Ain't Nobody by Chaka Khan — ESL Song Worksheet

AIN'TNOBODY

× Chaka Khan · 1983 ×

Listen carefully and fill in the missing words.

    Verse 1
Captured effortlessly
That's the way it was
Happened so (1)
Did not know it was (2)
The next thing I felt was you
Holdin' me (3)
What was I gonna do?
I let myself go

Pre-Chorus
And now we're flyin' through the stars
I hope this night will last (4)

Verse 2
I've been (5) for you
It's been so (6)
I knew just what I would do
When I heard your song
You filled my heart with a (7)
You gave me (8)
You knew I could not resist
I needed someone

Pre-Chorus
And now we're flyin' through the stars
I hope this night will last forever

Chorus
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Ain't nobody (nobody)
Loves me better (loves me better)
Makes me happy
Makes me feel this way (nobody)
Ain't nobody (ain't nobody)
Loves me better, than you

Verse 3
I wait for night time to come
To bring you to me
I can't believe I'm the one
I was so (9)
I feel like no one could feel
I must be (10)
I want this dream to be (11)
I need this feelin'

Pre-Chorus
I make my wish upon a star
And hope this night will last forever

[Chorus × 2]

Bridge
At first you put your arms around me
Then you put your charms around me
I can't resist this sweet surrender
Oh, my nights are warm and (12)
We stare into each other's eyes
And what we see is no surprise
Got a feelin' most would (13)
And a love so deep we cannot (14)

[Chorus — to end]
  

Ain't Nobody

Chaka Khan · 1983

Song Worksheets

Synonym Swap

Replace each underlined word with a synonym from the box. Then rewrite your favourite line using the new word.

1. Captured →

2. resist →

3. tender →

4. surrender →

5. treasure →

6. freedom →

Genre Swap

Imagine 'Ain't Nobody' is NOT a funk-soul song. Choose a completely different genre and rewrite at least two lines from the chorus or bridge to match that genre's style, language, and mood.

Choose a genre: country · hip-hop · heavy metal · reggae · opera · punk rock

Think about: How does the language change? Does the emotion feel the same or different? Write your two lines below, then name your chosen genre.

Did you know?

Read these facts about the song. Which one surprises you most?

🎵Ain't Nobody was originally recorded by the American funk band Rufus featuring Chaka Khan in 1983. It appeared on their album 'Stompin' at the Savoy' and became one of the most recognised love songs of the decade, topping the R&B charts in the United States.
⭐Chaka Khan, born Yvette Marie Stevens in 1953 in Chicago, Illinois, adopted her stage name as a teenager. She joined Rufus in 1972 and quickly became the lead voice that defined the group's sound, blending funk, soul, and R&B into a style entirely her own.
🎸The song experienced a massive revival in 2015 when British singer Jasmine Thompson recorded a stripped-back acoustic cover. It was used in a popular UK television advertisement and reached the top ten in several European countries, introducing the track to an entirely new generation of listeners.
📀Chaka Khan has won ten Grammy Awards throughout her career, earning the nickname 'Queen of Funk'. She has collaborated with artists across nearly every genre, including Prince, Stevie Wonder, and Quincy Jones, demonstrating a vocal range and versatility that few artists in popular music have ever matched.
🎤Ain't Nobody uses a musical technique called syncopation, where the rhythm deliberately falls on unexpected beats to create a sense of movement and excitement. This technique is central to funk music and gives the song its distinctive, irresistible groove that makes it almost impossible not to move to.

Discussion & analysis

Discuss each question with your partner.

1The singer describes falling in love as something that happened 'effortlessly' and 'naturally'. Do you think real love ever feels that easy, or is effort always part of it?
2The chorus repeats 'Ain't nobody loves me better' many times. Why do you think repetition is such a powerful tool in love songs? What effect does it have on the listener?

3Have you ever felt the way the singer describes — like you were 'flyin' through the stars' because of another person? What made that moment feel so special?
4The bridge says their love is 'so deep we cannot measure'. Is it possible to measure how much you love someone, or is love always beyond description?

🥁 Play It! — Tap the Beat

A student taps the rhythm of a song on the desk — or hums the melody. No words. Class tries to identify the song. First correct guess wins a point for their team.