All I Ask Of You – English Lyrics

• By: Emmy Rossum, Patrick Wilson
• Album: The Phantom of the Opera Soundtrack

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a powerful and enjoyable experience, and "All I Ask of You" is a perfect song for English learners. Its clear, narrative-driven lyrics tell a story of love and reassurance, helping you to understand emotional expression in English. The song's slower tempo and operatic style mean the words are enunciated clearly, making it easier to follow along and learn new vocabulary related to love, comfort, and promises. What makes this song special is its universal theme of seeking love and protection, a sentiment that transcends language barriers and makes the learning process more meaningful.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
darkness /ˈdɑːrk.nəs/ B2	noun - the absence of light
fear /fɪər/ B2	noun - an unpleasant emotion caused by threat or danger
harm /hɑːrm/ B2	verb - to cause injury or damage noun - physical injury or damage
words /wɜːrdz/ A2	noun - units of language used to communicate
warm /wɔːrm/ B1	verb - to make or become warm adjective - having a temperature that is comfortably high
calm /kɑːm/ B2	verb - to make peaceful or quiet adjective - peaceful and quiet
freedom /ˈfriː.dəm/ B2	noun - the power or right to act, speak, or think freely
tears /tɪərz/ A2	noun - drops of liquid from the eyes
shelter /ˈʃɛl.tər/ B2	noun - a protective structure or refuge
light /laɪt/ A2	noun - something that makes things visible or affords illumination
night /naɪt/ A2	noun - the period of darkness in each twenty-four hours
hold /hoʊld/ B1	verb - to grasp or carry with the hands
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - deep affection or attachment verb - to feel deep affection for someone

Key Grammar Structures

• Let me be your freedom

  ➔ Imperative (Let + Object Pronoun + Base Form)

  ➔ Uses the imperative form with 'let' to express a strong desire or plea for something to be allowed or permitted. 'Let me be' suggests a wish to fulfill the role of providing freedom.

• Say you love me every waking moment

  ➔ Subjunctive Mood (Implied conditional/desire) + Adverb of Frequency

  ➔ While not strictly using the subjunctive in its purest form (e.g., with 'were'), the phrase expresses a strong desire. 'Every waking moment' emphasizes the constant nature of the request.

• Turn my head with talk of summertime

  ➔ Imperative + Prepositional Phrase (with)

  ➔ 'Turn my head' is an imperative, a command. 'With talk of summertime' explains how to turn their head. This uses a prepositional phrase to describe the means by which the action is performed.

• Promise me that all you say is true

  ➔ Imperative + Noun Clause (that-clause as object)

  ➔ 'Promise me' is the imperative verb phrase. The 'that' clause 'that all you say is true' acts as the direct object of the verb 'promise'.

• Let me be your shelter

  ➔ Imperative with 'Let' (Request/Suggestion)

  ➔ Expresses a strong desire to act as a protector or refuge. The use of 'let' softens the command, making it a plea.

• Anywhere you go, let me go too

  ➔ Adverbial Clause of Place + Imperative (request)

  ➔ 'Anywhere you go' describes the place, and 'let me go too' is a request. It combines the two to create the condition for the request.