Ask – English Lyrics

• By: The Smiths

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language can be a bold act, much like the message of The Smiths' song "Ask." This classic indie track, with its clear and repetitive chorus, offers a great opportunity to practice English comprehension and pronunciation. Its theme of overcoming shyness to connect with others is a universal experience, making the lyrics both relatable and a source of motivation for language learners to be brave in their new linguistic pursuits.

[English]

Shyness is nice and shyness can stop you

From doing all the things in life you'd like to

Shyness is nice and shyness can stop you

From doing all the things in life you'd like to

So if there's something you'd like to try

If there's something you'd like to try

Ask me, I won't say no, how could I?

Coyness is nice and coyness can stop you

From saying all the things in life you'd like to

So if there's something you'd like to try

If there's something you'd like to try

Ask me, I won't say no, how could I?

Spending warm summer days indoors

Writing frightening verse to a buck-toothed girl in Luxembourg

Ask me, ask me, ask me

Ask me, ask me, ask me

Because if it's not love

Then it's the bomb, the bomb

The bomb, the bomb, the bomb, the bomb, the bomb

That will bring us together

Nature is a language, can't you read?

Nature is a language, can't you read?

So ask me, ask me, ask me

Ask me, ask me, ask me

Because if it's not love, then it's the bomb, the bomb

The bomb, the bomb, the bomb, the bomb, the bomb

That will bring us together

If it's not love, then it's the bomb

Then it's the bomb that will bring us together

So ask me, ask me, ask me

Ask me, ask me, ask me, oh

Mm-da-da-da-da-da-dum

Mm-da-da-da-da-da-dum

Mm-da-da-da-da-da-dum

Da-da-da-da-da-dum

Da-da-da-da-da-dum

Da-da-da-da-da-dum

Da-da-da-da-da-dum

Da-da-da-da-da-dum

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
ask /æsk/ A1	verb - to request information or something
shyness /ˈʃaɪnəs/ B1	noun - the quality of being nervous or timid in the company of others
coyness /ˈkɔɪnəs/ C1	noun - the quality of being shy or modest in a playful or flirtatious way
frightening /ˈfraɪtənɪŋ/ B2	adjective - causing fear or anxiety
verse /vɜːrs/ B1	noun - a line or lines of a poem or song
bomb /bɒm/ A2	noun - a container filled with explosive material noun - something that fails spectacularly
nature /ˈneɪtʃər/ A1	noun - the physical world and everything in it
language /ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/ A1	noun - a system of communication using words or symbols
read /riːd/ A1	verb - to look at and understand written or printed words
summer /ˈsʌmər/ A1	noun - the warmest season of the year
indoors /ɪnˈdɔːrz/ A2	adverb - inside a building
writing /ˈraɪtɪŋ/ A1	noun - the activity of recording words or symbols on paper
bring /brɪŋ/ A1	verb - to carry or take someone or something to a place
together /təˈɡeθər/ A1	adverb - in or into one place, group, or arrangement
warm /wɔːrm/ A1	adjective - having or producing a comfortable temperature

Key Grammar Structures

• Shyness is nice and shyness can stop you

  ➔ Modal Verb: 'can' for possibility/ability

  ➔ The word "can" indicates that shyness possesses the ability or potential to prevent someone from doing something.

• From doing all the things in life you'd like to

  ➔ Preposition + Gerund; Elliptical Infinitive (pro-verb 'to')

  ➔ "doing" is a gerund, functioning as a noun, following the preposition "from". The final "to" is an elliptical infinitive, standing in for "to do".

• So if there's something you'd like to try

  ➔ Conditional Clause (Type 1 implied); 'would like to' for desire

  ➔ "if there's something" introduces a condition. "you'd like to try" (you would like to try) expresses a polite wish or desire.

• Ask me, I won't say no, how could I?

  ➔ Imperative; Rhetorical Question with Modal 'could'

  ➔ "Ask me" is a direct command. "how could I?" is a rhetorical question implying that saying no is impossible or unreasonable.

• Spending warm summer days indoors Writing frightening verse to a buck-toothed girl in Luxembourg

  ➔ Present Participle Phrase (adverbial); Present Participle as Adjective

  ➔ "Writing frightening verse" is a present participle phrase describing the activity. "frightening" is a present participle used as an adjective to describe the type of verse.

• Because if it's not love Then it's the bomb, the bomb

  ➔ Zero/First Conditional (If X, then Y)

  ➔ This structure expresses a strong logical consequence: if the condition "it's not love" is true, then the result "it's the bomb" follows directly.

• The bomb, the bomb that will bring us together

  ➔ Relative Clause (Defining/Restrictive) with 'that'

  ➔ "that will bring us together" is a relative clause that provides essential information about "the bomb", specifying which bomb is being referred to.

• Nature is a language, can't you read?

  ➔ Negative Interrogative (Question with 'can't')

  ➔ "can't you read?" is a direct question using a negative modal verb, often used to express surprise, challenge, or to prompt agreement.