Closer Than You Know – English Lyrics

• By: Hillsong UNITED
• Album: Empires

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music can be a deeply moving experience, and "Closer Than You Know" offers a unique opportunity to connect with English through powerful and emotive worship. The song's lyrical depth, with its themes of unwavering love and hope, provides a rich context for understanding nuanced vocabulary and expressive phrasing. What makes this song special is its narrative perspective, written as if from Jesus to the listener, creating a personal and comforting journey as you learn.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - deep affection or strong feeling of attachment
light /laɪt/ A1	noun - visible radiation that makes things visible; illumination
eyes /aɪz/ A1	noun - the organs of sight in the head
lift /lɪft/ A1	verb - to raise or move something to a higher position
voice /vɔɪs/ A1	noun - the sound produced by humans when speaking or singing
sing /sɪŋ/ A1	verb - to produce musical sounds with the voice
faith /feɪθ/ B1	noun - complete trust or confidence in someone or something; religious belief
storm /stɔːrm/ B2	noun - a violent disturbance of the atmosphere with strong winds and rain
fire /faɪə(r)/ A1	noun - combustion that produces heat and light; flames
cross /krɒs/ A2	noun - a shape formed by two intersecting lines; a Christian symbol
soul /səʊl/ B2	noun - the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being, regarded as immortal
praise /preɪz/ B2	verb - to express admiration or approval of someone or something
sin /sɪn/ A2	noun - an immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law
Jesus /ˈdʒiːzəs/ A2	noun - the central figure of Christianity; the Son of God
God /ɡɒd/ A1	noun - the supreme being worshiped in monotheistic religions
crown /kraʊn/ B1	noun - a decorative headpiece worn by royalty; a symbol of authority
shame /ʃeɪm/ B2	noun - a painful feeling of humiliation caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior
dare /deə/ B2	verb - to have the courage to do something risky or challenging

Key Grammar Structures

• I tempered the storm

  ➔ Past Simple Tense

  ➔ The verb 'tempered' is in the past simple tense, indicating a completed action in the past.

• Don’t turn your eyes from Me

  ➔ Negative Imperative

  ➔ The phrase uses a negative imperative with 'Don’t' to give a strong command not to do something.

• For My love won’t be undone

  ➔ Future with 'will' in negative form

  ➔ The phrase uses 'won’t' (contraction of 'will not') to express a future action that will not happen.

• Lift up your eyes and see

  ➔ Imperative Mood with Compound Verb

  ➔ The phrase uses the imperative mood with a compound verb 'lift up' to give a direct command.

• And I won't forsake you

  ➔ Future with 'will' in negative form

  ➔ The phrase uses 'won't' to express a future action that will not happen, emphasizing commitment.

• Breathing deep within me

  ➔ Present Continuous Tense

  ➔ The phrase uses the present continuous tense with 'breathing' to describe an action happening now.

• For I’m Yours and You are mine

  ➔ Present Simple Tense with 'be'

  ➔ The phrase uses the present simple tense with 'am' and 'are' to express a permanent state.

• And my soul knows well

  ➔ Present Simple Tense

  ➔ The phrase uses the present simple tense with 'knows' to express a general truth or permanent state.