Affirmation – English Lyrics

• By: Savage Garden
• Album: Affirmation

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the English language through Savage Garden's 'Affirmation,' a song structured as a list of personal beliefs. Its repetitive 'I believe...' format makes it a great tool for practicing sentence construction and vocabulary related to personal values and societal observations. The song's thoughtful lyrics offer a unique and engaging way to deepen your understanding of English while reflecting on universal truths.

[English]

I believe the sun should never set upon an argument

I believe we place our happiness in other people's hands

I believe that junk food tastes so good because it's bad for you

I believe your parents did the best job they knew how to do

I believe that beauty magazines promote low self esteem

I believe I'm loved when I'm completely by myself alone

I believe in karma, what you give is what you get returned

I believe you can't appreciate real love till you've been burned

I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side

I believe you don't know what you've got until you say goodbye

I believe you can't control or choose your sexuality

I believe that trust is more important than monogamy

I believe your most attractive features are your heart and soul

I believe that family is worth more than money or gold

I believe the struggle for financial freedom is unfair (Is unfair)

I believe the only ones who disagree are millionaires

I believe in karma, what you give is what you get returned

I believe you can't appreciate real love till you've been burned

I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side

I believe you don't know what you've got until you say goodbye

I believe forgiveness is the key to your own happiness

I believe that wedded bliss negates the need to be undressed

I believe that God does not endorse TV evangelists

I believe in love surviving death into eternity

I believe in karma, what you give is what you get returned

I believe you can't appreciate real love till you've been burned

I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side

I believe you don't know what you've got until you say goodbye

I believe in karma, what you give is what you get returned

I believe you can't appreciate real love till you've been burned

I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side

I believe you don't know what you've got until you say goodbye

Until you say goodbye

Oh no no no no no

No no no no, woah, woah, woah

No no no

Oh no no no no no

Oh no no no no no

Oh no no no no no

Oh no no no no

Oh no no no no no

Oh no no no no no

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
believe /bɪˈliːv/ A2	verb - to accept that something is true, especially without absolute proof
karma /ˈkɑːrmə/ C1	noun - the belief that a person's actions determine their future fate
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - deep affection or strong emotional attachment verb - to feel deep affection for someone
burned /bɜːrnd/ B1	verb - to be damaged or injured by fire or heat adjective - having been singed or scorched
grass /ɡræs/ A1	noun - plants with narrow leaves that grow in fields and lawns
goodbye /ɡʊdˈbaɪ/ A2	noun - an expression used when parting interjection - used to say farewell
freedom /ˈfriːdəm/ B2	noun - the power or right to act, speak, or think without hindrance
unfair /ʌnˈfɛər/ B1	adjective - not just or impartial; biased or inequitable
forgiveness /fəˈɡɪvnəs/ C1	noun - the act of pardoning an offense or mistake
wedded /ˈwɛdɪd/ C1	adjective - married; joined in marriage
bliss /blɪs/ C1	noun - extreme happiness or joy
negates /nɪˈɡeɪts/ C1	verb - to nullify or make ineffective
undressed /ʌnˈdrɛst/ B2	verb - to remove clothing from; to get naked adjective - without clothing; naked
evangelists /ɪˈvændʒəlɪsts/ C1	noun - people who preach or promote a particular belief, especially religious
eternity /ɪˈtɜːrnɪti/ C1	noun - infinite or unending time; timelessness
argument /ˈɑːɡjʊmənt/ B1	noun - a reason or set of reasons given to persuade others that an idea is correct
happiness /ˈhæpinəs/ B2	noun - the state of being happy; a feeling of joy and contentment
self‑esteem /sɛlf ɪˈstiːm/ B2	noun - confidence in one's own worth or abilities
beauty /ˈbjuːti/ A2	noun - a combination of qualities that pleases the mind or senses, especially the sight
family /ˈfæməli/ A1	noun - a group consisting of parents and their children, regarded as a unit

Key Grammar Structures

• I believe the sun should never set upon an argument

  ➔ Modal verb should expresses obligation or expectation.

  ➔ In 'I believe the sun should never set upon an argument', the word 'should' marks obligation.

• I believe we place our happiness in other people's hands

  ➔ Phrasal verb with 'place' followed by a prepositional phrase 'in ...'.

  ➔ In this sentence, 'in' introduces the location where happiness is placed.

• I believe that junk food tastes so good because it's bad for you

  ➔ Because as a causal conjunction introducing a reason.

  ➔ In 'because it's bad for you', 'because' explains the reason for liking junk food.

• I believe that beauty magazines promote low self esteem

  ➔ That-clause as a content clause after believe; 'that' can be omitted.

  ➔ In this sentence, the clause after believe is a content clause introduced by 'that'.

• I'm loved when I'm completely by myself alone

  ➔ Present simple passive: am + past participle; 'when' introduces a time clause.

  ➔ In 'I'm loved', the subject is in the passive voice; 'when' marks a time condition.

• I believe in karma, what you give is what you get returned

  ➔ What/relative pronoun introducing a fused relative clause with parallel structure.

  ➔ In this clause, 'what you give' and 'what you get returned' share a parallel structure introduced by 'what'.

• I believe you can't appreciate real love till you've been burned

  ➔ Can't = cannot; 'till' as informal until; present perfect passive 'you've been burned'.

  ➔ In this line, 'you've been burned' is a present perfect passive clause showing a past experience influencing the present.

• I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side

  ➔ Comparative adjective form; this line contains a common grammar mistake: 'no more greener' is incorrect.

  ➔ In this line, the intended meaning is 'the grass is greener on the other side'; 'no more greener' is an incorrect use of the comparative form.

• I believe you don't know what you've got until you say goodbye

  ➔ Don't + verb; 'what you've got' is a noun clause; 'you've got' is present perfect.

  ➔ In this line, 'don't know' negates the main clause; 'what you've got' is a noun clause serving as the object of 'know'.