Baby

[eternal love]

Hello,everyone.
I am an English learner and I enjoy learning English through listenning to some popular English songs.

However, I often find it is difficult to understand some parts of the lyrics of a song.

For example,the song "Baby" sung by Justin Bieber.
Part of the lyrics:

"Are we an item?girl quit playing.
oh for you I would have done whatever
Like baby,baby,,baby,oh
Like baby ,baby,baby,no”

What do"would have done" "playing"and "like baby" mean?
Does"like baby"mean like a baby crying loudly?
Thank you in advance!

 

[PaulQ]

"playing" = being unreasonable or evasive

"oh for you I would have done whatever" = "oh, I would have done whatever was necessary in order to remain with you"

Does"like baby"mean like a baby crying loudly?

No.
"Like" is a meaningless interjection, "Baby" is a term of affection.

 

[ain'ttranslationfun?]

"playing" = being unreasonable or evasive

"oh for you I would have done whatever" = "oh, I would have done whatever was necessary in order to remain with you"


No.
"Like" is a meaningless interjection, "Baby" is a term of affection.

Or "whatever, like [he can't think of an example, so he repeats the term of affection 'baby']".

 

[pops91710]

Like" is a meaningless interjection

Indeed!

 

[suzi br]

Hello,everyone.
I am an English learner and I enjoy learning English through listenning to some popular English songs.

However, I often find it is difficult to understand some parts of the lyrics of a song.

For example,the song "Baby" sung by Justin Bieber.
Part of the lyrics:"Are we an item?girl quit playing."
"oh for you I would have done whatever"
"Like baby,baby,,baby,oh"
" Like baby ,baby,baby,no"
What do"would have done" "playing"and "like baby" mean?
Does"like baby"mean like a baby crying loudly?
Thank you in advance!

Whilst this is a fun way to learn you can expect some absolutely ridiculous things in lyrics. 😂

Repeating “baby” is common in many pop songs.

 

[dojibear]

I am an English learner and I enjoy learning English through listenning to some popular English songs.

That's a good idea. Just remember that song English lyrics are poetry, so they are not "correct sentences". Grammar rules only apply to prose (non-poetry).

 

[ain'ttranslationfun?]

That's a good idea. Just remember that song English lyrics are poetry, so they are not "correct sentences". Grammar rules only apply to prose (non-poetry).

And even in prose, "non-standard" forms are permitted and called "poetic licence".