Breathe – English Lyrics

• By: Midge Ure

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music can be a deeply rewarding experience, and Midge Ure's "Breathe" offers a unique opportunity for English learners. The song's clear and heartfelt lyrics, delivered with Ure's distinct vocals, make it easy to follow along and pick up new vocabulary related to emotions and spirituality. The song's themes of hope and perseverance are universal, and its beautiful Celtic-infused melody makes for a memorable and moving listening experience. By exploring the lyrical depth of "Breathe," you can not only improve your English but also connect with a song that has a fascinating history of overcoming initial failure to become a beloved international hit.

[English]

(Breathe)

With every waking breath I breathe

I see what life has dealt to me

With every sadness I deny

I feel a chance inside me die

Give me a taste of something new

To touch, to hold, to pull me through

Send me a guiding light that shines

Across this darkened life of mine

Breathe some soul in me

Breathe your gift of love to me

Breathe life to live for me

Breathe to make me breathe

For every man who built a home

A paper promise for his own

He fights against an open flow

Of lies and failures we all know

To those who have and who have not

How can you live with what you've got?

Give me a touch of something sure

I could be happy evermore

Breathe some soul in me

Breathe your gift of love to me

Breathe life to live for me

To see to make me breathe

Breathe your honesty

Breathe your innocence to me

Breathe your word and set me free

Breathe to make me breathe

...

This life prepares the strangest things

The dreams we dream of what life brings

The highest highs can turn around

To sow love's seeds on stony ground

Breathe

Breathe

Breathe some soul in me

Breathe your gift of love to me

Breathe life to live for me

To see to make me breathe

Breathe your honesty

Breathe your innocence to me

Breathe your word and set me free

Breathe to make me breathe

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
breathe /briːð/ A1	verb - to take air into and expel out of the lungs
life /laɪf/ A2	noun - the existence of living beings
love /lʌv/ B1	noun - deep affection or attachment verb - to feel deep affection for someone or something
dream /driːm/ B2	noun - a series of thoughts, images, or feelings during sleep verb - to experience visions while sleeping or to hope intensely
hope /hoʊp/ B1	noun - a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen verb - to want something to happen or be true
shine /ʃaɪn/ B2	verb - to emit light
darkened /ˈdɑːrkənd/ C1	adjective - covered with darkness or shadows
truth /truːθ/ C2	noun - the actual fact or real situation
honest /ˈɒnɪst/ C1	adjective - free of deceit and untruthfulness
innocence /ˈɪnəsəns/ C2	noun - the state of being free from sin or guilt
set /sɛt/ B2	verb - to put or place something in a particular position
ground /ɡraʊnd/ B2	noun - the solid surface of the earth

Key Grammar Structures

• With every waking breath I breathe

  ➔ Prepositional phrase 'With every waking breath' used to indicate the means or manner.

  ➔ The phrase 'With' introduces a prepositional clause showing the means or manner of breathing.

• I see what life has dealt to me

  ➔ Relative clause 'what life has dealt to me' functions as the object of 'see', indicating what is observed.

  ➔ The clause 'what life has dealt to me' is a noun clause acting as the object of the verb 'see'.

• Give me a taste of something new

  ➔ Imperative sentence using the verb 'Give' with indirect object 'me' and prepositional phrase 'of something new'.

  ➔ The verb 'Give' is in imperative form, commanding or requesting the action of giving something to 'me'.

• Across this darkened life of mine

  ➔ Prepositional phrase 'Across this darkened life of mine' indicating movement or effect over a period of life.

  ➔ The preposition 'Across' suggests movement or span over the duration of 'this darkened life of mine'.

• Breathe some soul in me

  ➔ Imperative sentence with 'Breathe', using an object 'some soul' indicating what to breathe into 'me'.

  ➔ The verb 'Breathe' is in imperative form, commanding to supply 'some soul' into 'me'.