Catch My Breath – English Lyrics

• By: Kelly Clarkson
• Album: Piece By Piece

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into Kelly Clarkson's empowering 2012 hit, "Catch My Breath," an electropop track that perfectly captures a moment of needed clarity amidst the chaos of a decade in superstardom. This song offers a masterclass in balancing vulnerability with undeniable vocal strength, teaching listeners the universal lesson that pausing to reclaim your narrative is not weakness, but essential growth.

[English]

I don't wanna be left behind

Distance was a friend of mine

Catching breath in a web of lies

I've spent most of my life

Riding waves, playing acrobat

Shadowboxing the other half

Learning how to react

I've spent most of my time

Catching my breath, letting it go

Turning my cheek for the sake of the show

Now that you know, this is my life

I won't be told what's supposed to be right

Catch my breath

No one can hold me back, I ain't got time for that

Catch my breath

Won't let them get me down, it's all so simple now

Addicted to the love I found

Heavy heart, now a weightless cloud

Making time for the ones that count

I'll spend the rest of my time

Laughing hard with the windows down

Leaving footprints all over town

Keeping faith, karma comes around

I will spend the rest of my life

Catching my breath, letting it go

Turning my cheek for the sake of the show

Now that you know, this is my life

I won't be told what's supposed to be right

Catch my breath

No one can hold me back, I ain't got time for that

Catch my breath

Won't let them get me down, it's all so simple now

You helped me see

The beauty in everything

Catching my breath, letting it go

Turning my cheek for the sake of the show

Now that you know, this is my life

I won't be told what's supposed to be right

Catching my breath, letting it go

Turning my cheek for the sake of this show

Now that you know, this is my life

I won't be told what's supposed to be right (catch my breath)

Catch my breath

No one can hold me back, I ain't got time for that

Catch my breath

Won't let them get me down

It's all so simple now (it's all so simple now)

Catching my breath, letting it go

Turning my cheek for the sake of the show

Now that you know, this is my life

I won't be told what's supposed to be right (catch my breath)

Catch my breath

No one can hold me back, I ain't got time for that (catch my breath)

Catch my breath (catch my breath)

Won't let them get me down, it's all so simple now

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
Catch /kætʃ/ A1	verb - to grasp or capture something
Breath /brɛθ/ A1	noun - air taken into or expelled from the lungs
Behind /bɪˈhaɪnd/ A1	adverb - at or to the back of
Distance /ˈdɪstəns/ A2	noun - the amount of space between two places
Riding /ˈraɪdɪŋ/ A1	verb - to travel on a vehicle or animal
Waves /weɪvz/ A1	noun - a moving ridge on the surface of water
Acrobat /ˈækrəbæt/ B1	noun - a performer of feats of balance and agility
Shadowboxing /ˈʃædoʊˌbɒksɪŋ/ B2	verb - to practice boxing moves without an opponent
React /riˈækt/ A2	verb - to respond to a stimulus
Turning /ˈtɜːrnɪŋ/ A1	verb - to change direction
Cheek /tʃiːk/ A1	noun - the fleshy part of the face below the eye
Addicted /əˈdɪktɪd/ B1	adjective - compulsively dependent on a substance or activity
Weightless /ˈweɪtlɪs/ B1	adjective - without weight or seemingly without weight
Footprints /ˈfʊtprɪnts/ A2	noun - an impression of a foot on a surface
Karma /ˈkɑːrmə/ B1	noun - the force that determines the events in one's life based on actions in previous lives
Faith /feɪθ/ A2	noun - strong belief or trust in someone or something
Simple /ˈsɪmpəl/ A1	adjective - easy to understand or do

Key Grammar Structures

• Distance was a friend of mine

  ➔ Past Simple Tense, Noun as Adjective

  ➔ The verb 'was' is in the Past Simple, indicating a state that existed in the past. 'Distance' functions as an adjective describing 'friend'. The phrase implies a past acceptance or comfort with being emotionally distant.

• I've spent most of my life riding waves, playing acrobat

  ➔ Present Perfect Tense, Gerunds

  ➔ "I've spent" uses the Present Perfect to show an action that started in the past and continues to have relevance now. 'Riding waves' and 'playing acrobat' are gerunds (verb + -ing) functioning as the object of 'spent'.

• Now that you know, this is my life

  ➔ Subordinate Clause with 'that', Declarative Sentence

  ➔ "Now that you know" is a subordinate clause introduced by 'that', providing context for the main clause 'this is my life'. It's a declarative sentence stating a fact.

• I won't be told what's supposed to be right

  ➔ Future Negative with 'won't', Passive Voice (implied)

  ➔ "I won't be told" expresses a refusal to accept instructions or opinions. The passive voice ('be told') implies someone else would be doing the telling. It's a strong statement of independence.