22 – English Lyrics

• By: Lily Allen
• Album: It's Not Me, It's You

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the lyrical depth of Lily Allen's "22" to explore modern English storytelling and colloquialisms. This pop song, rich with narrative, offers a unique window into British culture and societal observations, making it an engaging listen for language learners. Discover how Lily Allen uses relatable themes of youth, aging, and expectations to craft a song that resonates with many, while also sharpening your English comprehension through her distinctive vocal style and witty songwriting.

[English]

When she was twenty-two, the future looked bright

But she's nearly 30 now and she's out every night

I see that look in her face, she's got that look in her eye

She's thinking "how did I get here?" and wondering why

It's sad, but it's true how society says her life is already over

There's nothing to do and there's nothing to say

'Til the man of her dreams comes along

Picks her up and puts her over his shoulder

It seems so unlikely in this day and age

She's got an alright job, but it's not a career

Whenever she thinks about it, it brings her to tears

'Cause all she wants is a boyfriend, she gets one night stands

She's thinking "how did I get here? I'm doing all that I can"

It's sad, but it's true how society says her life is already over

There's nothing to do and there's nothing to say

'Til the man of her dreams comes along

Picks her up and puts her over his shoulder

It seems so unlikely in this day and age

...

It's sad, but it's true how society says her life is already over

There's nothing to do and there's nothing to say

'Til the man of her dreams comes along

Picks her up and puts her over his shoulder

It seems so unlikely in this day and age

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
bright /braɪt/ A1	adjective - giving off a lot of light; full of hope or promise
think /θɪŋk/ A1	verb - to have an opinion or idea about something
society /səˈsaɪəti/ A2	noun - the community of people living in a particular country or region
career /kəˈrɪər/ A2	noun - a job or profession that someone does for a long time
wondering /ˈwʌndərɪŋ/ A2	verb - to think about something with curiosity or doubt
unlikely /ʌnˈlaɪkli/ B1	adjective - not likely to happen or be true
dreams /driːmz/ A1	noun - a series of thoughts, images, or emotions occurring in the mind during sleep; a strongly desired goal
stands /stændz/ A1	verb - to be in an upright position; to endure or tolerate noun - a stall or booth where goods are sold
boyfriend /ˈbɔɪfrɛnd/ A1	noun - a male partner in a romantic relationship
tear /tɪr/ A1	noun - a drop of clear liquid from the eye; a rip or hole in something verb - to pull something apart by force
shoulder /ˈʃoʊldər/ A1	noun - the part of the body between the neck and the arm
age /eɪdʒ/ A1	noun - the number of years someone has lived
along /əˈlɔːŋ/ A1	adverb - forward in the same direction
job /dʒɒb/ A1	noun - a paid position of regular employment
night /naɪt/ A1	noun - the period of darkness between sunset and sunrise

Key Grammar Structures

• When she was twenty-two, the future looked bright

  ➔ Past Perfect (Simple Past)

  ➔ The phrase 'When she was twenty-two' uses the simple past to set a past time frame, while 'looked bright' describes a past state within that frame.

• She's thinking 'how did I get here?' and wondering why

  ➔ Present Continuous with 'be' + -ing

  ➔ 'She's thinking' and 'wondering' use the present continuous to describe actions happening now, emphasizing ongoing thought processes.

• It's sad, but it's true how society says her life is already over

  ➔ Present Simple with 'be'

  ➔ 'It's sad' and 'it's true' use the present simple with 'be' to state facts or general truths, emphasizing permanence.

• There's nothing to do and there's nothing to say

  ➔ Present Simple with 'there be'

  ➔ 'There's nothing to do' uses the present simple with 'there be' to express existence or availability, emphasizing a current state.

• Picks her up and puts her over his shoulder

  ➔ Simple Present (Narrative Use)

  ➔ The verbs 'picks' and 'puts' use the simple present in a narrative context to make the story more vivid and immediate.