Lyrics & Translation
Learning a language can feel like being an 'absolute beginner,' and David Bowie's song of the same name is the perfect anthem for this journey. Its clear, heartfelt lyrics about new love and hope offer a beautiful and accessible way to engage with the English language. The song's grand, cinematic feel will not only inspire you but also help you connect with the powerful emotions that music and language can convey.
[English]
I've nothing much to offerThere's nothing much to take
I'm an absolute beginner
And I'm absolutely sane
As long as we're together
The rest can go to hell
I absolutely love you
But we're absolute beginners
With eyes completely open
But nervous all the same
If our love song
Could fly over mountains
Could laugh at the ocean
Just like the films
There's no reason
To feel all the hard times
To lay down the hard lines
It's absolutely true
Nothing much could happen
Nothing we can't shake
Oh we're absolute beginners
With nothing much at stake
As long as you're still smiling
There's nothing more I need
I absolutely love you
But we're absolute beginners
But if my love is your love
We're certain to succeed
If our love song
Could fly over mountains
Sail over heartaches
Just like the films
If there's reason
To feel all the hard times
To lay down the hard lines
It's absolutely true
Key Vocabulary
| Vocabulary | Meanings |
|---|---|
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beginner /bɪˈɡɪnər/ A2 |
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love /lʌv/ A2 |
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mountain /ˈmaʊntɪn/ B1 |
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ocean /ˈoʊʃən/ B2 |
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film /fɪlm/ A2 |
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reason /ˈriːzn/ B1 |
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hard /hɑːrd/ A2 |
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time /taɪm/ A1 |
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truth /truːθ/ B2 |
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chance /tʃæns/ B2 |
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true /truː/ B2 |
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Key Grammar Structures
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There's nothing much to take
➔ Existential there + be + noun + to + verb
➔ Uses the structure *there's + noun + to + verb* to express the existence or presence of something with the purpose or possibility.
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As long as we're together
➔ Conditional clause with 'as long as' meaning 'provided that'
➔ The phrase *as long as* introduces a condition which must be true for the main clause to happen, similar to 'provided that'.
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I'm absolutely sane
➔ Adjective complement indicating state or condition
➔ Uses the adverb *absolutely* with the adjective *sane* to emphasize certainty about mental stability.
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If our love song could fly over mountains
➔ Conditional clause with 'could' indicating possibility
➔ The modal *could* suggests an ability or possibility in a hypothetical scenario.
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To feel all the hard times
➔ Infinitive phrase expressing purpose or emotional state
➔ Uses the infinitive *to feel* to show purpose or the experience of emotional states.
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If my love is your love
➔ Conditional clause with 'if' expressing a hypothetical situation
➔ The *if* clause presents a hypothetical condition that influences the meaning of the main clause.
