Bad News – Bilingual Lyrics Spanish/English

• By: Kanye West
• Album: 808s & Heartbreak

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the raw emotional landscape of Kanye West's 'Bad News,' a standout track from his influential album '808s & Heartbreak.' This song offers a unique opportunity to explore English vocabulary related to heartbreak, betrayal, and introspection through its poignant lyrics and melancholic Auto-Tuned vocals. Its minimalist, electronic style and direct lyrical storytelling make it a compelling piece for understanding deeply personal expression in modern music.

[English]

Didn't you know I was waiting for you?

Waiting for a dream that will never come true.

Didn't you know I was waiting for you?

My face turned to stone when I heard the news.

When you decide to break the rules.

Because I just heard some truly bad news.

People will talk about it like it's old news.

I brushed it off and acted like I already knew.

Let me ask you, how long have you known, man?

You brushed it off and acted like it's brand new.

When you decide to break the rules.

Because I just heard some truly bad news.

Really bad news.

Really bad news.

Really bad news.

Oh, you’re just going to keep another? No, you won’t.

Oh, you’re just going to keep it like you never knew?

Oh, you’re just going to keep another love for yourself?

Oh, you’re just going to keep it like you never knew?

While I'm waiting for a dream that will never come true.

Oh, you’re just going to keep it like you never knew?

My face turned to stone when I heard the news.

What's on the news?

Channel cruise

...

[Spanish]

Didn't you know I was waiting on you?

Waiting on a dream that'll never come true

Didn't you know I was waiting on you?

My face turned to stone when I heard the news

When you decide to break the rules

'Cause I just heard some real bad news

People will talk like it's old news

I played it off and act like I already knew

Let me ask you, how long have you known, dude?

You played it off and act like he's brand new

When you decide to break the rules

'Cause I just heard some real bad news

Real bad news

Real bad news

Real bad news

Oh, you just gon' keep another? No, you won't

Oh, you just gon' keep it like you never knew?

Oh, you just gon' keep another love for you?

Oh, you just gon' keep it like you never knew?

While I'm waiting on a dream that'll never come true

Oh, you just gon' keep it like you never knew?

My face turned to stone when I heard the news

What's on the news?

Channel cruise

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
waiting /ˈweɪtɪŋ/ A2	verb - to stay in expectation of something; to remain inactive until something happens
dream /driːm/ A2	noun - a series of thoughts, images, or emotions occurring during sleep; an aspiration or hope
true /truː/ A2	adjective - in accordance with fact or reality
face /feɪs/ A1	noun - the front part of the head that includes the eyes, nose, and mouth
stone /stoʊn/ A1	noun - a hard, solid nonmetallic mineral matter of which rock is made
heard /hɜːrd/ A1	verb - to have perceived sounds with the ear
news /njuːz/ A2	noun - information about recent events or happenings
decide /dɪˈsaɪd/ B1	verb - to choose something after thinking about it
break /breɪk/ B1	verb - to separate into pieces as a result of a shock or strain
rules /ruːlz/ B1	noun - explicit or understood regulations or principles governing conduct or procedure
real /riːəl/ A2	adjective - actually existing as a thing or occurring in fact
bad /bæd/ A1	adjective - of poor quality or a low standard
people /ˈpiːpl/ A1	noun - human beings in general or considered collectively
talk /tɔːk/ A1	verb - to speak in order to give information or express ideas
played /pleɪd/ A1	verb - to engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation
ask /æsk/ A2	verb - to request information or an answer to a question
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - a deep feeling of affection and care toward someone or something
another /əˈnʌðər/ A1	adjective - one more, an additional
keep /kiːp/ B1	verb - to retain possession of; to continue to have
channel /ˈtʃænəl/ B1	noun - a means of communication; a TV or radio station

Key Grammar Structures

• Didn't you know I was waiting on you?

  ➔ Past simple in questions with 'didn't'

  ➔ The verb 'didn't' is used to form a question in the past simple tense, asking about previous knowledge.

• Waiting on a dream that'll never come true

  ➔ Future contraction ('ll) in relative clauses

  ➔ 'That'll' is a contraction of 'that will,' used in relative clauses to describe future actions.

• My face turned to stone when I heard the news

  ➔ Past simple with 'when' clause

  ➔ The past simple is used with a 'when' clause to indicate a specific time in the past.

• 'Cause I just heard some real bad news

  ➔ Informal contraction ('cause) for 'because'

  ➔ 'Cause is an informal contraction of 'because,' commonly used in spoken English.

• Oh, you just gon' keep another? No, you won't

  ➔ Contraction ('gon') for 'going to'

  ➔ 'Gon' is a colloquial contraction of 'going to,' often used in informal speech.

• While I'm waiting on a dream that'll never come true

  ➔ Present continuous in 'while' clauses

  ➔ The present continuous ('I'm waiting') is used in 'while' clauses to describe an action happening now.