As It Was – English Lyrics

• By: Harry Styles
• Album: Harry's House

Lyrics & Translation

Unlock the heartfelt journey of Harry Styles' chart-topping hit, "As It Was." This vibrant synth-pop anthem, with its melancholic undertones and deeply personal lyrics, offers a unique window into expressions of change, loneliness, and self-discovery. By exploring its rich narrative and emotional depth, you can gain valuable insights into contemporary English vocabulary and nuanced feelings, making language learning an engaging and resonant experience through music. What makes the song special is its ability to blend an upbeat, '80s-inspired sound with deeply introspective and relatable themes of transition and longing, creating a powerful emotional contrast that appeals to a wide audience.

[English]

♪ Holding me back ♪

♪ Gravity’s holding me back ♪

♪ I want you to hold out the palm of your hand ♪

♪ Why don’t we leave it at that? ♪

♪ Nothing to say ♪

♪ When everything gets in the way ♪

♪ Seems you cannot be replace ♪

♪ And I’m the one who will stay ♪

♪ Ooh ♪

♪ In this world ♪

♪ It’s just us ♪

♪ You know it’s not the same as it was ♪

♪ In this world ♪

♪ It’s just us ♪

♪ You know it’s not the same as it was ♪

♪ As it was ♪

♪ As it was ♪

♪ You know it’s not the same ♪

♪ Answer the phone ♪

♪ “Harry, you’re no good alone ♪

♪ Why are you sitting at home on the floor? ♪

♪ "What kind of pills are you on?" ♪

♪ Ringing the bell ♪

♪ And nobody’s coming to help ♪

♪ Your daddy lives by himself ♪

♪ He just wants to know that you’re well ♪

♪ Ooh ♪

♪ In this world ♪

♪ It’s just us ♪

♪ You know it’s not the same as it was ♪

♪ In this world ♪

♪ It’s just us ♪

♪ You know it’s not the same as it was ♪

♪ As it was ♪

♪ As it was ♪

♪ You know it’s not the same ♪

♪ Go home ♪

♪ Get ahead ♪

♪ Light speed internet ♪

♪ I don’t want to talk about the way that it was ♪

♪ Leave America ♪

♪ Two kids follow her ♪

♪ I don’t want to talk about who’s doing it first ♪

♪ (Hey!) ♪

♪ As it was ♪

♪ You know it’s not the same as it was ♪

♪ As it was ♪

♪ As it was ♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
hold /hoʊld/ A1	verb - to grasp, carry, or support with the hands
gravity /ˈɡræv.ə.ti/ B2	noun - the force that attracts a body towards the center of the earth, or towards any other physical body having mass
palm /pɑːm/ B1	noun - the inner surface of the hand between the wrist and the fingers
world /wɜːld/ A1	noun - the earth, together with all of its countries, peoples, and natural features
same /seɪm/ A1	adjective - identical; not different
phone /foʊn/ A1	noun - a telephone
good /ɡʊd/ A1	adjective - of high quality; pleasing
home /hoʊm/ A1	noun - the place where one lives
floor /flɔːr/ A2	noun - the lower surface of a room
pills /pɪlz/ B1	noun - a small, solid dose of medicine
ringing /ˈrɪŋɪŋ/ A2	verb - to make a clear, resonant sound
bell /bel/ A1	noun - a hollow metal object, typically cup-shaped, that makes a ringing sound when struck.
daddy /ˈdædi/ A1	noun - father
light /laɪt/ A1	noun - the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible.
speed /spiːd/ B1	noun - the rate at which someone or something moves or operates.
kids /kɪdz/ A1	noun - children

Key Grammar Structures

• Gravity’s holding me back

  ➔ Present Continuous (Progressive) Tense

  ➔ This sentence uses the present continuous tense ('is/are/am + -ing') to describe an action that is happening now. "Holding" describes the action that gravity is currently performing.

• Why don’t we leave it at that?

  ➔ Suggestion with "Why don't we...?"

  ➔ "Why don't we..." is a common way to make a suggestion. It invites the listener to consider an action. The phrase "leave it at that" means to end a discussion or disagreement.

• Seems you cannot be replace

  ➔ Passive Voice (incorrect usage, should be 'replaced')

  ➔ This is grammatically incorrect, but stylistically intentional. The correct passive form would be "you cannot be *replaced*." The error might be for emphasis or to fit the rhythm of the song. It shows the speaker finds this person irreplaceable.

• I’m the one who will stay

  ➔ Relative Clause with "who"

  ➔ "who" introduces a relative clause that modifies the noun "one." It identifies which "one" the speaker is referring to (the one that will stay).

• Harry, you’re no good alone

  ➔ Subject-Complement with Adjective

  ➔ The adjective "good" acts as a subject complement, describing the subject "you". "No good" functions as a negative adjective, meaning inadequate or unsuitable.

• What kind of pills are you on?

  ➔ Question Formation with Preposition at the End

  ➔ This is a question formed with an interrogative phrase ("What kind of pills") and ends with a preposition ("on"). The preposition "on" relates to the idiom "to be on" meaning to be taking a certain medication or substance.

• Your daddy lives by himself

  ➔ Reflexive Pronoun (himself)

  ➔ The reflexive pronoun "himself" emphasizes that the father lives alone, without any other people.