Chelsea Girl – English Lyrics

• By: Simple Minds
• Album: 40: The Best of 1979 – 2019

Lyrics & Translation

[English]

(upbeat music)

♪ And now the sound of time is passing fast ♪

♪ It's getting late, don't know if I can take much more ♪

♪ The way you talk I often wondered ♪

♪ If I heard the words somewhere, someplace before ♪

♪ I got so nervous when I called and found that lately ♪

♪ You had gone and changed your name ♪

♪ But I've got something on my mind ♪

♪ I want you here, I want you now ♪

♪ You'd better explain ♪

♪ Is it true you're running round now ♪

♪ Is it true they're calling you the Chelsea Girl ♪

♪ Is it true you're running round now ♪

♪ Is it true they're calling you the Chelsea Girl ♪

(upbeat music)

♪ Your best friend never calls you up ♪

♪ But you don't mind ♪

♪ 'Cause lately things are all the same ♪

♪ Ain't it strange how people always seem to know your face ♪

♪ But just don't know your name ♪

♪ Well, I don't care there's no-one there ♪

♪ That even turned around and say get out of this place ♪

♪ Last night, I saw a shooting star ♪

♪ When morning comes, she hides away ♪

♪ A real disgrace ♪

♪ Is it true you're running round now ♪

♪ Oh, is it true they're calling you the Chelsea Girl ♪

♪ Is it true you're running round now ♪

♪ Is it true they're calling you the Chelsea Girl ♪

(upbeat music)

(upbeat playful music)

♪ Oh, is it true you're running round now ♪

♪ Is it true they're calling you the Chelsea Girl ♪

♪ Oh, is it true you're running round now ♪

♪ Is it true they're calling you the Chelsea Girl ♪

♪ Is it true you're running round now ♪

♪ Is it true they're calling you the Chelsea Girl ♪

♪ Is it true you're running round now ♪

♪ Is it true they're calling you the Chelsea Girl ♪

♪ Ooh, Chelsea Girl ♪

♪ You have got me caught up in a whirl ♪

♪ I want you here now, Chelsea Girl ♪

♪ You have got me caught up in a whirl ♪

♪ I want you here now, Chelsea Girl ♪

♪ You have got me caught up in a whirl ♪

♪ I want you here now, Chelsea Girl ♪

♪ You have got me caught up in a whirl ♪

♪ I want you here now, Chelsea Girl ♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
sound /saʊnd/ A2	noun - vibration that can be heard; a noise
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - the measured or measurable period during which an action, process, or condition exists or continues
mind /maɪnd/ B1	noun - the element of a person that enables them to be aware of the world, think, and feel
name /neɪm/ A1	noun - a word or set of words by which a person or thing is known, addressed, or referred to
girl /ɡɜːrl/ A1	noun - a female child or young woman
Chelsea /ˈtʃɛlsi/ B2	proper noun - a district in London, also used as a personal name
round /raʊnd/ B1	noun - a circular shape or a series of events that repeat in a cycle verb - to move in a circular direction
running /ˈrʌnɪŋ/ B1	verb (gerund) - the act of moving quickly on foot
calling /ˈkɔːlɪŋ/ B1	verb (gerund) - the act of naming or labeling someone or something
friend /frɛnd/ A1	noun - a person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection
night /naɪt/ A1	noun - the period of darkness between sunset and sunrise
star /stɑːr/ A1	noun - a luminous point in the night sky; a famous person
whirl /wɜːrl/ C1	noun - a rapid turning or spinning motion
strange /streɪndʒ/ B2	adjective - unusual or surprising in a way that is unsettling
true /truː/ B1	adjective - in accordance with fact or reality
changed /tʃeɪndʒd/ B1	verb (past participle) - made or become different
nervous /ˈnɜːrvəs/ B1	adjective - feeling anxious or worried
disgrace /dɪsˈɡreɪs/ C1	noun - loss of reputation or respect; a shameful act

Key Grammar Structures

• And now the sound of time is passing fast.

  ➔ Present Continuous (Progressive) – describes an action happening at the moment of speaking.

  ➔ The verb "is passing" is in the present continuous tense, showing that time is moving right now.

• It's getting late, don't know if I can take much more.

  ➔ Contraction "don't" + modal verb "can" – informal negative statement with ability.

  ➔ The phrase "don't know" is a contraction of "do not know" and "can" expresses ability: "I can take".

• You'd better explain.

  ➔ Modal phrase "had better" – gives strong advice or recommendation.

  ➔ "You'd" is a contraction of "you had"; the whole phrase "you had better" means you should do something – here, "explain".

• Is it true you're running round now?

  ➔ Present Continuous in a yes‑no question – "are you" contracted to "you're".

  ➔ The contraction "you're" stands for "you are"; the verb "running" shows the ongoing action at the present moment.

• Is it true they're calling you the Chelsea Girl?

  ➔ Present Continuous with subject pronoun "they are" contracted to "they're".

  ➔ "They're" = "they are"; the verb "calling" expresses an ongoing action of naming someone.

• Your best friend never calls you up.

  ➔ Simple Present with adverb of frequency "never" – describes a habitual action (or lack thereof).

  ➔ "Never" modifies the verb "calls" to show that the action does not happen at any time.

• Ain't it strange how people always seem to know your face?

  ➔ Negative contraction "ain't" + verb + infinitive "seem to" – informal style expressing perception.

  ➔ "Ain't" is a colloquial negative for "is not"; "seem to know" uses the infinitive "to know" after "seem" to express apparent knowledge.

• I have got something on my mind.

  ➔ Present Perfect "have got" – expresses possession that started in the past and continues now.

  ➔ "Have got" (contraction of "have" + "got") is used like "have" to mean "possess"; the perfect aspect shows the state is relevant now.

• You have got me caught up in a whirl.

  ➔ Present Perfect + passive participle "have got... caught up" – shows a result that began in the past and affects the present.

  ➔ "Have got" conveys possession of the state; "caught up" is a past participle functioning as an adjective, meaning "entangled".