics. The "until" clause specifies the point in time or condition that will stop the main action.

• I'ma fight a man tonight

  ➔ Informal "I'm going to" ("I'ma")

  ➔ "I'ma" is a colloquial contraction of "I'm going to." It expresses a strong intention or a definite future plan, often with an emotional tone, and is commonly found in informal speech and song lyrics.

• I'm killin' time, you know, bleachin' your clothes

  ➔ Present Participle as a descriptive/simultaneous action

  ➔ The present participle (verb + -ing) "bleachin'" (bleaching) is used here to describe an action that is happening simultaneously with the main verb's action ("killin' time"). It adds detail or context to what the speaker is doing while waiting.

• I can't believe he's always out every night and never checks in

  ➔ "Always" with Present Simple for habitual actions + Phrasal Verb

  ➔ The adverb "always" is used with the Present Simple tense to describe actions that happen regularly or are habitual, often implying a sense of annoyance or criticism here. "Checks in" is a phrasal verb meaning to report one's presence or status, or to make contact.

• If you don't come, I'ma huff and puff

  ➔ First Conditional

  ➔ The First Conditional describes a real or very likely situation in the future (if + present simple) and its probable result (will / 'm going to + base verb). Here, "I'ma huff and puff" uses the informal 'going to' form for the result.