2085 – English Lyrics

• By: AJR
• Album: The Maybe Man

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a powerful tool, and AJR's “2085” offers a rich landscape of emotive and narrative-driven lyrics. The song's introspective nature and clear storytelling provide an excellent opportunity to explore vocabulary related to life, regret, and self-discovery. The dynamic shifts in the music also mirror the emotional journey of the lyrics, making it a compelling and memorable way to engage with the English language.

[English]

(You work hard for now)

(Just now, just now)

(You work hard for now)

(Just now, just now)

If somebody told me, I'd die at 40

I wouldn't have spent my time in bed

Writin' my dumb songs, and my growin'-up songs

I should've just grown up instead

(You work hard for now)

(Just now, just now)

Now all of the interns are no longer interns

How long have I been out of town?

'Cause sometimes I wonder if I had kissed her

How different life would be right now

I smile when I cry to hide what I felt

"I'm doin' fine," speak for yourself

I should've just asked for help

Hey

It's 2085 and we're old as shit

Whatever

Hey

I'd hate to have to die 'fore I get my head together

Whatever

(You work hard for now)

(Just now, just now)

So finish your work now, it's gettin' warm out

If you got friends, don't let them leave

I turned 20-somethin', it didn't mean nothin'

'Cause not one of them were there to see

(You work hard for now)

(Just now, just now)

And go tell your grandson to go tell his grandson

You don't have to try so hard, you know

'Cause I spent my whole life tryna be so liked

That only made 'em hate me more

Did I make you proud? Did I screw this up?

Sing with me loud, it's all that I've got

To know if I did or not

(Okay, okay)

Hey

It's 2085 and we're old as shit

Whatever

Hey

I'd hate to have to die 'fore I get my head together

Together, together

Whatever

(You work hard for now)

(Just now, just now) whatever

(You work hard for now)

(Just now, just now) whatever

...

Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh

You gotta get better, you're all that I've got

Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh

Don't take forever, you're not here for long

Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ah-ah-ah-ah

You gotta get better, you're all that I've got

Ah-ah-ah-ah

I wish I was me, whoever that is

I could just be and not give a shit

Hey, I'll be whatever makes you a fan

'Cause I don't know who the hell I am

I think it's too late to figure this out

If I could be me, I would've been it by now

Maybe I'm a stone, or big as my house

It looks like our time is runnin' out

So if this is me, then I'll do my best

I'll take all the shit, so you'll never have to

You can be you, and I'll be the rest

Yeah, maybe that's who the hell I am

Ah-ah-ah-ah, oh-oh-oh-oh

You gotta get better, you're all that I've got

Ah-ah-ah-ah, oh-oh-oh-oh

Don't take forever, you're not here for long

Da-da-da-da, da-da-da-da

You gotta get better, you're all that I've got

Da-da-da-da, da-da-da-da

But don't take forever, you're not here for long

Mm-mm-mm-mm, mm-mm-mm-mm

I gotta get better, I'm all that I've got

Mm-mm-mm-mm, mm-mm-mm-mm

For two or three minutes, then I'm gone

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
die /daɪ/ B1	verb - to stop living
spend /spɛnd/ A2	verb - to use money to buy something; to use time
songs /sɔŋz/ A1	noun - pieces of music with words that are sung
wonder /ˈwʌndər/ B1	verb - to think about something with curiosity or doubt
different /ˈdɪfərənt/ A2	adjective - not the same as something or someone else
smile /smaɪl/ A1	verb - to make a happy expression with your mouth
cry /kraɪ/ A2	verb - to produce tears from your eyes, usually because you are sad or in pain
help /hɛlp/ A1	verb - to make it easier for someone to do something by doing part of the work
friends /frɛndz/ A1	noun - people you like and enjoy being with
proud /praʊd/ B1	adjective - feeling pleased and satisfied about something you have done or something you own
loud /laʊd/ A2	adjective - making a lot of noise
better /ˈbɛtər/ A1	adjective - of a higher standard or more suitable
wish /wɪʃ/ A2	verb - to want something to happen or to be true
figure /ˈfɪɡjər/ B1	verb - to think or decide that something is true
running /ˈrʌnɪŋ/ A1	verb - moving quickly on foot
shit /ʃɪt/ C1	noun - something of poor quality; nonsense; excrement (vulgar)
fan /fæn/ A2	noun - a person who admires and supports a person, sport, team, etc.
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - the continuous passage of existence in which events occur
house /haʊs/ A1	noun - a building where people live