Black Water Lilies – English Lyrics

• By: AURORA

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the enchanting world of AURORA's "Black Water Lilies" and immerse yourself in its dreamlike soundscape. This song offers a unique opportunity to learn English through its poetic and vivid imagery. The lyrics paint a beautiful picture of serenity and transformation, making the language both accessible and deeply moving. Exploring this song can help you connect with emotive storytelling in music and expand your vocabulary with its ethereal descriptions.

[English]

When I'm on a boat

I float, I know I can never drown

I see underwater land

The wind, the wind is the only sound

Take your hand and I go under

I'm under and above

Take your hand and I go under

I'm under and above

On the river

I'm floating in

On the water

I'm diving into the ocean

A thousand black water lilies

In the river

I'm floating in

On the water

I'm diving into the ocean

A thousand black water lilies

Black water lilies

Arms are reaching for

My arms, I can see no more

We dance as we float around

We head towards the ocean floor

Take your hand and I go under

I'm under and above

Take your hand and I go under

I'm under and above

On the river

I'm floating in

On the water

I'm diving into the ocean

A thousand black water lilies

In the river

I'm floating in

On the water

I'm diving into the ocean

A thousand black water lilies

(A thousand black water lilies)

I am warm

Falling down

I am reborn, oh

Water lilies

...

Water lilies

Water lilies

Water lilies

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
boat /bəʊt/ A1	noun - a small vehicle for traveling on water
float /floʊt/ A2	verb - to rest or move on the surface of a liquid
drown /draʊn/ A2	verb - to die by suffocation in water
underwater /ˈʌndərˌwɔːtər/ B2	adjective - situated, occurring, or done beneath the surface of water
land /lænd/ A1	noun - the solid part of the earth's surface
wind /wɪnd/ A1	noun - air moving naturally, especially in the form of a current of air
sound /saʊnd/ A1	noun - vibration that travels through a medium and can be heard
hand /hænd/ A1	noun - the end part of a person's arm beyond the wrist
river /ˈrɪvər/ A1	noun - a large natural stream of water flowing in a channel to the sea, a lake, or another river
water /ˈwɔːtər/ A1	noun - clear, colorless, odorless, and tasteless liquid that forms the seas, lakes and rain
dive /daɪv/ B1	verb - to jump into water and go under the surface
ocean /ˈəʊʃən/ A2	noun - a very large expanse of sea
black /blæk/ A1	adjective - of the darkest color; having no hue
lily /ˈlɪli/ B1	noun - a plant with large white or pink flowers, often found near water
arm /ɑːrm/ A1	noun - each of the two upper limbs of the human body
dance /dæns/ A1	verb - to move rhythmically to music
warm /wɔːrm/ A1	adjective - having or giving off moderate heat
reborn /rɪˈbɔːrn/ C1	verb - to be born again; to experience renewal adjective - having been born again; renewed

Key Grammar Structures

• When I'm on a boat

  ➔ Time Clause with 'When'

  ➔ Subordinate clause introduced by "When" shows a condition for the main action. Present continuous ("I'm") indicates temporary state.

• I know I can never drown

  ➔ Modal Verb 'Can' with Adverb

  ➔ "Can" expresses ability. "Never" modifies the modal verb to indicate absolute impossibility.

• Take your hand and I go under

  ➔ Imperative + Coordinating Conjunction

  ➔ Imperative "Take" gives command. "And" connects two clauses showing cause-effect relationship.

• I'm under and above

  ➔ Contrasting Prepositions

  ➔ Prepositions "under" and "above" create spatial paradox. Copular verb "am" links subject to dual states.

• I'm floating in

  ➔ Present Continuous + Preposition

  ➔ Present continuous ("I'm floating") describes ongoing action. Preposition "in" indicates location/medium.

• Arms are reaching for my arms

  ➔ Present Continuous Passive

  ➔ Passive construction "are reaching" emphasizes action received by "my arms". Shows ongoing external force.

• We dance as we float around

  ➔ Simultaneous Actions with 'As'

  ➔ Conjunction "as" links two simultaneous actions ("dance" and "float"). Present simple for habitual/poetic action.

• I am reborn

  ➔ Passive Voice with Past Participle

  ➔ Passive structure "am reborn" (be + past participle) emphasizes transformation experience over agent.

• The wind is the only sound

  ➔ Definite Article + Superlative Concept

  ➔ Definite article "the" specifies particular wind. "Only" functions as superlative adjective modifying "sound".