Both Sides Now
Lyrics:
[English]
Rows and flows of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere
I've looked at clouds that way
But now they only block the sun
They rain and snow on everyone
So many things I would've done
But clouds got in my way
I've looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down, and still somehow
It's cloud illusions, I recall
I really don't know clouds at all
...
Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels
The dizzy dancin' way you feel
As every fairy tale comes real
I've looked at love that way
But now it's just another show
You leave 'em laughin' when you go
And if you care, don't let them know
Don't give yourself away
I've looked at love from both sides now
From give and take, and still somehow
It's love's illusions, I recall
I really don't know love at all
...
Tears and fears and feeling proud
To say "I love you" right out loud
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds
I've looked at life that way
But now old friends are acting strange
They shake their heads, they say I've changed
Well, something's lost, but something's gained
In living every day
I've looked at life from both sides now
From win and lose and still somehow
It's life's illusions, I recall
I really don't know life at all
...
I've looked at life from both sides now
From up and down, and still somehow
It's life's illusions, I recall
I really don't know life at all
...
Vocabulary in this song:
Vocabulary | Meanings |
---|---|
clouds /klaʊdz/ A1 |
|
sun /sʌn/ A1 |
|
rain /reɪn/ A1 |
|
snow /snoʊ/ A1 |
|
sides /saɪdz/ A1 |
|
illusions /ɪˈluːʒənz/ B2 |
|
love /lʌv/ A1 |
|
show /ʃoʊ/ A1 |
|
tears /tɪərz/ A2 |
|
fears /fɪərz/ A2 |
|
life /laɪf/ A1 |
|
dreams /driːmz/ A2 |
|
friends /frendz/ A1 |
|
lost /lɒst/ A2 |
|
gained /ɡeɪnd/ B1 |
|
Grammar:
-
So many things I would've done
➔ Conditional Perfect (Would have + past participle)
➔ The phrase "would've done" (would have done) expresses a hypothetical situation in the past that did not happen. It's used to imagine a different outcome if circumstances had been different. "So many things I "would've done"", implies regret or unrealized potential.
-
But now they only block the sun
➔ Simple Present (they block)
➔ The use of the simple present tense "block" signifies a current or habitual action. It describes the clouds' current state or their regular behavior. "But now they only "block" the sun", describes clouds negative impact.
-
It's cloud illusions, I recall
➔ Noun as adjective (cloud illusions), Simple Present (I recall)
➔ "Cloud" is used as an adjective to describe the type of illusions being discussed. "I recall" is in the simple present, indicating a memory or something that is generally true for the speaker. "It's "cloud illusions", I "recall"", refers back to the initial idealistic view of clouds now being recognised as deceptive.
-
The dizzy dancin' way you feel
➔ Present Participle as adjective (dancin')
➔ "Dancin'" is a present participle used as an adjective to describe the noun "way". It gives more information about the nature of the way of feeling. "The dizzy "dancin'" way you feel", expresses the euphoric and carefree nature of early love.
-
You leave 'em laughin' when you go
➔ Present Continuous (You leave 'em laughin')
➔ The use of present continuous with "leave 'em laughin'" describes an action happening around the time of speaking, indicating a continuous act when you leave a situation/relationship. "You leave 'em "laughin'" when you go", implying superficiality of the relationship.
-
Well, something's lost, but something's gained
➔ Passive Voice (something's lost, something's gained)
➔ The passive voice is used to emphasize the result of the action (loss or gain) rather than the actor who caused it. "Well, something's "lost", but something's "gained"", implies an acceptance of the changes brought by life experiences.