– English Lyrics

Lyrics & Translation

[English]

I'm delighted to be joined by a member of  the Chinese community

as I apologise for using the phrase

Chinese whispers

I appreciate that this is deeply offensive to the Chinese

I completely understand  why they went totally mental

I'm delighted to be joined by a mental health  campaigner

to witness my apology for using the phrase

they've gone mental

I can see some of you

are surprised that I'm apologising

but no

gone are the days when getting an apology out of me was  like

getting a fiver out of an Aberdonian, eh?

I would like to apologise to the largest Aberdonian  community

the Aberdonians

I do understand that Aberdorian feelings

are important

I'm surprised actually that our diversity officer didn't make that clear to me

honestly sometimes around here it's like the blind leading the blind

I would like to apologise to Scotland's blind community

I hear your concerns

and I promise you they will not fall on deaf ears

I would like to apologise

to the deaf community

I would like to say sorry

when I realised what I'd said I honestly had a fit

I apologise unreservedly

to all of the epileptics in Scotland for my use of the word fit

I completely understand why you've got a bee in your bonnet

I would like to apologise to anyone connected  with bees

or the wider bee community

Bees indeed are a vital part of society

I tried my best to get a statement that wouldn't offend anyone

I really did

but do you know when when me and my advisors get together honestly

it's like two bald men fighting over a comb

I would like to apologise to Scotland's bald community

of which I am a member

I would like to apologise and exonerate myself

Chief I'm sorry

Chief you're forgiven

I was particularly pleased with my final apology

because I could apologise and accept the apology

at the same time

I do like to kill two birds with one stone

I would like to apologise to the entire

avian community

for my cruel and insensitive words

I'm sorry

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
delighted dɪˈlaɪtɪd B2	adjective - feeling great pleasure or joy verb (past participle) - to make someone feel great pleasure
Chinese ˈtʃaɪniːz B1	noun - a person from China adjective - relating to China, its people or language
community kəˈmjuːnɪti B1	noun - a group of people living in the same area or sharing interests
apologise əˈpɒlədʒaɪz B1	verb - to express regret for something one has done
phrase freɪz B1	noun - a small group of words forming a unit of meaning
offensive əˈfensɪv B2	adjective - causing someone to feel upset, angry or hurt
mental ˈmentl B2	adjective - relating to the mind; also describing extreme or irrational behaviour
health hɛlθ A2	noun - the state of being free from illness or injury
campaigner kæmˈpeɪnər C1	noun - a person who works to achieve a political or social goal
surprised sərˈpraɪzd B1	adjective - feeling unexpected astonishment
blind blaɪnd A2	adjective - unable to see noun - a person who cannot see
deaf dɛf A2	adjective - unable to hear noun - a person who cannot hear
fit fɪt B1	noun - a sudden onset of a medical seizure or convulsion verb - to be suitable or appropriate
epileptic ˌɛpɪˈlɛptɪk C1	noun - a person who has epilepsy adjective - relating to epilepsy
bonnet ˈbɒnɪt B2	noun - a close-fitting hat, especially one worn by women or children; also a protective head covering for a motorbike rider
vital ˈvaɪtəl B2	adjective - absolutely necessary or essential
exonerate ɪɡˈzɒnəreɪt C1	verb - to officially declare someone free from a blame or fault
forgiven fərˈɡɪvən B2	verb (past participle) - having been pardoned for an offense
cruel kruːəl B2	adjective - willfully causing pain or suffering; heartless
avian ˈeɪviən C1	adjective - relating to birds

Key Grammar Structures

• I would like to apologise to the largest Aberdonian community the Aberdonians.

  ➔ modal verb + infinitive

  ➔ The phrase "**would like to**" is a polite modal construction that is followed by the infinitive "**apologise**".

• I'm delighted to be joined by a member of the Chinese community as I apologise.

  ➔ adjective + infinitive (passive)

  ➔ "**delighted to be joined**" uses the adjective "delighted" followed by the passive infinitive "to be joined".

• I completely understand why they've gone mental.

  ➔ noun clause with why + present perfect

  ➔ "**why they've gone**" is a noun clause introduced by "why" and uses the present perfect "have gone" to refer to a recent change.

• I'm surprised actually that our diversity officer didn't make that clear to me.

  ➔ adjective + that‑clause (subject‑verb inversion)

  ➔ "**surprised ... that**" introduces a that‑clause after the adjective "surprised", showing a subject‑verb inversion inside the clause.

• It's like the blind leading the blind.

  ➔ simile using 'like' + noun phrase

  ➔ "**like**" introduces a simile, comparing the situation to "the blind leading the blind".

• I was particularly pleased with my final apology because I could apologise and accept the apology at the same time.

  ➔ causal clause with because + modal + infinitive

  ➔ "**because I could apologise and accept**" is a causal clause introduced by "because"; "could" is a modal governing the infinitives "apologise" and "accept".

• I do like to kill two birds with one stone.

  ➔ idiom with infinitive

  ➔ "**kill two birds with one stone**" is a fixed idiom; the verb "kill" is in the infinitive after "like to".

• I apologise unreservedly to all of the epileptics in Scotland for my use of the word fit.

  ➔ preposition + gerund (for + noun phrase)

  ➔ "**for my use of**" uses the preposition "for" followed by a gerund phrase "my use of the word fit".