7 Years – English Lyrics

• By: Lukas Graham
• Album: Lukas Graham

Lyrics & Translation

This poignant soul-pop song offers a unique opportunity for language learners to engage with a narrative that unfolds across a lifetime, making it relatable and memorable. Its simple yet effective musical arrangement and heartfelt, autobiographical lyrics, which were partly inspired by rap music, provide an honest and progressive look at life's journey and universal themes of family, aspirations, and aging. The song's distinct "folky vibe" and lack of a traditional hook or fixed structure encourage a deeper connection to its evolving story.

[English]

...

Once, I was seven years old, my mama told me

"Go make yourself some friends, or you'll be lonely"

Once, I was seven years old

...

It was a big-big world, but we thought we were bigger

Pushing each other to the limits, we were learning quicker

By 11, smoking herb and drinking burning liquor

Never rich, so we were out to make that steady figure

Once, I was 11 years old, my daddy told me

"Go get yourself a wife, or you'll be lonely"

Once, I was 11 years old

...

I always had that dream like my daddy before me

So I started writing songs, I started writing stories

Something about the glory just always seemed to bore me

'Cause only those I really love will ever really know me

Once, I was 20 years old, my story got told

Before the morning sun, when life was lonely

Once, I was 20 years old (Lukas Graham!)

I only see my goals, I don't believe in failure

'Cause I know the smallest voices, they can make it major

I got my boys with me, at least those in favor

And if we don't meet before I leave, I hope I'll see you later

Once, I was 20 years old, my story got told

I was writing 'bout everything, I saw before me

Once, I was 20 years old

...

Soon, we'll be 30 years old, our songs have been sold

We've traveled around the world, and we're still roaming

Soon, we'll be 30 years old

...

I'm still learning about life, my woman brought children for me

So I can sing them all my songs, and I can tell them stories

Most of my boys are with me, some are still out seeking glory

And some I had to leave behind, my brother, I'm still sorry

Soon, I'll be 60 years old, my daddy got 61

Remember life and then your life becomes a better one

I made a man so happy when I wrote a letter once

I hope my children come and visit, once or twice a month

Soon, I'll be 60 years old, will I think the world is cold?

Or will I have a lot of children who can warm me?

Soon, I'll be 60 years old

...

Soon, I'll be 60 years old, will I think the world is cold?

Or will I have a lot of children who can hold me?

Soon, I'll be 60 years old

...

Once, I was seven years old, my mama told me

"Go make yourself some friends, or you'll be lonely"

Once, I was seven years old

...

Once, I was seven years old

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
friends /frendz/ A1	noun - a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection
lonely /ˈloʊnli/ A2	adjective - sad because one has no friends or company
world /wɜːrld/ A1	noun - the earth, together with all of its countries, people, and natural features
bigger /ˈbɪɡər/ A1	adjective - of considerable size or extent
learning /ˈlɜːrnɪŋ/ A2	verb - to gain or acquire knowledge of or skill in (something) by study, experience, or being taught
burning /ˈbɜːrnɪŋ/ B1	adjective - very hot verb - to produce flames and heat
rich /rɪtʃ/ A2	adjective - having a great deal of money or assets; wealthy
dream /driːm/ A2	noun - a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep verb - to indulge in daydreams or fantasies about something greatly desired.
writing /ˈraɪtɪŋ/ A2	noun - the activity or skill of marking coherent words on paper and composing text verb - mark (paper, etc.) with written words.
stories /ˈstɔːriz/ A2	noun - an account of imaginary or real people and events told for entertainment
glory /ˈɡlɔːri/ B2	noun - high renown or honor won by notable achievements
love /lʌv/ A1	verb - have a strong affection for noun - an intense feeling of deep affection
story /ˈstɔːri/ A2	noun - an account of imaginary or real people and events told for entertainment
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death.
goals /ɡoʊlz/ B1	noun - the object of a person's ambition or effort; an aim or desired result
failure /ˈfeɪljər/ B2	noun - lack of success
voices /ˈvɔɪsɪz/ B1	noun - the sound produced in a person's larynx and uttered through the mouth, as speech or song.
major /ˈmeɪdʒər/ B1	adjective - important, serious, or significant.
songs /sɔːŋz/ A1	noun - a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing
children /ˈtʃɪldrən/ A1	noun - a young human being below the age of puberty or the legal age of majority
cold /koʊld/ A1	adjective - of or at a low or relatively low temperature.

Key Grammar Structures

• Go make yourself some friends, or you'll be lonely

  ➔ Imperative and Conditional Clause

  ➔ "Go" is an imperative verb. "Or" introduces a conditional clause expressing a consequence if the imperative is not followed: if you don't make friends, "you'll be lonely".

• Pushing each other to the limits, we were learning quicker

  ➔ Present Participle as Adverbial of Manner / Reason

  ➔ "Pushing each other to the limits" acts as an adverbial phrase of manner, explaining how they were learning quicker. It describes the way in which the learning was happening.

• Never rich, so we were out to make that steady figure

  ➔ Adjective phrase as adverbial / Result Clause

  ➔ "Never rich" acts as an adverbial phrase, suggesting the reason or context for their action. "So" introduces a result clause. Because they were never rich, they were determined to earn a stable income.

• Something about the glory just always seemed to bore me

  ➔ Use of "Seem" with Infinitive

  ➔ "Seemed to bore" is a construction where "seem" is followed by an infinitive ("to bore"). It indicates an appearance or impression. In this case, it suggests that glory appeared to be boring to the speaker.

• Before the morning sun, when life was lonely

  ➔ Adverbial Phrase of Time + Non-defining Relative Clause

  ➔ "Before the morning sun" is an adverbial phrase indicating when something happened. ", when life was lonely" is a non-defining relative clause, adding extra information about the time period but not essential for identifying it.

• And if we don't meet before I leave, I hope I'll see you later

  ➔ Type 1 Conditional Sentence

  ➔ This is a Type 1 conditional sentence expressing a real possibility. The structure is "If + Present Simple, will + base form". "If we don't meet before I leave" is the conditional clause, and "I hope I'll see you later" is the main clause.

• Remember life and then your life becomes a better one

  ➔ Imperative + Coordinate Clause

  ➔ "Remember life" is an imperative clause (a command or instruction). "And then" connects it to a coordinate clause "your life becomes a better one", showing a sequence or result.