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I've always wanted to know why in some lyrics, texts or spoken english, people use 'don't' where ir should be 'doesn't'. I guess that (at least in song lyrics) it is a matter of space or rhyme, but I don't know if I'm right.
Is it a languaje deformation or a well written sentence?
I'm waiting for your answers!
PS: As you may have guessed, I'm not a translator =P
Hola Ezequiel:Quote:
Originally Posted by Ezequiel
You are correct. It is improper English which is very, very common in song-writing (at least here in the U.S.)It is a matter of convenience, rhyme and appeal to the audience. People do not seem to like formal English in their songs for some reason and will tolerate outrageous grammar and mis-use of the language.:mad:
Does that happen in other languages? I know that I have had trouble translating some Spanish lyrics which don't always make sense to me.:)
very interesting question, ezequiel, and great answer, vicente!
in my opinion, songs are an expression of feelings mostly, and feelings don't respect rules!!! that's why this happens.
I mostly listen to music with English lyrics, but let me tell you guys there are some mistakes in songs in Spanish too. (I just now remember a song by our Charly García with a grammar mistake: "hoy desperté cantando esta canción que ya fue escrita hace tiempo atrás...": something like "a long time ago before", and we've ALL sung it with passion!!!)
and, vicente, "lyrics that don't make sense"... hmmm... I guess we'll find MANY examples if we try!!! (can you think of some, ezequiel?)
"and, vicente, "lyrics that don't make sense"... hmmm... I guess we'll find MANY examples if we try!!! (can you think of some, ezequiel?)"
Hola lauracipolla:
OK, one of my favorite songs is Mariposa Traiccionera (Mana')
Here is an excerpt:
Mariposa traiccionera, todo se lo lleva el viento
Mariposa no regreso
Ay, mariposa de amor, mi mariposa de amor
Nunca jamas junto a ti
Vuela amor, vuela dolor
Y no regreses a un lado. ...
Would you translate this line. "Don't come back to anywhere or anyplace"?
It doesn't make sense to me. It seems like it should be "No regreses a mi lado"
vicente
good example, vicente... I agree you should expect "no regreses a mi lado"... though "a un lado" could be translated to "to a place" or "to the side" - and none make too much sense either... the thing is you like it, regardless of its accuracy! I insist: feelings don't follow rules and songs are feelings put into words and accompanied by the music!
maybe us "language freaks" should not mess with songs! just let our minds flow and our hearts sing them along without analyzing the grammar...
;)
feelings don't follow rules and songs are feelings put into words and accompanied by the music!
I agree with you 100% lauracipolla. We certainly should enjoy the music and not be too critical of the lyrics. I sincerely do enjoy the song, but it's a favorite, and that is the problem. I like to sing (to myself, of course,ajajaj) and when I'm singing or talking to myself I prefer to make sense:D
I think that if the song were in English I would know what they intended the line to mean but in Spanish I do not yet have the capability to translate and understand Spanish as well as you do.
Thanks,:)
vicente
Hi Exe, I think this is like the rappers including like a dozen negatives in one sentence:
There ain't nothing he don't know.
This is done in Spanish bakalá songs too. Or Puerto Rican slang.
Thank you all for your answers!!!
I agree with Laura when she says that 'feelings don't follow rules' when it comes to songs. When I sing I really don't care much about the song making sense =P.
In fact, I guess very few people care about languaje, and not only in the US... I remember this small British band that sang 'She's got a ticket to ride, and she don't care' and sold a couple of records anyway...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ezequiel
Your comment about the Beatles made me start thinking and I have to admit that in spite of what I said earlier I have liked a lot of songs that made no sense at all. I've liked Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel and plenty of others whose lyrics were totally non-sensical.:o
Vicente, I sing out loud a lot and talk to myself from time to time... and of course I'd rather make sense than not! But come on, admit it... haven't you ever sung anything silly that you just created out of nothing...?Quote:
Originally Posted by vicente
(Is that just me???):rolleyes:
laura
Quote:
Originally Posted by lauracipolla
Está bien, Laura!:) Ya que confesas tú, lo admitaré:D
vicente
:D Luara sings a lot a loud
I don't know if it makes her proud
but tock the tick:(
and tick the tock
I hope she makes sense quickly fast
welcome to the human race kid! We all try to do the same.
leslie:D
Personally, I think most lyrics don't make sense...
I always find particularly "non sensical" the songs by a group called Los redondos, here's a bit:
Voy a bailar el rock del rico Luna Park
y atomizar la butaca y brillar
como mi héroe la gran bestia pop
Mi heroe es la gran bestia pop
que enciende en sueños la vigilia
y antes que cuente diez dormirá
A brillar mi amor
vamos a brillar mi amor
Is it just me, or this doesn't make any sense??
And I always thought that some singers don't follow grammar rules because it's a way of...well, being against the rules!
I hear you Veronica!!Quote:
Originally Posted by Veronica
But think about it, some of the great songs in history would sound just plain silly if they used proper grammar....not to mention being casi imposible to make rhyme...like all the songs with "ain't", ("Ain't That a Shame" by Fats Domino is just not going to fly if it's titled "Isn't that a Shame")
I also think that most pop, rock, etc., is written for the audience, younger people mainly and is written in everyday language, using bad grammar, slang, etc., just like most people do.:)
Clearly some artists just write what ever comes into their heads that rhymes and fits the music. I love Bob Dylan but never understood half of what he wrote (even though I tried to sing along:p ). He probably laughs when people try to decypher his lyrics since he probably didn't know himself when he wrote them.
And some songs, I'm convinced, are written while the writer is under the heavy influence of mind-altering substances!:D
vicente
Even though Rappers were mentioned in this set of posts no one addressed the fact the use of "don't" instead of "doesn't" is common African American English (AAE is sometimes called Ebonics). AAE is very common in lyrics written by African American artists and by many imitating thier style (such as the Beatles who admitted being strongly influended by African American blues artists). Here is a link (one of many) if you're interested in AAE: http://www.cal.org/topics/dialects/aae.html
Joel
:D :D Thanks Verónica!! I thought it was just me who couldn't understand it!!! and many others...Quote:
Originally Posted by Veronica
Sometimes I think it depends on the writer's mood... or state of mind!!:D
Dear Ezequiel :Quote:
Originally Posted by Ezequiel
Just a few days ago, I was having a conversation with a 65-year-old man who is from New York. As we moved forward in our talk , he said "he don't read that part of the book I've been suggesting him.." -Right away, I broke in on the point he was making, and said " he don't ?". Immediately, he corrected himself and said "he doesn't ".
I've been told that this way in which some U.S.-people express themselves by avoiding a formal English, is because somehow they get tired of getting into grammatical specifications of the language. It is only used in spoken English, and of course, they are aware that it is quite incorrect.
At the beginning, I thought this was just another way for us English learners to find another pitfall in the learning process. However, we Spanish speakers have our own « indecipherable » words and sentences which sometimes give a little trouble to those who learn our language.
Languages..languages...
Regards,
seeker50.