Car's Outside – English Lyrics

• By: James Arthur

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music can be a powerful experience, and James Arthur's "Car's Outside" offers a poignant entry point into the emotional landscape of contemporary English songwriting. The song's clear and heartfelt lyrics about love and distance provide an excellent opportunity to understand nuanced expressions of longing and commitment. What makes this song special for learners is its narrative structure and the universal emotions it conveys, making the language both accessible and deeply moving.

[English]

I'm packing my bags that I didn't unpack the last time

I'm saying, "See you again," so many times, it's becoming my tag line

But you know the truth, I'd rather hold you

Than try to catch this flight

So many things I'd rather say, but for now, it's "goodbye"

You say I'm always leaving

You, when you're sleeping alone

But the, the car's outside

But I don't wanna go tonight

I'm not getting in the Addison Lee

Unless you pack your bags

You're coming with me

I'm tired of loving from afar

And never being where you are

Close the windows, lock the doors

Don't wanna leave you anymore

I'm staring at the same four walls in a different hotel

It's an unfamiliar feeling, but I know it so well

Oh, but you know the truth, I'd rather hold you

Than this mobile in my hand

But I guess it'll do

'Cause for you, I would run up my phone bill

You say I'm always leaving

You, when you need me the most

But the, the car's outside

But I don't wanna go tonight

I'm not getting in the Addison Lee

Unless you pack your bags

You're coming with me

I'm tired of loving from afar

And never being where you are

Close the windows, lock the doors

Don't wanna leave you anymore

Ooh-ooh, ah

Ooh-ooh, ah

Ooh-ooh, ah

Don't wanna leave you anymore

Oh, darling, all of the city lights

Never shine as bright as your eyes

I would trade them all for a minute more

But the car's outside

And he's called me twice

But he's gonna have to wait tonight

I'm not getting in the Addison Lee

Unless you pack your bags

You're coming with me

I'm tired of loving from afar

And never being where you are

Close the windows, lock the doors

Don't wanna leave you anymore

Ooh-ooh, ah

Ooh-ooh, ah

Ooh-ooh, ah

Oh, I don't wanna leave you anymore

I don't wanna leave you

I don't wanna leave you

I don't wanna leave you

Don't wanna leave you anymore

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
pack /pæk/ A1	verb - to put things into a container or bag
leave /liːv/ A1	verb - to go away from a place or person
hold /hoʊld/ A1	verb - to have or keep something in your hand or arms
run /rʌn/ A1	verb - to move quickly on foot
close /kloʊz/ A1	verb - to move something so that it covers an opening
lock /lɒk/ A2	verb - to fasten something with a lock
tired /taɪərd/ A2	adjective - feeling a need to rest or sleep
unfamiliar /ˌʌnfəˈmɪliər/ B1	adjective - not known or recognized
shine /ʃaɪn/ A2	verb - to emit light
bright /braɪt/ A2	adjective - giving off a lot of light
trade /treɪd/ B1	verb - to exchange something for something else
minute /ˈmɪnɪt/ A1	noun - a unit of time equal to 60 seconds
call /kɔːl/ A1	verb - to speak to someone on the telephone
wait /weɪt/ A1	verb - to spend time until an expected event happens
sleeping /ˈsliːpɪŋ/ A1	verb - to rest with closed eyes and reduced consciousness
window /ˈwɪndoʊ/ A1	noun - an opening in a wall or roof for light and air
door /dɔːr/ A1	noun - a movable barrier at the entrance of a building or room
bill /bɪl/ A2	noun - a written statement of money owed
mobile /ˈmoʊbaɪl/ A2	noun - a portable telephone

Key Grammar Structures

• I'm packing my bags that I didn't unpack the last time

  ➔ Relative clause (defining) with 'that'

  ➔ The word "that" introduces a defining relative clause: 'that I didn't unpack the last time'.

• I'd rather hold you

  ➔ "would rather" construction to express preference

  ➔ The phrase "I'd rather" equals "I would rather" and expresses preference; the verb that follows is in the base form: "hold".

• Than try to catch this flight

  ➔ After "would rather", use the base form of the verb; in "than" phrases, both verbs stay in base form

  ➔ The structure "would rather" is followed by a base verb; after "than" we also use the base form, so it is "try" (not "to try").

• I'm saying, 'See you again,' so many times, it's becoming my tag line

  ➔ Present continuous for ongoing action; 'it's becoming' shows change over time

  ➔ The phrase "it's becoming" uses the present continuous to describe a process that is changing over time.

• You're always leaving

  ➔ "always" with present continuous to add emphasis on repetition

  ➔ The adverb "always" with the present continuous expresses irritation or strong repetition: "You're always leaving".

• I'm not getting in the Addison Lee

  ➔ Negative present continuous

  ➔ The sentence uses the negative present continuous: "am/'m not getting" to express a plan not to do something.

• Unless you pack your bags

  ➔ Conditional clause introduced by 'unless'

  ➔ The word "unless" introduces a conditional clause meaning "if not"; the verb stays simple present in such clauses.

• You're coming with me

  ➔ Present continuous for future arrangement

  ➔ The sentence uses the present continuous to indicate an arranged plan for the future: "You're coming with me".

• I'm tired of loving from afar

  ➔ "tired of" + gerund (gerund after 'of')

  ➔ The expression "tired of" takes a gerund after it: "loving".

• Close the windows, lock the doors

  ➔ Imperative mood (commands)

  ➔ Both phrases are imperatives giving direct commands: first action then another action.

• I don't wanna leave you anymore

  ➔ "don't wanna" = "do not want to"; informal contracted form

  ➔ The line uses the informal contraction "don't wanna" for "do not want to" followed by an infinitive without 'to': "leave".