As It Was – English Lyrics

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

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a fantastic journey, and Harry Styles' 'As It Was' is a perfect place to start with modern English pop. The song's introspective and conversational lyrics offer a glimpse into contemporary English expression, touching on themes of change and personal growth that are universally understood. What makes this song special for learners is its clear and melodic vocal delivery, making it easier to follow along and pick up new vocabulary and phrases in a fun, engaging way.

[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 or grip something
gravity /ˈɡrævɪti/ B1	noun - the force that attracts objects towards the Earth
replace /rɪˈpleɪs/ A2	verb - to put something or someone in the place of another
stay /steɪ/ A1	verb - to remain in a place
answer /ˈænsər/ A1	verb - to respond to a question or call
ring /rɪŋ/ A1	verb - to make a bell sound
help /hɛlp/ A1	verb - to assist or support someone
want /wɑnt/ A1	verb - to desire or wish for something
leave /liːv/ A1	verb - to depart from a place
speed /spiːd/ A1	noun - the rate at which someone or something moves
follow /ˈfɑloʊ/ A1	verb - to go or come after someone or something
talk /tɔk/ A1	verb - to speak to someone
same /seɪm/ A1	adjective - identical; not different
well /wɛl/ A1	adjective - in good health
know /noʊ/ A1	verb - to be aware of something
home /hoʊm/ A1	noun - the place where one lives
world /wɜrld/ A1	noun - the earth, together with all of its countries and peoples
alone /əˈloʊn/ A1	adjective - without others
floor /flɔr/ A1	noun - the surface of a room that one stands on

Key Grammar Structures

• Holding me back

  ➔ Present Continuous Tense

  ➔ The phrase uses the present continuous tense with 'holding' to describe an action happening now or around now.

• Why don’t we leave it at that?

  ➔ Suggestion with 'Why don’t we'

  ➔ The phrase 'Why don’t we' is used to make a polite suggestion or proposal.

• Seems you cannot be replaced

  ➔ Present Simple with 'Seems'

  ➔ 'Seems' is used here in the present simple to express an opinion or impression.

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

  ➔ Contrast with 'as it was'

  ➔ The phrase uses 'as it was' to contrast the current situation with a past one.

• What kind of pills are you on?

  ➔ Present Continuous Question

  ➔ The question is in the present continuous tense to ask about an action happening now.

• He just wants to know that you’re well

  ➔ Present Simple with 'wants'

  ➔ 'Wants' is used in the present simple to describe a current desire or state.

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

  ➔ Negative Present Simple with 'don’t want'

  ➔ The sentence uses 'don’t want' in the present simple to express a current lack of desire.