Bubblegum – English Lyrics

• By: Cigarettes After Sex
• Album: 𝑿'𝒔

Lyrics & Translation

[English]

Licking the barrel of a gun, chewing it like it's bubblegum

Wave it like a magic wand, pop a few rounds off

Just for fun

Go to the strip club all alone, thinking that I could take you home

...

To picture you with those other guys, it's driving me crazy

All the time

...

Well, I never wanted to be with you

But I think I'm falling, so what can I do?

You'll just lead me on until I'm drowning in tears

...

Oh, and you're holding me

Oh, and you're holding me

...

Oh, and you're holding me

...

As if I was the last man standing on earth

...

Well, I never wanted to be with you

...

But I think I'm falling, so what can I do?

...

You'll just lead me on until I'm drowning in tears

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
gun /ɡʌn/ B2	noun - a weapon that shoots bullets
bubblegum /ˈbʌb.əlˌɡʌm/ B2	noun - a type of chewing gum that is sweet and soft
wave /weɪv/ B1	verb - to move your hand to say hello or goodbye noun - a moving ridge on the surface of water
magic /ˈmædʒ.ɪk/ B2	adjective - relating to supernatural powers or a mysterious force noun - the power of apparently influencing events by supernatural forces
round /raʊnd/ B1	noun - a single occasion or series of events in a contest or activity adjective - having a circular shape
fun /fʌn/ A2	noun - enjoyment and amusement adjective - enjoyable or amusing
strip /strɪp/ B2	noun - a place for entertainment with music and dancing, often involving adult themes verb - to remove clothes or coverings
alone /əˈloʊn/ A2	adjective - without other people
crazy /ˈkreɪ.zi/ B1	adjective - mentally deranged or very enthusiastic
fall /fɔːl/ A2	verb - to move downward
lead /liːd/ B2	verb - to guide or be in charge
drown /draʊn/ B2	verb - to die under water by being unable to breathe
tear /tɪər/ A2	noun - a drop of clear salty liquid from the eyes
hold /hoʊld/ A2	verb - to grasp or carry in the hands
last /læst/ B1	adjective - coming after all others in time or order
man /mæn/ A1	noun - an adult male human
earth /ɜːrθ/ A2	noun - the planet on which we live

Key Grammar Structures

• Licking the barrel of a gun, chewing it like it's bubblegum

  ➔ Gerunds and Present Participles

  ➔ The use of "**Licking**" and "**chewing**" as gerunds/present participles to describe actions happening simultaneously. The phrase "like it's bubblegum" uses the preposition "like" for comparison.

• Wave it like a magic wand, pop a few rounds off

  ➔ Imperative mood, Simile

  ➔ The use of imperative verbs "**Wave**" and "**pop**" creates a sense of instruction or command. The phrase "like a magic wand" is a simile, using "like" to compare the action of waving to a magic wand.

• Go to the strip club all alone, thinking that I could take you home

  ➔ Gerund, Subordinating Conjunctions

  ➔ The word "**thinking**" is a gerund. "That" is a subordinating conjunction introducing the clause "that I could take you home".

• To picture you with those other guys, it's driving me crazy

  ➔ Infinitive phrase, Subject-Verb Agreement

  ➔ "**To picture you**" is an infinitive phrase acting as the subject of the sentence. The verb "**it's**" (it is) agrees with the singular subject "**To picture you**".

• Well, I never wanted to be with you

  ➔ Past Simple, Infinitive

  ➔ The past simple tense is used in "**wanted**". The infinitive "**to be**" follows the verb "wanted".

• But I think I'm falling, so what can I do?

  ➔ Present Continuous, Question form with modal verb

  ➔ "**I'm falling**" uses the present continuous to describe an ongoing action. "**What can I do?**" uses a question form with the modal verb "can".

• You'll just lead me on until I'm drowning in tears

  ➔ Future Simple, Phrasal Verb, Prepositional Phrase

  ➔ "**You'll lead**" uses the future simple tense with "will". "Lead on" is a phrasal verb. "In tears" is a prepositional phrase.

• Oh, and you're holding me

  ➔ Present Continuous

  ➔ The use of the present continuous tense "**are holding**" to describe an action happening now or around now.

• As if I was the last man standing on earth

  ➔ Subjunctive Mood (Were), Conditional Clause

  ➔ The phrase uses the subjunctive mood with "**was**" (incorrect grammar). It should be "**were**" to create an unreal or hypothetical situation. This clause could also be interpreted as a conditional clause, expressing something that is not true or unlikely.