Altar – English Lyrics

• By: Kehlani
• Album: Blue Water Road

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into Kehlani's "Altar," a deeply emotional R&B track that beautifully explores themes of loss, remembrance, and spiritual connection. This song offers a rich tapestry of genuine emotion and vivid lyricism, making it an excellent choice for language learners to grasp nuanced vocabulary related to feelings and spirituality. Kehlani's clear vocals and the song's heartfelt narrative provide an immersive experience, allowing listeners to connect with the English lyrics on a profound level and understand the universal language of grief and love.

[English]

Fresh white flowers and a new tea light

...

Nine cups of water, still water

Soon I'll see your face

Don't know why I ever thought you were far away

I should've known better

If I set a flame and I call your name

I'll fix you a plate, we can go to dinner

We can share a meal your way

And I'll play you the songs that you used to play

So I put you on the altar, stay just a little bit longer, whoa

Laid it out for ya, thought I felt you before

But now you're closer, closer, whoa

So I put you on the altar, stay just a little bit longer, whoa

Laid it out for ya, thought I felt you before

But now you'rе closer, closer, whoa, whoa

Holdin' on to things you told me

Holdin' on to drеams you showed me

Holdin' on to anything from you

That you've been leaving here

Now I believe I swear

I can smell your perfume

Picking up your signal like a phonebooth

Keeping you alive and I do it 'cause I want to

If I set a flame and I call your name

I'll fix you a plate, we can go to dinner

We can share a meal your way

And I'll play you the songs that you used to play

...

So I put you on the altar, stay just a little bit longer, whoa

Laid it out for ya, thought I felt you before

But now you're closer, closer, whoa (now you're closer)

So I put you on the altar, stay just a little bit longer, whoa

Laid it out for ya, thought I felt you before

But now you're closer, closer, whoa, whoa (closer)

...

Key Grammar Structures

• Don't know why I ever thought you were far away

  ➔ Past Perfect Tense & Subjunctive Mood

  ➔ The phrase 'thought you were' uses the past perfect ('had thought') implied, expressing a belief held *before* a past time. 'Were' is used in the subjunctive mood after 'thought' to express uncertainty or a hypothetical situation. The sentence expresses regret about a past misjudgment. The use of 'ever' emphasizes the complete lack of justification for the thought.

• If I set a flame and I call your name

  ➔ First Conditional

  ➔ This is a classic example of the first conditional: 'If + present simple, will + base verb'. It describes a realistic possibility and its likely result. The 'setting a flame' and 'calling the name' are presented as actions that *could* lead to a response.

• Holdin' on to things you told me

  ➔ Present Participle as Gerund

  ➔ 'Holdin' on to' functions as a gerund, acting as the object of an implied preposition (like 'from'). It describes an ongoing action – the speaker is currently clinging to memories. The contraction 'holdin'' is common in informal speech and song lyrics.

• Now you're closer, closer, whoa

  ➔ Comparative Adverb & Repetition for Emphasis

  ➔ 'Closer' is a comparative adverb, indicating an increasing proximity. The repetition of 'closer' amplifies the feeling of the person's presence becoming more intense. 'Whoa' is an interjection expressing surprise or emotional reaction.