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Black flies on the windowsill 00:21

That we are, that we are, that we are to know 00:25

Winter stole summer's thrill 00:30

And the river's cracked and cold 00:34

See, the sky is no man's land 00:37

A darkened plume to stay 00:42

Hope here needs a humble hand 00:45

Not a fox found in your place 00:49

00:54

No man is an island 01:13

Oh, this I know 01:19

But can't you see, oh? 01:23

Or maybe you were the ocean 01:26

When I was just a stone 01:31

01:36

Black flies on the windowsill 01:39

That we are, that we are, that we are to hold 01:42

Comfort came against my will 01:48

And every story must grow old 01:52

Still I'll be a traveller 01:55

A gypsy's reins to face 01:59

But the road is wearier 02:02

With that fool found in your place 02:06

02:11

No man is an island 02:27

Oh, this I know 02:32

But can't you see, oh? 02:37

Or maybe you were the ocean 02:39

When I was just a stone 02:44

02:49

No man is an island 02:54

Oh, this I know 03:00

But can't you see, oh? 03:04

Or maybe you were the ocean 03:07

When I was just a stone 03:11

03:16

So here we are 03:20

03:23

Ooh, ooh 03:37

Ooh, ooh 03:45

Ooh, ooh 03:52

Ooh, ooh 03:59

Ooh, ooh 04:03

04:09

And I don't wanna beg your pardon 04:57

And I don't wanna ask you why 05:00

But if I was to go my own way 05:04

Would I have to pass you by? 05:08

And I don't wanna beg your pardon 05:12

And I don't wanna ask you why 05:15

But if I was to go my own way 05:19

Would I have to pass you by? 05:22

Ooh, ooh 05:26

Ooh, ooh 05:33

Ooh, ooh 05:37

Ooh, ooh 05:44

Ooh, ooh 05:48

05:48

Black Flies – English Lyrics

Ben Howard

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Language

English

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Lyrics & Translation

[English]

Black flies on the windowsill

That we are, that we are, that we are to know

Winter stole summer's thrill

And the river's cracked and cold

See, the sky is no man's land

A darkened plume to stay

Hope here needs a humble hand

Not a fox found in your place

...

No man is an island

Oh, this I know

But can't you see, oh?

Or maybe you were the ocean

When I was just a stone

...

Black flies on the windowsill

That we are, that we are, that we are to hold

Comfort came against my will

And every story must grow old

Still I'll be a traveller

A gypsy's reins to face

But the road is wearier

With that fool found in your place

...

No man is an island

Oh, this I know

But can't you see, oh?

Or maybe you were the ocean

When I was just a stone

...

No man is an island

Oh, this I know

But can't you see, oh?

Or maybe you were the ocean

When I was just a stone

...

So here we are

...

Ooh, ooh

...

And I don't wanna beg your pardon

And I don't wanna ask you why

But if I was to go my own way

Would I have to pass you by?

And I don't wanna beg your pardon

And I don't wanna ask you why

But if I was to go my own way

Would I have to pass you by?

Ooh, ooh

...

Key Vocabulary

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Vocabulary	Meanings
flies /flaɪz/ B1	noun - insects with two wings
window /ˈwɪndəʊ/, /ˈwɪndoʊ/ A2	noun - an opening in a wall or vehicle for light or air
winter /ˈwɪntər/ A2	noun - the coldest season of the year
summer's /ˈsʌmərz/ A2	noun (possessive form of summer) - related to the summer season
river /ˈrɪvər/ A2	noun - a large natural flow of water
sky /skaɪ/ A2	noun - the space above the Earth
land /lænd/, /lɑːnd/ A2	noun - solid part of the Earth's surface
plume /pluːm/ B2	noun - a feather or a cloud of smoke, dust, or vapor
hope /hoʊp/ B1	noun / verb - the feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen / to want for something to happen
hand /hænd/ A2	noun - the long, narrow part of the body at the end of the arm
story /ˈstɔːri/ A2	noun - an account of real or imaginary events
traveller /ˈtrævələ/ B2	noun - a person who travels, especially over long distances
gipsy's /ˈdʒɪp.siz/ C1	adjective - pertaining to a gypsy or gypsies

Key Grammar Structures

No man is an island

➔ Present Simple tense with 'to be' in negative form and indefinite article 'an'.

➔ This is a common expression indicating that nobody is entirely isolated or alone.
Would I have to pass you by?

➔ Use of modal 'would' to form conditional or hypothetical questions.

➔ Expresses a hypothetical or conditional action, asking if passing by would be necessary under certain circumstances.
Hope here needs a humble hand

➔ Use of singular noun 'hand' with quantifier 'a' and adjective 'humble'.

➔ The phrase suggests that hope requires humility or modesty to succeed.
And I don't wanna beg your pardon

➔ Use of modal 'wanna' (informal for 'want to') with the base verb 'beg'.

➔ Indicates a desire or intention informally to not plead for forgiveness or permission.
Would I have to pass you by?

➔ Use of modal 'would' for forming hypothetical questions, with 'have to' for necessity.

➔ Expresses a hypothetical or conditional scenario asking if passing you by is necessary under certain conditions.
And I don't wanna ask you why

➔ Use of 'wanna' (informal for 'want to') with the base verb 'ask'.

➔ Expresses a desire not to inquire about the reasons or details, implying sensitivity or restraint.

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