yes, and? – English Lyrics

• By: Ariana Grande

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into Ariana Grande's 'yes, and?', a vibrant house-pop track that's more than just a catchy beat—it's a masterclass in self-empowerment and boundary-setting. Through its bold lyrics, you'll learn phrases of self-affirmation and how to confidently dismiss judgment, making it an ideal song for understanding modern English expressions of resilience and personal autonomy.

[English]

[ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]

- OH YEAH REAL EXCLUSIVE.

TYPICAL ARI.

- YOU KNOW I THINK I LIKED HER BETTER

WHEN HER PONYTAIL WAS A FEW CENTIMETERS HIGHER.

- RIGHT, AND I MEAN WHO CARES IF SHE'S HAPPY.

I DON'T WANT HAPPY, I WANT ART. [DING]

- UGH I MISS THE OLD ARI, YOU KNOW THE SINGER.

- YOU DON'T SAY

I HEAR SHE'S STARTING HER OWN ARTISANAL HUMMUS LINE NEXT

- OMG DID SHE REALLY DO THAT?

- WELL I READ IT ON THE INTERNET SO IT MUST BE TRUE.

- WELL IT MUST BE

♪♪♪

[VOCALIZATION]

♪♪♪

♪ IN CASE YOU HAVEN’T NOTICED ♪

♪ WELL, EVERYBODY’S TIRED ♪

♪ AND HEALING FROM SOMEBODY ♪

♪ OR SOMETHING WE DON’T SEE JUST RIGHT ♪

♪ BOY COME ON PUT YOUR LIPSTICK ON ♪

♪ (NO ONE CAN TELL YOU NOTHING) ♪

♪ COME ON AND WALK THIS WAY THROUGH THE FIRE ♪

♪ (DON’T CARE WHAT’S ON THEIR MIND) ♪

♪ AND IF YOU FIND YOURSELF IN A DARK SITUATION JUST ♪

♪ TURN ON YOUR LIGHT AND BE LIKE ♪

♪ “YES, AND?” ♪

♪ SAY THAT SHIT WITH YOUR CHEST AND ♪

♪ BE YOUR OWN FUCKIN BEST FRIEND ♪

♪ SAY THAT SHIT WITH YOUR CHEST ♪

♪ KEEP MOVING LIKE “WHAT’S NEXT?” ♪

♪ “YES, AND?” ♪

♪ NOW I’M SO DONE WITH CARING ♪

♪ WHAT YOU THINK, NO I WON’T HIDE ♪

♪ UNDERNEATH YOUR OWN PROJECTIONS ♪

♪ OR CHANGE MY MOST AUTHENTIC LIFE ♪

♪ BOY COME ON PUT YOUR LIPSTICK ON ♪

♪ (NO ONE CAN TELL YOU NOTHING) ♪

♪ COME ON AND WALK THIS WAY THROUGH THE FIRE ♪

♪ (DON’T CARE WHAT’S ON THEIR MIND) ♪

♪ AND IF YOU FIND YOURSELF IN A DARK SITUATION JUST ♪

♪ TURN ON YOUR LIGHT AND BE LIKE ♪

♪ “YES, AND?” ♪

♪ SAY THAT SHIT WITH YOUR CHEST AND ♪

♪ BE YOUR OWN FUCKIN BEST FRIEND ♪

♪ SAY THAT SHIT WITH YOUR CHEST ♪

♪ KEEP MOVING LIKE “WHAT’S NEXT?” ♪

♪ “YES, AND?” ♪

♪ MY TONGUE IS SACRED, I SPEAK UPON WHAT I LIKE ♪

♪ PROTECTED, SEXY, DISCERNING WITH MY TIME ♪

♪ YOUR ENERGY IS YOURS AND MINE IS MINE ♪

♪ WHAT’S MINE IS MINE ♪

♪ MY FACE IS SITTING I DON’T NEED NO DISGUISE ♪

♪ DON’T COMMENT ON MY BODY, DO NOT REPLY ♪

♪ YOUR BUSINESS IS YOURS AND MINE IS MINE ♪

♪ WHY DO YOU CARE SO MUCH WHOSE I RIDE ♪

♪ WHY? ♪

♪ “YES, AND?” ♪

♪ SAY THAT SHIT WITH YOUR CHEST AND ♪

♪ BE YOUR OWN FUCKIN BEST FRIEND ♪

♪ SAY THAT SHIT WITH YOUR CHEST ♪

♪ KEEP MOVING LIKE “WHAT’S NEXT?” ♪

♪ “YES, AND?” ♪

♪ SAY THAT SHIT WITH YOUR CHEST ♪

♪ AND BE YOUR OWN FUCKIN BEST FRIEND ♪

♪ SAY THAT SHIT WITH YOUR CHEST ♪

♪ KEEP MOVING LIKE “WHAT’S NEXT?” ♪

♪ “YES, AND?” ♪

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
tired /ˈtaɪərd/ A1	adjective - feeling a need to rest or sleep; weary
healing /ˈhiːlɪŋ/ A2	verb - to become well again; to recover noun - the process of becoming well again
lipstick /ˈlɪpstɪk/ A1	noun - a cosmetic in stick form used to color the lips
fire /ˈfaɪər/ A1	noun - the phenomenon of combustion, producing heat and light
light /laɪt/ A1	noun - the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible adjective - not heavy or intense
turn /tɜːrn/ A1	verb - to change direction or position
move /muːv/ A1	verb - to change position or place
authentic /ɔːˈθentɪk/ B1	adjective - real or genuine; not copied or false
discerning /dɪˈsɜːrnɪŋ/ B2	adjective - having or showing good judgment
protected /prəˈtektɪd/ A2	adjective - kept safe from harm or injury
sexy /ˈseksi/ A2	adjective - sexually attractive or exciting
