Bitter Sweet Symphony – English Lyrics
Lyrics & Translation
[English]
(soothing music)
♪ 'Cause it's a bitter sweet symphony, this life ♪
♪ Trying to make ends meet ♪
♪ You're a slave to the money, then you die ♪
♪ I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down ♪
♪ You know the one that takes you to the places ♪
♪ Where all the veins meet, yeah ♪
♪ No change, I can change, I can change, I can change ♪
♪ But I'm here in my mould, I am here in my mould ♪
♪ But I'm a million different people ♪
♪ From one day to the next ♪
♪ I can't change my mold ♪
♪ Well, I've never prayed ♪
♪ But tonight I'm on my knees, yeah ♪
♪ I need to hear some sounds that recognize the pain in me ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
♪ I let the melody shine, let it cleanse my mind ♪
♪ I feel free now ♪
♪ But the airwaves are clean ♪
♪ And there's nobody singing to me now ♪
♪ No change, I can change, I can change, I can change ♪
♪ But I'm here in my mould, I am here in my mould ♪
♪ And I'm a million different people ♪
♪ From one day to the next ♪
♪ I can't change my mould, no, no, no, no, no ♪
♪ Have you ever been down ♪
♪ I can't change it you know, I can't change it ♪
♪ 'Cause it's a bitter sweet symphony this life ♪
♪ Trying to make ends meet ♪
♪ Trying to find some money, then you die ♪
♪ You know I can change, I can change ♪
♪ I can change, I can change ♪
♪ But I'm here in my mould, I am here in my mould ♪
♪ And I'm a million different people ♪
♪ From one day to the next ♪
♪ I can't change my mould, no, no, no, no, no ♪
♪ It's just sex and violence, melody and silence ♪
♪ Gotta, can't change my violence, melody and silence ♪
♪ Gotta, can't change my violence, melody and silence ♪
♪ I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down ♪
♪ Gotta, can't change my violence, melody and silence ♪
♪ I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down ♪
♪ Gotta, can't change my violence, melody and silence ♪
Key Vocabulary
Vocabulary | Meanings |
---|---|
bitter /ˈbɪtər/ B2 |
|
sweet /swiːt/ A1 |
|
symphony /ˈsɪmfəni/ B2 |
|
life /laɪf/ A1 |
|
meet /miːt/ A1 |
|
slave /sleɪv/ B1 |
|
money /ˈmʌni/ A1 |
|
die /daɪ/ A1 |
|
road /roʊd/ A1 |
|
places /ˈpleɪsɪz/ A1 |
|
veins /veɪnz/ B2 |
|
change /tʃeɪndʒ/ A1 |
|
mould /moʊld/ B2 |
|
people /ˈpiːpəl/ A1 |
|
knees /niːz/ A2 |
|
sounds /saʊndz/ A1 |
|
pain /peɪn/ A2 |
|
melody /ˈmelədi/ B1 |
|
mind /maɪnd/ A2 |
|
free /friː/ A1 |
|
violence /ˈvaɪələns/ B2 |
|
silence /ˈsaɪləns/ B1 |
|
Key Grammar Structures
-
Cause it's a bitter sweet symphony, this life
➔ Subject-Verb-Complement; Use of "Cause" as abbreviation of "Because"
➔ The line uses simple sentence structure. "It's" is a contraction of "it is". "Cause" replaces "Because" for informal emphasis. The whole clause means that *this life* is like a *bittersweet symphony*
-
Trying to make ends meet
➔ Gerund phrase as a participle phrase modifying the implied subject (you/we)
➔ "Trying" acts as a participle, describing an action that is happening in parallel. "To make ends meet" is an idiom meaning to have enough money to pay for basic needs.
-
You're a slave to the money, then you die
➔ Present tense to express a general truth; contrasting clauses joined by "then".
➔ The present simple conveys a sense of universal truth. "Then" indicates a sequence or consequence: first you are a slave to money, and subsequently, you die.
-
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
➔ Future simple with "will" (I'll = I will). Relative clause with implied relative pronoun (that/which) omitted: "the only road (that) I've ever been down".
➔ "I'll" is a contraction of "I will", indicating a future action. The relative clause "I've ever been down" modifies "the only road". The relative pronoun "that" or "which" is omitted, common in informal speech/writing.
-
No change, I can change, I can change, I can change
➔ Repetition for emphasis; Use of "can" to express ability/possibility
➔ The repetition of "I can change" creates emphasis and highlights the internal conflict. "Can" shows the *ability* to change but doesn't imply whether the change will happen.
-
But I'm here in my mould, I am here in my mould
➔ Use of "But" to express contrast; repetition for emphasis; present simple to describe a current state; idiom 'in my mould'
➔ "But" contrasts the previous statement (I can change). The repetition of "I am here in my mould" emphasizes the feeling of being stuck or unchangeable. The idiom "in my mould" means stuck in a pattern or way of being. The present simple indicates a current, ongoing state.
-
Well, I've never prayed, but tonight I'm on my knees, yeah
➔ Present perfect tense ("I've never prayed") to describe a past experience up to now. Simple present ("I'm on my knees") for current state. "But" to introduce contrast.
➔ "I've never prayed" indicates that up until *now*, the speaker has never engaged in prayer. "I'm on my knees" describes their current physical state (likely indicating desperation). "But" shows a contrast between the speaker's past and present.