Try Again – English Lyrics

• By: Aaliyah
• Album: Romeo Must Die (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language can feel like a challenge, but Aaliyah's “Try Again” offers a smooth and motivating soundtrack for your journey. The song's clear, repetitive chorus, “If at first you don’t succeed, dust yourself off and try again,” is a perfect and encouraging mantra for any language learner. Its blend of futuristic R&B and pop creates a unique soundscape that was ahead of its time, making it a special piece of music history to explore as you learn.

[English]

It's been a long time (long time), we shouldn't have left you (left you)

Without a dope beat to step to, step to, step to, step to

Step to, step to, freaky-freaky

It's been a long time, we shouldn't have left you (left you)

Without a dope beat to step to, step to, step to, step to

Step to, step-step to, freaky-freaky

Baby girl, oh

What would you do to get to me?

What would you say to have your way?

Would you give up or try again

If I hesitated to let you in?

Now would you be yourself or play your role?

Tell all the boys or keep it low

If I say no, would you turn away?

Or play me off, or would you stay? Oh

And if at first you don't succeed (first you don't succeed)

Then dust yourself off and try again

You can dust it off and try again, try again

'Cause if at first you don't succeed (first you don't succeed)

You can dust it off and try again

Dust yourself off and try again, try again (again, again)

I'm into you, you into me

But I can't let it go so easily

Not 'til I see, what this could be

Could be eternity, or just a week

But, yo, our chemistry is off the chain

It's perfect now, but will it change?

This ain't a yes, this ain't a no

Just do your thing, we'll see how it goes

And if at first you don't succeed (first you don't succeed) (yeah)

Then dust yourself off and try again (again)

You can dust it off and try again, try again

'Cause if at first you don't succeed (first you don't succeed) (ooh)

You can dust it off and try again (try again)

Dust yourself off and try again, try again (again, again)

So, you don't wanna throw it all away

I might be shy on the first date, what about the next date

Huh, huh, huh, huh

I said you don't wanna throw it all away

I might be bugging on the first date, what about the next date?

Huh, huh, huh, huh

And if at first you don't succeed (first you don't succeed)

Then dust yourself off and try again

You can dust it off and try again, try again

'Cause if at first you don't succeed (first you don't succeed)

You can dust it off and try again

Dust yourself off and try again, try again (again, again)

And if at first you don't succeed (first you don't succeed) (yeah)

Then dust yourself off and try again (you can)

You can dust it off and try again, try again (again)

'Cause if at first you don't succeed (first you don't succeed) (oh-ooh)

You can dust it off and try again (again)

Dust yourself off and try again, try again (again, again)

And if at first you don't succeed (first you don't succeed)

Then dust yourself off and try again

You can dust it off and try again, try again

'Cause if at first you don't succeed (first you don't succeed) (baby)

You can dust it off and try again (yeah)

Dust yourself off and try again, try again (again, again)

It's been a long time (time), we shouldn't have left you (left you)

Without a dope beat to step to

Step to, step to, step to, step to

Step to, step to, freaky-freaky

It's been a long time, we shouldn't have left you (left you)

Without a dope beat to step to

Step to, step to, step to, step to

Step to, step to, freaky-freaky

And if at first you don't succeed (first you don't succeed)

Then dust yourself off and try again

You can dust it off and try again, try again

'Cause if at first you don't succeed (first you don't succeed)

You can dust it off and try again

Dust yourself off and try again, try again (again, again)

It's been a long time (time), we shouldn't have left you (left you)

Without a dope beat to step to

Step to, step to, step to, step to (what?)

Step to, step to, freaky-freaky

It's been a long time (time), we shouldn't have left you (left you)

Without a dope beat to step to

Step to, step to, step to, step to

Step to, step to, freaky-freaky (we out)

One more again

The new millennium, baby

And we out, you guess who it is

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
leave /liːv/ B1	verb - to go away from a place or person
step /stɛp/ A2	noun - a movement of the foot in walking or running verb - to lift and move your foot in walking
beat /biːt/ A2	noun - a regular pulsation or throb in music or the heart verb - to strike or hit something
try /traɪ/ A2	verb - to attempt to do something
success /səkˈsɛs/ B2	noun - the achievement of a desired result
dust /dʌst/ B1	verb - to remove dust from a surface
try again /traɪ əˈɡɛn/ A2	phrase - to attempt once more
long /lɔːŋ/ A2	adjective - extending a great distance in space or time
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - a measurable period during which an action occurs
try again /traɪ əˈɡɛn/ A2	phrase - to make an attempt once more
say /seɪ/ A2	verb - to utter words
tell /tɛl/ B1	verb - to inform someone of something
mind /maɪnd/ B2	noun - the part of a person that thinks, feels, and perceives

Key Grammar Structures

• What would you do to get to me?

  ➔ Conditional sentences (Type 1)

  ➔ The phrase uses 'would' to express a hypothetical situation.

• If I say no, would you turn away?

  ➔ Conditional sentences (Type 1)

  ➔ This sentence presents a condition and a possible outcome.

• And if at first you don't succeed...

  ➔ Adverbial clauses of condition

  ➔ This clause introduces a condition that affects the main clause.

• You can dust it off and try again.

  ➔ Imperative mood

  ➔ The imperative mood is used to give commands or suggestions.

• I might be shy on the first date.

  ➔ Modal verbs (might)

  ➔ The modal verb 'might' expresses possibility.

• Just do your thing, we'll see how it goes.

  ➔ Future simple tense

  ➔ The future simple tense is used to express actions that will happen.

• It's been a long time.

  ➔ Present perfect tense

  ➔ The present perfect tense is used to indicate an action that occurred at an unspecified time.