Caledonia – English Lyrics

• By: Amy Macdonald
• Album: This Is The Life

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language can be a journey home to a new culture, and Amy Macdonald's version of "Caledonia" is a perfect first step into the heart of Scottish sentiment. The song's clear, emotive lyrics about a deep connection to one's roots offer a beautiful and accessible way to learn some English with a Scottish flavor. What makes this song special is its universal theme of belonging, wrapped in a melody that feels like a warm embrace from the highlands.

[English]

I don't know if - you can see

The changes that have come over me

In these - last few days I've been afraid

That I might drift away.

So I've been telling old stories and singing songs

That make me think about where I came from

And that's the reason why I feel

So far away today

And let me tell you that I love you

That I think about you all the time

Caledonia's been calling me

Now I'm going home

And if I should become a stranger

You know that it would make me more than sad

Caledonia's been everything

I've ever had.

Caledonia's been everything

I've ever had...

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
see /siː/ A1	verb - to perceive with the eyes; discern visually
changes /ˈtʃeɪndʒɪz/ A2	noun - the act or instance of making or becoming different
afraid /əˈfreɪd/ A2	adjective - feeling fear or apprehension; frightened
drift /drɪft/ B2	verb - to be carried slowly by a current of air or water
telling /ˈtelɪŋ/ A1	verb - to relate in words; narrate
stories /ˈstɔːriz/ A2	noun - an account of imaginary or real people and events told for entertainment
singing /ˈsɪŋɪŋ/ A1	verb - to produce musical sounds with the voice
songs /sɒŋz/ A1	noun - a short musical composition with words
think /θɪŋk/ A1	verb - have a particular belief or idea
came /keɪm/ A1	verb - past tense of come
feel /fiːl/ A1	verb - to experience an emotion or sensation
love /lʌv/ A1	verb - have a great affection or liking for.
calling /ˈkɔːlɪŋ/ B1	verb - to summon or request to come
going /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/ A1	verb - move or travel; proceed.
home /hoʊm/ A1	noun - the place where one lives
become /bɪˈkʌm/ A2	verb - to begin to be; to come to be
stranger /ˈstreɪndʒər/ A2	noun - a person whom one does not know or with whom one is not familiar
sad /sæd/ A1	adjective - feeling or showing sorrow; unhappy

Key Grammar Structures

• I don't know if - you can see

  ➔ Conditional sentence with 'if' clause

  ➔ The speaker is expressing uncertainty about a situation using the "if" clause.

• And let me tell you that I love you

  ➔ Imperative form used for emphasis or to make a request

  ➔ The singer is emphasizing their feelings of love directly.

• That I think about you all the time

  ➔ Relative clause used to specify the subject

  ➔ The relative clause 'that I think about you all the time' provides additional information about the love the singer feels.

• And if I should become a stranger

  ➔ Use of the subjunctive mood with 'should' to express hypothetical situations

  ➔ The singer is expressing a hypothetical scenario where they might become unfamiliar or distant.

• Caledonia's been calling me

  ➔ Present perfect tense with 'has/have been' to indicate ongoing relevance or recent action

  ➔ The singer feels a continuous or recent influence or calling from Caledonia.