A Thousand Years – English Lyrics

• By: Christina Perri
• Album: The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the vocabulary of eternal romance with 'A Thousand Years.' This slow, heartfelt ballad is perfect for practicing complex emotional vocabulary and idiomatic expressions related to long-lasting love and commitment. Its clear enunciation, gentle pace, and narrative structure make the lyrics easy to follow, helping you grasp how English is used to express deep devotion and vulnerability.

[English]

♪ Heart beats fast ♪

♪ Colors and promises ♪

♪ How to be brave? ♪

♪ How can I love when I'm ♪

♪ afraid to fall ♪

♪ But watching you stand alone ♪

♪ All of my doubt ♪

♪ suddenly goes away somehow ♪

♪ One step closer ♪

♪ I have died every day waiting for you ♪

♪ Darling, don't be afraid, I have loved you ♪

♪ For a thousand years ♪

♪ I'll love you for a thousand more ♪

♪ Time stands still ♪

♪ Beauty in all she is ♪

♪ Every breath ♪

♪ Every hour has come to this ♪

♪ One step closer ♪

♪ I have died every day waiting for you ♪

♪ Darling, don't be afraid, I have loved you ♪

♪ For a thousand years ♪

♪ I'll love you for a thousand more ♪

♪ And all along I believed I would find you ♪

♪ Time has brought your heart to me ♪

♪ I have loved you for a thousand years ♪

♪ I'll love you for a thousand more ♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
heart /hɑːt/ A1	noun - the organ that pumps blood; also the center of emotion
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - deep affection or strong feeling of attachment verb - to have deep affection for someone or something
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - the measured or measurable period during which an action occurs verb - to measure the duration of something
brave /breɪv/ B1	adjective - courageous; showing no fear verb - to face danger or difficulty without fear
afraid /əˈfreɪd/ A2	adjective - feeling fear or anxiety
doubt /daʊt/ B1	noun - a feeling of uncertainty or lack of conviction verb - to feel uncertain about something
promise /ˈprɒmɪs/ B1	noun - a declaration that one will do something or refrain from doing something verb - to assure someone that one will definitely do something
thousand /ˈθaʊzənd/ A2	noun - the number 1,000
year /jɪə(r)/ A1	noun - a period of twelve months
step /step/ A2	noun - a movement made by lifting the foot and putting it down again verb - to move by lifting and setting down one foot after the other
closer /ˈkloʊzər/ B1	adjective - more near in distance or time
stand /stænd/ A2	verb - to be in an upright position on the feet noun - a small piece of furniture or a platform for holding something
watch /wɒtʃ/ A2	verb - to look at or observe attentively over a period of time noun - a small timepiece worn on the wrist
waiting /ˈweɪtɪŋ/ A2	verb - to stay in one place or remain inactive until something happens
believed /bɪˈliːvd/ B2	verb - past tense of believe; to accept something as true
find /faɪnd/ A2	verb - to discover or perceive by chance or after searching
beauty /ˈbjuːti/ B1	noun - a combination of qualities that pleases the senses, especially the sight
breath /brɛθ/ A1	noun - the act or process of taking air into the lungs and exhaling it

Key Grammar Structures

• How to be brave?

  ➔ Interrogative phrase starting with 'How to' + base verb

  ➔ This structure is used to ask about the method or process of doing something.

• How can I love when I'm afraid to fall?

  ➔ Modal verb 'can' + subject + base verb

  ➔ 'Can' is used to express possibility or ability in the present or future.

• All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow

  ➔ Subject + adverb + verb phrase

  ➔ The adverb 'suddenly' modifies the verb phrase to indicate a quick change of state.

• I'll love you for a thousand more

  ➔ Future tense with 'will' + base verb

  ➔ 'Will' is used to express future intentions or promises.

• Time stands still

  ➔ Subject + verb in the present simple tense

  ➔ 'Stands' is the third person singular form of 'stand' in present simple tense.