energy /ˈenərdʒi/ A2	noun - the strength and vitality required for sustained physical or mental activity
disguise /dɪsˈɡaɪz/ B1	noun - a means of concealing one's identity verb - to change one's appearance to hide one's identity
comment /ˈkɒment/ A2	verb - to express an opinion or remark
reply /rɪˈplaɪ/ A1	verb - to say or write something in response
care /keər/ A1	verb - to feel concern or interest; to look after
business /ˈbɪznəs/ A1	noun - a person's work or occupation
ride /raɪd/ A1	verb - to sit on and travel on an animal or vehicle

Key Grammar Structures

• I THINK I LIKED HER BETTER WHEN HER PONYTAIL WAS A FEW CENTIMETERS HIGHER.

  ➔ Past Simple vs. Past Continuous with 'when' (for describing a state vs. an action in progress)

  ➔ The sentence compares a past preference (“I liked her better”) – a state, with a specific past condition indicated by "when" (“when her ponytail was a few centimeters higher”). The first part is the main clause in the past simple, while the 'when' clause sets the scene (past simple as well, to indicate a completed action).

• WHO CARES IF SHE'S HAPPY.

  ➔ Embedded question using 'if' (indicating uncertainty/a condition)

  ➔ This sentence uses an embedded question beginning with 'if'. 'If' introduces a clause expressing uncertainty or a condition. It's not a direct question, but a statement containing a question as a part of it. Here, it highlights the speaker's indifference to whether the subject is happy.

• I MISS THE OLD ARI, YOU KNOW, THE SINGER.

  ➔ Appositive (noun phrase clarifying another noun).

  ➔ The phrase "the singer" is an appositive because it clarifies which 'old Ari' the speaker is referring to. It's a noun phrase that renames or provides more information about the preceding noun ('old Ari').

• I HEAR SHE'S STARTING HER OWN ARTISANAL HUMMUS LINE NEXT

  ➔ Present Continuous for future arrangements (plans or intentions)

  ➔ "She's starting" is the present continuous tense used to indicate a future plan. It conveys that the subject has a definite plan to start her own artisanal hummus line.

• IN CASE YOU HAVEN’T NOTICED, WELL, EVERYBODY’S TIRED.

  ➔ Present Perfect Simple (haven't noticed) to emphasize experience up to now and the use of 'everybody' as singular

  ➔ 'Haven't noticed' uses the Present Perfect to indicate that up to this point, the listener may not have been aware of something (everybody's tiredness). 'Everybody' is treated as singular in this sentence.

• BOY COME ON PUT YOUR LIPSTICK ON, (NO ONE CAN TELL YOU NOTHING)

  ➔ Imperative mood (put your lipstick on) and double negative (no one can tell you nothing)

  ➔ "Put your lipstick on" is a command using the imperative mood. "No one can tell you nothing" is an example of a double negative, which although technically incorrect in standard English, is often used in informal speech for emphasis. In this context, it means 'no one can tell you anything'.

• AND IF YOU FIND YOURSELF IN A DARK SITUATION JUST TURN ON YOUR LIGHT AND BE LIKE

  ➔ Conditional sentences (zero or first conditional implication) combined with imperative (Turn on your light and be like)

  ➔ This sentence combines a conditional clause ('If you find yourself in a dark situation') with an imperative clause ('Turn on your light and be like'). It suggests a cause-and-effect relationship: if a certain situation arises, then take a specific action. The 'be like' is an informal way to say 'act like'.

• MY TONGUE IS SACRED, I SPEAK UPON WHAT I LIKE

  ➔ Relative clause using "what" as a fused relative pronoun (functions as both the pronoun and the noun it modifies).

  ➔ The phrase "what I like" functions as a noun clause, the object of the preposition "upon." Here, "what" merges the function of a relative pronoun and a noun, meaning 'the things that'.