Better Without You – English Lyrics

• By: Evanescence
• Album: The Bitter Truth

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the raw emotion and powerful message of Evanescence's "Better Without You." This track delves into themes of disillusionment and independence, showcasing Amy Lee's incredible vocal range and the band's signature heavy sound. Learn how the song became an anthem for overcoming adversity.

[English]

Stand in the front but shut up 'til I tell you to go

Don't get caught up in pretend 'cause you're not in control

'Cause this is my world, little girl, you'd be lost on your own

Just hating and waiting and saving up

...

I'll do you a favor and save you if you sign on the line

...

Don't worry your pretty little head about the future, it's all fine

Whether you're wrong or you're right

Doesn't matter, you're not up to the fight

Keeping my head down

'Cause they don't know what I know now

As empires fall to pieces

Our ashes twisting in the air

It makes me smile to know that

I'm better without you

...

Now look around and remember your friends if you can

Feeding the flames 'til there's no one to blame, it's on your hands

Lost in your lies, pay the price with our lives, you've gone mad

And there's no way out

'Cause we all know you're hollow

As empires fall to pieces

Our ashes twisting in the air

It makes me smile to know that

I'm better without you

...

Not enough, not enough

...

Not enough to throw it all away

We'd still be falling

We're fallen

Turn it up, turn it up

Never gonna shut me up again

Your time is over

It's over now

As empires fall to pieces

Our ashes twisting in the air

It makes me smile to know that

I'm, I'm better without you

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
control /kənˈtroʊl/ B2	noun - the power to direct or influence behavior or course of events
empires /ˈempaɪərz/ C1	noun - great territories or groups of states under single authority
ashes /ˈæʃɪz/ B2	noun - powdery residue from something that has burned
smile /smaɪl/ A2	verb - to make a happy or friendly expression with your face noun - a happy facial expression
fallen /ˈfɒl.ən/ B2	adjective - having dropped or collapsed
twisting /ˈtwɪs.tɪŋ/ C1	verb - twisting or turning parts of something
wait /weɪt/ A2	verb - to stay in one place or remain inactive until something happens
know /noʊ/ A2	verb - to be aware of something
fall /fɔːl/ A2	verb - to move downward by gravity
throw /θroʊ/ B1	verb - to send something through the air by force
shut /ʃʌt/ A2	verb - to close something
fight /faɪt/ B1	verb - to take part in a violent struggle
pretty /ˈprɪti/ A2	adjective - pleasing in appearance

Key Grammar Structures

• Don't get caught up in pretend 'cause you're not in control

  ➔ Imperative + going to ( future intention)

  ➔ 'Don't get caught up' uses the imperative form to give a command or advice not to become involved.

• It makes me smile to know that I'm better without you

  ➔ Infinitive clause ('to know') as a purpose/subject complement

  ➔ The phrase 'to know that I'm better without you' is an infinitive clause expressing purpose or result.

• As empires fall to pieces

  ➔ Prepositional phrase ('as' introducing simultaneous action)

  ➔ 'As' introduces a clause indicating that two events occur at the same time or condition.

• Just hating and waiting and saving up

  ➔ Gerund phrases (verb + -ing) as a series of actions

  ➔ Gerund forms ('hating', 'waiting', 'saving') are used here as nouns to list ongoing actions or states.

• Turn it up, turn it up

  ➔ Imperative verb ('turn') + object pronoun ('it') + adverb ('up')

  ➔ The construction 'Turn it up' is an imperative sentence with a verb, object, and adverb to give a command to increase volume or intensity.

• Never gonna shut me up again

  ➔ Futuro with 'gonna' + negative ('never' + 'gonna') + verb phrase

  ➔ 'Gonna' is an informal contraction of 'going to' indicating future intention, combined here with 'never' for a negative statement.