Behind Blue Eyes – English Lyrics

• By: Bryan Adams, The Who

Lyrics & Translation

[English]

No one knows what it's like

To be the bad man, to be the sad man

Behind blue eyes

No one knows what it's like

To be hated, to be fated

To telling only lies

But my dreams, they aren't as empty

As my conscience seems to be

I have hours, only lonely

My love is vengeance that's never free

No one knows what it's like

To feel these feelings like I do

And I blame you

No one bites back as hard

On their anger, none of my pain and woe

Can show through

But my dreams, they aren't as empty

As my conscience seems to be

I have hours, only lonely

My love is vengeance that's never free

When my fist clenches, crack it open

Before I use it and lose my cool

When I smile, tell me some bad news

Before I laugh and act like a fool

And if I swallow anything evil

Put your finger down my throat

And if I shiver, please give me a blanket

Keep me warm, let me wear your coat

No one knows what it's like

To be the bad man, to be the sad man

Behind blue eyes

Key Grammar Structures

• No one knows what it's like

  ➔ Present simple with 'know'

  ➔ The phrase uses the present simple tense with 'know' to express a general truth or fact.

• To be the bad man, to be the sad man

  ➔ Infinitive of purpose

  ➔ The phrase uses the infinitive form ('to be') to express purpose after the verb 'knows'.

• But my dreams, they aren't as empty

  ➔ Subject-verb agreement with 'aren't'

  ➔ The sentence demonstrates subject-verb agreement with 'aren't' matching the plural subject 'my dreams'.

• I have hours, only lonely

  ➔ Present simple with 'have'

  ➔ The sentence uses the present simple tense with 'have' to describe a habitual or ongoing situation.

• When my fist clenches, crack it open

  ➔ Subordinate clause with 'when'

  ➔ The phrase uses a subordinate clause with 'when' to indicate a condition or time.

• Before I use it and lose my cool

  ➔ Subordinating conjunction 'before'

  ➔ The phrase uses the subordinating conjunction 'before' to show a sequence of events.

• And if I swallow anything evil

  ➔ Conditional clause with 'if'

  ➔ The phrase uses a conditional clause with 'if' to express a hypothetical situation.

• Put your finger down my throat

  ➔ Imperative mood

  ➔ The sentence uses the imperative mood to give a direct command.