– English Lyrics

Lyrics & Translation

[English]

Well, I haven't been very lucky with my

investments lately.

Investments? Now, I might be able to

help you there.

No, I just as soon check on myself if

you don't mind. Gives me something to

do.

Ah, I can see that you're a shrewd man.

It was nearly £50,000 last year.

£50,000? Well, well,

well, that's incredible.

I was just one number out.

Premium

bonds. That's your investment.

Yes.

Right. Let's get down to business, shall

we?

Yes. Well, I hear that you lend people

money, and I was wondering whether you

could arrange a small loan for me.

Just a moment. I'm afraid there's been a

misunderstanding. I was told that you

were a new customer. I didn't realize

you already had an account with us.

No, I don't. But naturally, if you lent

me the money, I would open an account

with you.

I'd lend you the money to open an

account. If we did that, we'd have the

whole town in here. We had to be very

careful who we lend money to. Any case,

we'd want you to put up some form of

security.

How do you mean?

Well, for example, do you have a house?

Oh, yes. Yes.

Do you know its value?

Not off hand, no. But I could ask the

landlord.

In any case, before we could possibly

open you an account, we should need the

name of two referees.

[Music]

I don't know any referees.

Two people who could vouch for you.

Preferably professional mates.

Oh, there's my doctor and Mr. Webster,

my psychiatrist.

Psychiatrist? You having treatment? No,

that was a long time ago.

I just went to him cuz I thought I was a

failure.

What did he say?

He thought I was too good, Mr. Spencer.

You want me to leave?

There was the general idea.

Well, that's not very fair. You don't

know the first thing about me.

You've no money, no account, no house,

no job. Your only source of income is a

baby that hasn't been born. And your

only reference, a medical man who says

that you're a failure.

That doesn't tell you everything.

It tells me a hell of a lot.

But I got to start somewhere. If I just

had a little capital, I could

Mr. Spencer. The interview is over. Will

you please leave?

I know I'm only one of the little men,

but remember what they say.

Will you get out?

Even the tallest oak tree has to begin

with a small nut.

[Music]

Just think of me as a little nut

who's trying to grow. Then go outside

and grow in somebody else's bank.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
investments ɪnˈvɛst.mənts B1	noun - the action or process of investing money for profit
shrewd ʃruːd B2	adjective - having or showing sharp powers of judgment
incredible ɪnˈkrɛd.ə.bəl A2	adjective - difficult to believe; extraordinary
premium ˈpriː.mi.əm B1	noun - an amount paid or required in advance for a loan or insurance
loan loʊn A2	noun - a thing that is borrowed, especially a sum of money
misunderstanding ˌmɪs.ʌn.dərˈstæn.dɪŋ B1	noun - a failure to understand something correctly
security sɪˈkjʊr.ɪ.ti B1	noun - the state of being free from danger or threat
vouch vaʊtʃ B2	verb - to confirm or guarantee something
psychiatrist saɪˈkaɪ.ə.trɪst B2	noun - a medical doctor who specializes in mental health
treatment ˈtriːt.mənt A2	noun - medical care given to a patient for an illness or injury
failure ˈfeɪl.jər A2	noun - lack of success
capital ˈkæp.ɪ.təl A2	noun - wealth in the form of money or other assets
interview ˈɪn.tər.vjuː A2	noun - a formal meeting for discussion
grow ɡroʊ A1	verb - to develop or increase in size

Key Grammar Structures

• I haven't been very lucky with my investments lately.

  ➔ Present Perfect with 'have been'

  ➔ The phrase 'haven't been very lucky' uses the present perfect continuous to describe an action that started in the past and continues to the present, emphasizing ongoing lack of luck.

• I might be able to help you there.

  ➔ Modal Verb 'might'

  ➔ The modal verb 'might' is used to express possibility or uncertainty, indicating that the speaker is not completely sure about their ability to help.

• I was just one number out.

  ➔ Past Simple with 'was'

  ➔ The phrase 'I was just one number out' uses the past simple to describe a completed action in the past, emphasizing a specific mistake.

• We'd want you to put up some form of security.

  ➔ Conditional with 'would'

  ➔ The conditional 'we'd want' uses 'would' to express a hypothetical situation or a polite request, indicating a condition that must be met.

• Your only source of income is a baby that hasn't been born.

  ➔ Present Perfect with 'hasn't been'

  ➔ The phrase 'hasn't been born' uses the present perfect to describe an action that started in the past and is relevant to the present, emphasizing the unborn status of the baby.