Chains of Love – English Lyrics

• By: Charli XCX
• Album: Wuthering Heights

Lyrics & Translation

Step into the dramatic and emotional world of Charli XCX's gothic ballad, "Chains of Love." This track is perfect for learning English vocabulary related to intense emotion and complex relationships, such as 'torment,' 'prisoner,' and 'shackle,' all while exploring an evocative style that's a powerful departure from modern pop norms. Its deep, descriptive language offers a masterclass in English lyrical metaphor and poetic storytelling.

[English]

I'd rather lay down in thorns

I'd rather drown in a stream

I'd rather light myself on fire

I'd rather wear all these scars

I'd rather watch my skin bleed

In the eye of your storm

I can't let go

Shattering like glass

Yes, they're breaking up my heart

The chains of love are cruel

I shouldn't feel like a prisoner, oh

My face is turning blue

Can't breathe without you here

The chains of love are cruel

I shouldn't feel like a prisoner, oh

No matter how hard I try

I'm here so permanently, yeah

And I wait for your call

I can't let go

I know the chains of love won't break

I know the chains of love won't break

Shattering like glass

Yes, they're breaking up my heart

The chains of love are cruel

I shouldn't feel like a prisoner, oh

My face is turning blue

I can't breathe without you here

The chains of love are cruel

I shouldn't feel like a prisoner, oh

Oh, oh, oh-oh

Oh-oh, oh, oh, oh, oh-oh

Oh-oh, oh, oh, oh, oh-oh

Oh-oh

I know the chains of love won't break

I know the chains of love won't break

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
chain /tʃeɪn/ B1	noun - a series of connected metal rings used for fastening or securing things
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - a deep feeling of affection for someone
fire /ˈfaɪər/ A2	noun - flames or burning heat used for light or warmth
scar /skɑːr/ B2	noun - a mark left on the skin after an injury heals
storm /stɔːrm/ A2	noun - a violent weather condition with wind, rain, or snow
heart /hɑːrt/ A2	noun - the organ that pumps blood through the body; center of emotion
cruel /ˈkruːəl/ B2	adjective - causing pain or suffering; not kind
prisoner /ˈprɪzənər/ B1	noun - a person kept in prison
breathe /briːð/ B1	verb - to take air into your lungs and send it out again
break /breɪk/ A2	verb - to separate into pieces or damage by force
glass /ɡlæs/ A2	noun - a hard, transparent material used for windows and containers
skin /skɪn/ A2	noun - the outer layer covering a human or animal body
bleed /bliːd/ B2	verb - to lose blood through an injury
permanent /ˈpɜːrmənənt/ B2	adjective - lasting for a long time or forever
shatter /ˈʃætər/ C1	verb - to break suddenly into many small pieces
drown /draʊn/ B2	verb - to die by being underwater and unable to breathe

Key Grammar Structures

• I'd rather lay down in thorns.

  ➔ I would rather + base verb.

  ➔ The phrase 'I'd rather' shows preference or a hypothetical desire.

• I'd rather drown in a stream.

  ➔ Would rather + base verb (repeated structure for preference).

  ➔ Repetition of 'would rather' emphasizes emotional intensity and multiple unwanted choices.

• I'd rather light myself on fire.

  ➔ Reflexive pronoun 'myself'.

  ➔ 'Myself' refers back to the subject 'I', showing the action affects the speaker.

• The chains of love are cruel.

  ➔ Linking verb 'be' + adjective complement.

  ➔ 'Are' links the subject 'chains of love' with the complement 'cruel'.

• I shouldn't feel like a prisoner.

  ➔ Modal verb 'should' + negative + base verb.

  ➔ 'Shouldn't feel' expresses an obligation that conflicts with emotion or expectation.

• My face is turning blue.

  ➔ Present continuous tense (be + verb-ing).

  ➔ The continuous form 'is turning' describes a process of change happening now.

• Can't breathe without you here.

  ➔ Modal verb 'can' in negative form + base verb.

  ➔ 'Can't breathe' indicates impossibility due to emotional dependency.

• No matter how hard I try.

  ➔ Concessive clause starting with 'no matter how'.

  ➔ The phrase means effort is contrasted with result, often expressing resignation.

• I can't let go.

  ➔ Verb phrase 'let go' as phrasal verb.

  ➔ 'Let go' functions as one unit meaning 'to release' or 'stop holding on'.