Against All Odds – English Lyrics

• By: Phil Collins

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the heartfelt lyrics of Phil Collins' "Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" to explore the English language through a masterclass in conveying raw emotion and vulnerability. This iconic 80s power ballad offers a rich vocabulary related to heartbreak, longing, and perseverance, making it an excellent song for understanding expressive English in a musical context. Its simple yet profound narrative of lost love and the slim hope of reconciliation makes the language universally relatable and easy to grasp for learners.

[English]

How can I just let you walk away?

Just let you leave without a trace

When I stand here taking every breath, with you, ooh

You're the only one who really knew me at all

How can you just walk away from me?

When all I can do is watch you leave

'Cos we've shared the laughter and the pain and even shared the tears

You're the only one who really knew me at all

So take a look at me now, oh there's just an empty space

And there's nothin' left here to remind me

Just the memory of your face

Ooh, take a look at me now, well there's just an empty space

And you coming back to me is against the odds

And that's what I've got to face

Instrumental

I wish, I could just make you turn around

Turn around and see me cry

There's so much I need to say to you so many reasons why

You're the only one who really knew me at all

So take a look at me now, well there's just an empty space

And there's nothin' left here to remind me, just the memory of your face

Now take a look at me now, 'cos there's just an empty space

But to wait for you, is all I can do and that's what I've got to face

Take a good look at me now, 'cos I'll still be standin' here

And you coming back to me is against all odds

It's the chance I've gotta take

Instrumental

Take a look at me now

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
leave /liːv/ A2	verb - to go away from a place or person
walk /wɔːk/ A1	verb - to move at a regular pace by lifting and setting down each foot in turn
space /speɪs/ B1	noun - a continuous area or expanse that is free, available, or unoccupied
memory /ˈmɛm.ər.i/ B2	noun - the faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information
face /feɪs/ A2	noun - the front part of the head that includes the eyes, nose, and mouth
hope /həʊp/ B2	noun - a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen
cry /kraɪ/ A2	verb - to shed tears as a result of emotion
reason /ˈriːzn/ B2	noun - a cause, explanation, or justification for an action or event
chance /tʃæns/ B2	noun - a possibility of something happening
hope /həʊp/ B2	noun - a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen

Key Grammar Structures

• How can I just let you walk away?

  ➔ Modal verb of permission/possibility/ability in question form

  ➔ The modal verb "can" is used here to express the speaker's disbelief or unwillingness to accept the other person leaving. The word "can" indicates possibility or ability, but here used in rhetorical way.

• When I stand here taking every breath, with you, ooh

  ➔ Present Participle as a verb modifier

  ➔ "Taking" every breath functions as a present participle clause modifying "stand". It describes the action happening simultaneously with standing.

• You're the only one who really knew me at all

  ➔ Relative clause with 'who'

  ➔ "Who really knew me at all" is a relative clause that modifies "the only one". "Who" is used as a relative pronoun because it refers to a person.

• When all I can do is watch you leave

  ➔ Noun Clause as Subject Complement

  ➔ The clause "all I can do" functions as the subject, and "is watch you leave" functions as the subject complement, completing the meaning of the verb "is".

• So take a look at me now, oh there's just an empty space

  ➔ Imperative sentence

  ➔ "Take a look at me now" is an imperative sentence because it gives a direct command or instruction. The subject (you) is implied.

• And there's nothin' left here to remind me

  ➔ Existential 'There is/are' with a negative and Infinitive of Purpose

  ➔ "There's nothin' left here" uses the existential "there is" construction in the negative form. "To remind me" is an infinitive phrase expressing purpose – the purpose of the 'nothing'.

• And you coming back to me is against the odds

  ➔ Gerund Phrase as Subject

  ➔ "You coming back to me" is a gerund phrase acting as the subject of the sentence. The gerund phrase functions as a noun.

• I wish, I could just make you turn around

  ➔ Subjunctive mood for wishes about the present

  ➔ The sentence expresses a wish about a present situation that is not true. "Could" is used in the 'I wish' clause to express the speaker's desire for something different in the present.