Cleopatra – English Lyrics

• By: The Lumineers
• Album: Cleopatra

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the poignant narrative of The Lumineers' "Cleopatra"! This beautifully crafted folk-rock song offers a rich tapestry of storytelling, making it an excellent choice for language learners. Through its evocative lyrics and accessible musical style, you can explore themes of life choices, regret, and resilience, all while enhancing your English vocabulary and understanding of idiomatic expressions. The song's clear vocals and compelling story provide a unique and emotional way to engage with the English language and its nuanced expressions of human experience.

[English]

I was Cleopatra, I was young and an actress

When you knelt by my mattress and asked for my hand

But I was sad, you asked it as I laid in a black dress

With my father in a casket, I had no plans, yeah

...

And I left the footprints, the mud stained on the carpet

And it hardened like my heart did when you left town

...

Well, I must admit it, that I would marry you in an instant

Damn your wife, I'd be your mistress just to have you around

But I was late for this, late for that, late for the love of my life

And when I die alone, when I die alone, die I'll be on time

And while the church discouraged any lust that burned within me

...

Yes, my flesh it was my currency, but I held true

So I drive a taxi, and the traffic distracts me

From the strangers in my backseat, they remind me of you

But I was late for this, late for that, late for the love of my life

And when I die alone, when I die alone, when I die I'll be on time

The only gifts from my Lord, were birth and a divorce

But I've read this script and the costume fits, so I play my part

...

I was Cleopatra, I was taller than the rafters

...

But that's all in the past, love, gone with the wind

And now a nurse in white shoes leads me back to my guestroom

It's a bed and a bathroom and a place for the end

...

I won't be late for this, late for that, late for the love of my life

And when I die alone, when I die alone, die I'll be on time

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
Cleopatra /kliːəˈpætrə/ C1	noun - the last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt
actress /ˈæktrɪs/ B1	noun - a female performer in theater, film, or television
casket /ˈkæskɪt/ B2	noun - a small ornamental chest or box, especially for holding a dead body
footprints /ˈfʊtprɪnts/ B2	noun - marks or impressions left by a foot or shoes on a surface
heart /hɑːrt/ A2	noun - the organ that pumps blood through the body; also the centre of emotions
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - a deep affection or strong feeling of attachment verb - to feel deep affection for someone
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the existence of an individual human being or animal
die /daɪ/ B1	verb - to cease living; to become dead
church /tʃɜːrtʃ/ A2	noun - a building used for public Christian worship
lust /lʌst/ C1	noun - intense or uncontrolled desire, especially sexual desire
flesh /flɛʃ/ B2	noun - the soft substance consisting of muscle and fat that covers the body of an animal or person
taxi /ˈtæksi/ A2	noun - a car licensed to transport passengers in return for payment of a fare
strangers /ˈstreɪndʒərz/ B1	noun - people whom one does not know
gifts /ɡɪfts/ A2	noun - things given voluntarily without payment in return; presents
Lord /lɔːrd/ B2	noun - a title for a man of high rank or authority, especially in Christianity
script /skrɪpt/ B2	noun - the written text of a play, movie, or broadcast
costume /ˈkɒstjuːm/ B2	noun - clothing worn to represent a particular period, place, or character
past /pɑːst/ A2	noun - the time before the present adjective - gone by in time; former
wind /wɪnd/ A2	noun - the natural movement of air, especially in the form of a current of air
nurse /nɜːrs/ A2	noun - a person trained to care for the sick or infirm, especially in a hospital

Key Grammar Structures

• I was Cleopatra, I was young and an actress

  ➔ Past Simple Tense

  ➔ The phrase uses the past simple tense ('was') to describe a completed action in the past, highlighting the speaker's former identity and state.

• When you knelt by my mattress and asked for my hand

  ➔ Past Continuous + Past Simple

  ➔ The sentence combines past continuous ('knelt') with past simple ('asked') to show an action in progress interrupted by another action.

• But I was sad, you asked it as I laid in a black dress

  ➔ Past Simple + Past Continuous

  ➔ The sentence uses past simple ('was', 'asked') and past continuous ('laid') to contrast a completed action with an ongoing one.

• And I left the footprints, the mud stained on the carpet

  ➔ Past Simple with Resulting State

  ➔ The past simple ('left') is used to describe an action that resulted in a lasting state ('mud stained on the carpet').

• Well, I must admit it, that I would marry you in an instant

  ➔ Modal Verb (Must) + Conditional

  ➔ The modal verb 'must' expresses necessity, followed by a conditional statement ('would marry') indicating a hypothetical situation.

• But I was late for this, late for that, late for the love of my life

  ➔ Adverbial Phrase of Time

  ➔ The repeated use of 'late for' forms adverbial phrases indicating specific times or opportunities missed.

• And while the church discouraged any lust that burned within me

  ➔ Subordinating Conjunction (While)

  ➔ The subordinating conjunction 'while' introduces a contrastive clause, showing an action happening simultaneously with another.

• So I drive a taxi, and the traffic distracts me

  ➔ Coordinating Conjunction (And)

  ➔ The coordinating conjunction 'and' connects two independent clauses, showing a relationship between them.

• It's a bed and a bathroom and a place for the end

  ➔ Compound Subject

  ➔ The sentence uses a compound subject ('a bed and a bathroom and a place') connected by 'and' to describe multiple elements as a single unit.