Apologize – English Lyrics

• By: Timbaland, OneRepublic
• Album: King Stays King

Lyrics & Translation

Delve into the emotional depth of "Apologize," a global hit that seamlessly blends rock melodies with pop sensibilities, elevated by Timbaland's signature touch. This song offers a powerful narrative about relationship dynamics and the importance of self-respect, making its English lyrics particularly poignant and relatable. Understanding the nuances of its vocabulary and expressions will not only enhance your appreciation for the song's artistry but also provide valuable insights into conveying complex emotions in English.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
hold /hoʊld/ A1	verb - to grasp or support with one's hands
ground /ɡraʊnd/ A1	noun - the solid surface of the earth
say /seɪ/ A1	verb - to utter words
need /niːd/ A1	verb - require (something) because it is essential or very important
sorry /ˈsɒri/ A2	adjective - feeling or expressing regret or sympathy
turn /tɜːrn/ A2	verb - move in a circular direction
late /leɪt/ A2	adjective - after the expected or usual time
apologize /əˈpɒlədʒaɪz/ B1	verb - express regret for something done wrong
chance /tʃæns/ B1	noun - a possibility of something happening
fall /fɔːl/ B1	verb - to drop down noun - the act of falling
heart /hɑːrt/ A1	noun - a hollow muscular organ that pumps the blood through the circulatory system by rhythmic contraction and dilation
beat /biːt/ A2	noun - a regular rhythmic sound verb - to strike repeatedly
new /njuː/ A1	adjective - recently made, discovered, or experienced
love /lʌv/ A1	verb - to have a strong affection for someone
fire /ˈfaɪər/ A2	noun - combustion or burning
blue /bluː/ A1	adjective - of a colour like that of a clear unclouded sky in the daytime
angel /ˈeɪndʒəl/ B1	noun - a spiritual being believed to act as a messenger of God
heaven /ˈhevən/ B1	noun - a place regarded in various religions as the abode of God (or gods) and the angels
afraid /əˈfreɪd/ A2	adjective - feeling fear or anxiety

Key Grammar Structures

• I'm holding on your rope

  ➔ Present Continuous Tense

  ➔ The present continuous tense describes an action happening now or around now. Here, "holding on" indicates the speaker is currently in the act of holding onto the rope.

• Got me ten feet off the ground

  ➔ Causative "get" + Object + Past Participle

  ➔ "Got me ten feet off the ground" means something/someone made the speaker ten feet off the ground. The structure emphasizes the result of an action performed by someone else.

• But I can't just make a sound

  ➔ Modal Verb "can't" + Base Form of Verb

  ➔ "Can't" expresses inability. Here, the speaker is unable to make a sound.

• Didn't think I'd turn around

  ➔ Conditional in the Past (implied)

  ➔ This implies a past conditional situation. The full sentence could be something like, "I didn't think I would turn around *if you apologized*." It suggests surprise at the change in the speaker's behavior.

• It's too late to apologize

  ➔ "Too + adjective + to + infinitive"

  ➔ This structure indicates that something is impossible or impractical. In this case, it's impossible/impractical to apologize because the opportunity has passed.

• Take another chance

  ➔ Imperative Mood

  ➔ The imperative mood expresses a command or request. "Take another chance" is a direct instruction.

• Oh, I need you like a heart needs a beat

  ➔ Simile (using "like")

  ➔ This sentence uses a simile to illustrate the speaker's strong need for the other person. The comparison highlights how essential the other person is to the speaker's well-being, just as a heartbeat is essential to life.

• And now it's turning blue

  ➔ Present Continuous with 'turning' (indicating a change)

  ➔ The present continuous here, with the verb "turning", indicates a process of change. The fire, previously bright, is now diminishing and losing its intensity.