Learn English Through Music: 'Espresso' by Sabrina Carpenter

One of the biggest songs of 2024 is "Espresso" by Sabrina Carpenter. You might enjoy dancing to it, but do you understand its lyrics? Let's take a closer look!

(Caution: Some of the lyrics of this song are very informal and impolite, so please read carefully.)

Why is the song called "Espresso"?

This song is about a woman who's made a man fall completely in love with her. She sounds arrogant as she talks about the effect she has on him and how she compares to his ex-girlfriend.

The man is so obsessed that he can't sleep. It's like he drank some espresso with a lot of caffeine, and now he has too much energy to rest!

And just like people can become addicted to the caffeine in coffee, the man has become addicted to the singer.

(To learn all about coffee and caffeine slang, be sure to read our article on it here.)

What do the lyrics mean?

The song begins with the chorus, which is repeated several times.

Now he's thinkin' 'bout me every night, oh

Is it that sweet?

I guess so

Say you can't sleep

Baby, I know

That's that me, espresso

In casual English, speakers often don't pronounce the final "g" on -ing words. That's why "thinking" is "thinkin'."

Also, notice that "about" is shortened to just "'bout." This is very common in songs because rhythm is important, so unimportant parts of words can be removed as long as the meaning is clear.

However, shortening words like this is only appropriate in very informal situations, so be careful when doing it yourself.

Move it up, down, left, right, oh

Switch it up like Nintendo

Say you can't sleep

Baby, I know

That's that me, espresso

The lyrics "move it up, down, left, right" are a reference to moving your body while dancing.

The phrasal verb "switch up" refers to changing or replacing one thing for something else. In this case, it might mean the man wants to replace his girlfriend for someone new!

However, "switch" here is also a reference to the Nintendo Switch, a popular video game console that was released in 2017.

I can't relate

To desperation

My give a f*cks are on vacation

And I got this one boy

And he won't stop calling

When they act this way

I know I got 'em

When you can "relate" to something, it means you can understand it because you have experienced it yourself.

I can relate to them because we've had similar life experiences.

The adjective form is "relatable."

I thought her story was very relatable.

But in the song, the singer does not know what it's like to be desperate for someone, so she cannot relate to the man she is singing about.

This idea is also expressed in the next line: "My give a f*cks are on vacation."

This is very informal English and uses a word generally considered to be rude.

When you "give a f*ck," it means you care or are interested. However, this phrase is mostly used in the negative sense, meaning that someone does not care.

John is one of the most selfish people I've ever met. He doesn't give a f*ck about anyone but himself.

When the singer says, "my give a f*cks are on vacation," she's using the phrase as a noun; it's another way of saying, "I don't care" or "I'm not interested at all."

Too bad your ex don't do it for ya

Walked in and dream came true'd it for ya

Soft skin and I perfumed it for ya

I know I Mountain Dew it for ya

That morning coffee brewed it for ya

One touch and I brand new'd it for ya

When someone or something "does it for you," it means you really like them/it. Again, it's mostly used in the negative sense.

I thought the action scenes were good, but overall, the movie just didn't do it for me.
That restaurant is popular, but the food there doesn't do it for me.

So the line "too bad your ex don't do it for ya" means something like "It's too bad your ex-girlfriend doesn't excite you."

By the way, Mountain Dew is the name of a popular soft drink. "Dew" is pronounced just like "do," so this line is a clever way of saying "I know I do it for you" or "I know you like me."

The phrases "dream came true" and "brand new" are both used like verbs here. This is not common in everyday English, but it's memorable in songs!

A woman with a string wrapped around her finger

I'm working late

'Cause I'm a singer

Oh, he looks so cute

Wrapped around my finger

My twisted humor

Make him laugh so often

My honey bee

Come and get this pollen

When you have someone "wrapped around your finger," it means you have control over them, and they will believe or do anything you say. This term has a negative nuance, but the singer uses it in a playful way. Here's another example:

The dirty politician has his supporters wrapped around his finger.

"Twist" is a verb that means "to change something's shape by bending or turning it."

You have to twist the cap firmly to remove it.

The adjective form "twisted," however, often describes something strange and even a bit evil.

The author is famous for twisted horror stories that have earned him fans around the world.

So the singer has a dark and unusual sense of humor — but it seems the man thinks it's funny!

Finally, the singer compares the man to a bee attracted to pollen, a powder produced by flowers. Again, this suggests that the man is addicted and can't control himself.

Wrap-up

If you want to improve your English, textbooks and lessons aren't the only ways to learn. Listening to music (and watching TV) is a great way to improve your listening ability and to learn useful phrases and vocabulary.

Now the next time you hear "Espresso," you'll know exactly what it means. 🎶 ☕