Knew Better / Forever Boy – English Lyrics

• By: Ariana Grande
• Album: Dangerous Woman

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the world of modern English R&B with Ariana Grande's 'Knew Better / Forever Boy'. This song is perfect for learners wanting to master conversational idioms regarding relationships and emotional contradictions, all delivered through some of the most precise vocal phrasing in contemporary pop music.

[English]

Say you could turn me on

Boy, but that's about it

You could say what you wanna

But I wouldn't believe it

You could write all them songs

That's the game that you play

Tryna right all them wrongs

But you can't make me stay

'Cause I see right through you, boy

(And I) I (ain't feelin' you no more)

I ain't feelin' you no more, ain't feelin' you no more

If you knew better

Boy, you would do better

Can't nobody love you like I do

Baby, I could do better

Boy, if you knew better

You would do better

Baby, if you love me like I love you

Maybe we could be together

'Cause ain't nobody like me (ain't nobody like me)

Ain't nobody like me (ain't nobody like me)

Ain't nobody like me

Ain't nobody like me, ay

Ain't nobody like me

Ain't nobody like me

Ain't nobody like me

Ain't nobody like me, baby

...

Mm, uh

Ah

Never been with a boy more than six months

I couldn't do it

Got too used to it, uh

Ain't nobody ever kept my attention

They couldn't do it

Yeah, boy, they blew it

But you showed me what it means

To be happy ever after

In love forever

And you gave me the key

To all your love and all your pleasure

Boy, I'm a treasure (uh)

Oh, whoa

Be forever mine

You and I

Oh, whoa

Be forever mine

Boy, all the time

You're my forever boy

You're my forever boy

You're my forever boy

You're my forever boy

Been friends for a minute

So you know just what I like

You know my mind, uh

Even seen boys come and go

So you know what makes me cry

See, you're the one that treat me right

But you showed me what it means

To be happy ever after

In love forever

And you gave me the key

To all your love and all your pleasure

Boy, I'm a treasure (uh)

Oh, whoa

Be forever mine

You and I

Oh, whoa

Be forever mine

Boy, all the time

Oh, whoa

Mine, time

Oh, whoa

Mine, time

You're my forever boy

You're my forever boy

You're my forever boy

You're my forever boy

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
believe /bɪˈliːv/ A2	verb - To accept that something is true or exists.
wrongs /rɔŋz/ B1	noun - Unjust, dishonest, or immoral acts.
attention /əˈtɛnʃən/ A2	noun - The act of focusing one's mind on something.
blew /bluː/ B1	verb - To fail or ruin an opportunity (slang).
happy /ˈhæpi/ A1	adjective - Feeling or showing pleasure or contentment.
forever /fəˈrɛvər/ A2	adverb - For all future time; for always.
pleasure /ˈplɛʒər/ B1	noun - A feeling of happy satisfaction and enjoyment.
treasure /ˈtrɛʒər/ B1	noun - A very valuable or precious person.
minute /ˈmɪnɪt/ A1	noun - A short period of time.
treat /triːt/ B1	verb - To behave towards someone in a particular way.

Key Grammar Structures

• You could say what you wanna / But I wouldn't believe it

  ➔ Second Conditional (Hypothetical situations)

  ➔ The structure "wouldn't believe" is used to express a hypothetical reaction to a situation that hasn't happened.

• If you knew better / Boy, you would do better

  ➔ Mixed/Standard Second Conditional

  ➔ Using "If + past simple" and "would + base verb" to talk about unlikely or imagined present/future conditions.

• Never been with a boy more than six months

  ➔ Present Perfect Tense

  ➔ The phrase "Never been" indicates an experience up to the present moment.

• Ain't nobody ever kept my attention

  ➔ Double negative / Colloquial emphatic negative

  ➔ "Ain't nobody" is a non-standard form used for emphasis in song lyrics and informal English.

• But you showed me what it means

  ➔ Noun Clause as Object

  ➔ The clause "what it means" acts as the object of the verb "showed".

• You're my forever boy

  ➔ Adjective usage for modification

  ➔ Here, "forever" is used as an adjective modifying the noun "boy".

• So you know just what I like

  ➔ Relative Clause / Nominal Clause

  ➔ "what I like" functions as a noun phrase referring to the things the speaker enjoys.

• You're the one that treat me right

  ➔ Relative Clause (Defining)

  ➔ "that treat me right" defines exactly which person is being discussed.