'Rehab' by Amy Winehouse

Many of you will have heard by now of the sad death of British singer Amy Winehouse, who was found dead in her London apartment yesterday. She was only 27 years old. Her life recently had been a struggle with drugs and alcohol. So sad.

Here is her most famous song, 'Rehab'. 'Rehab' is a kind of hospital/prison you go to when you want to get treatment for drugs and alcohol problems, or when the judge sends you there for drug related crimes. As you know, Amy Winehouse had some problems with the law about her alcohol and drug problems.

They tried to make me go to rehab, I said, "No, no, no"
Yes, I've been black but when I come back you'll know, know, know
I ain't got the time and if my daddy thinks I'm fine
He's tried to make me go to rehab, I won't go, go, go

I'd rather be at home with Ray
I ain't got seventeen days
'Cause there's nothing, there's nothing you can teach me
That I can't learn from Mr. Hathaway

I didn't get a lot in class
But I know we don't come in a shot glass

They tried to make me go to rehab, I said, "No, no, no"
Yes, I've been black but when I come back you'll know know know
I ain't got the time and if my daddy thinks I'm fine
He's tried to make me go to rehab, I won't go, go, go

The man said, "Why do you think you here?"
I said, "I got no idea"
I'm gonna, I'm gonna lose my baby
So I always keep a bottle near

He said, "I just think you're depressed
Kiss me, yeah baby and go rest"

They tried to make me go to rehab, I said, "No, no, no"
Yes, I've been black but when I come back you'll know, know, know

I don't ever wanna drink again
I just, ooh, I just need a friend
I'm not gonna spend ten weeks
Have everyone think I'm on the mend

And it's not just my pride
It's just 'til these tears have dried

They tried to make me go to rehab, I said, "No, no, no"
Yes, I've been black but when I come back you'll know, know, know
I ain't got the time and if my daddy thinks I'm fine
He's tried to make me go to rehab, I won't go, go, go


Vocabulary:
I've been black = I've been bad, I've been depressed
I ain't = I haven't (this is slang, common in US and UK English)
my daddy = my boyfriend (also slang)
seventeen days = ten weeks this is how long the punishment in rehab lasts
Mr Hathaway =  Donny Hathaway, an American blues musician who committed suicide in 1979
we don't come in a shot glass = a shot glass is a small glass used for serving very strong alcohol, like vodka or whisky. This is slang and it means that she cannot compare herself to a small glass, but to a big glass
the man said = the man means the judge
ten weeks =  ten weeks in rehab, longer than seventeen days
be on the mend = getting better, recovering your health