She don't, or she doesn't...

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Pat.

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Jul 23, 2010
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Why do people in the songs sing "she don't" instead of "she doesn't" ? E.g they sing: "she don't want". Shouldn't it be "she doesn't want" (according to rules)?

Here are some examples:

But if she don't love children then we can't party

And she acting like she don't sleep

It makes me a bit confused. I thought that it could be a mistake, but I've listened to several other songs and it still appears.
 
~Not a teacher~


They're using "don't" in songs because it makes the lyrics sound better and smoother. I guess because it only has 1 syllable. It's better than saying She doesn't, especially when a song is after a fast beat or something. And it's informal english. People use it all the time.

Another example - It don't matter.
Try singing Akon's song with "doesn't". "Nobody wanna see us together, but it doesn't matter. No.." It doesn't sound good, aye?
 
Why do people in the songs sing "she don't" instead of "she doesn't" ? E.g they sing: "she don't want". Shouldn't it be "she doesn't want" (according to rules)?

Here are some examples:





It makes me a bit confused. I thought that it could be a mistake, but I've listened to several other songs and it still appears.

********** NOT A TEACHER **********

Hello, Pat.

(1) I agree 100% with Fillet's answer.

(2) I once criticized this kind of "bad" English and a young man told me:

You do not understand. You are an old man. Music uses don't because

it goes better with the rhythm of the music.

(3) But, Pat: please do not ever speak or write that way!!!

Thank you
 
As I've said in many posts before, in song lyrics pretty much anything goes! The writer is more concerned about rhyme and rhythm than grammar!

My favourite example is always:

I Can't Get No Satisfaction

Not only does this use a double negative (can't and no), but it should be "any satisfaction". However, the word "any" doesn't fit the rhythm of the song.
 
As said, don't and no are used to make a better sound. There are two examples from two great and famous songs:

=> David Guetta - Money: She don't care about education; He don't live...

=> Pink Floyd - Another brick in the wall: We don't need no education; we don't need no thought control

Enjoy them :)
 
Well, to my mind it's kinda weird...

Anyways, thank you all for help. It cleared things up.
 
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