Closer – English Lyrics

• By: The Chainsmokers, Halsey

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the world of “Closer” by The Chainsmokers and Halsey, a song that perfectly encapsulates the complexities of young love and fleeting moments. By exploring its creation, message, and impact, you'll discover how this track became a defining anthem of its time, offering a unique lens through which to understand the language of modern pop and the art of crafting a viral hit.

[English]

Hey, I was doing just fine before I met you

I drink too much and that's an issue, but I'm okay

Hey, you tell your friends it was nice to meet them

But I hope I never see them again

I know it breaks your heart

Moved to the city in a broke-down car, and

Four years, no calls

Now you're lookin' pretty in a hotel bar

And I-I-I can't stop

No, I-I-I can't stop

So, baby, pull me closer in the backseat of your Rover

That I know you can't afford, bite that tattoo on your shoulder

Pull the sheets right off the corner of the mattress that you stole

From your roommate back in Boulder, we ain't ever gettin' older

We ain't ever gettin' older

We ain't ever gettin' older

You look as good as the day I met you

I forget just why I left you, I was insane

Stay and play that blink-182 song

That we beat to death in Tucson, okay

I know it breaks your heart

Moved to the city in a broke-down car, and

Four years, no call

Now I'm lookin' pretty in a hotel bar

And I-I-I can't stop

No, I-I-I can't stop

So, baby, pull me closer in the backseat of your Rover

That I know you can't afford, bite that tattoo on your shoulder

Pull the sheets right off the corner of the mattress that you stole

From your roommate back in Boulder, we ain't ever gettin' older

We ain't ever gettin' older

We ain't ever gettin' older

So, baby, pull me closer in the backseat of your Rover

That I know you can't afford, bite that tattoo on your shoulder

Pull the sheets right off the corner of the mattress that you stole

From your roommate back in Boulder, we ain't ever gettin' older

We ain't ever gettin' older, no, we ain't ever gettin' older

We ain't ever gettin' older, no, we ain't ever gettin' older

We ain't ever gettin' older, we ain't ever gettin' older

We ain't ever gettin' older, no, we ain't ever gettin' older

Older

We ain't ever gettin' older

Older

No, we ain't ever gettin' older

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
meet /miːt/ A1	verb - to encounter someone for the first time or by arrangement
friends /frendz/ A1	noun - a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection
heart /hɑːrt/ A2	noun - the organ that pumps blood through the body noun - the seat of emotions
city /ˈsɪti/ A1	noun - a large town or urban area
car /kɑːr/ A1	noun - a road vehicle, typically with four wheels, powered by an internal combustion engine or electric motor
bar /bɑːr/ A2	noun - a place where alcoholic drinks are served
stop /stɒp/ A1	verb - to cease moving or operating
baby /ˈbeɪbi/ A1	noun - a very young child noun - a term of endearment
pull /pʊl/ A2	verb - to exert force on (someone or something) so as to move them towards oneself
tattoo /tæˈtuː/ B1	noun - a permanent mark or design made on the skin by pricking it and inserting an indelible ink
shoulder /ˈʃəʊldər/ A2	noun - the part of the human body between the neck and the upper arm
sheets /ʃiːts/ A2	noun - a large piece of cloth used as bedding, typically one of a pair
mattress /ˈmætrɪs/ B1	noun - a fabric case filled with firm material, used for sleeping on
roommate /ˈruːmmeɪt/ A2	noun - a person with whom one shares a room or dwelling
older /ˈoʊldər/ A1	adjective - having lived for a relatively long time
insane /ɪnˈseɪn/ B2	adjective - in a state of mind that prevents normal perception, behavior, or social interaction

Key Grammar Structures

• Hey, I was doing just fine before I met you

  ➔ Past Continuous Tense

  ➔ The past continuous tense "was doing" describes an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past, before meeting the other person. It emphasizes the ongoing nature of feeling fine at that point.

• I drink too much and that's an issue, but I'm okay

  ➔ Adverb of degree "too much"

  ➔ "Too much" modifies "drink," indicating an excessive quantity or degree. It's used to express that the amount of drinking is problematic.

• I hope I never see them again

  ➔ Subjunctive mood (implied)

  ➔ While not explicitly using a subjunctive form, the sentence expresses a wish or desire, implying a degree of uncertainty. The speaker is hoping for a specific outcome.

• Moved to the city in a broke-down car

  ➔ Past participle as adjective ("broke-down")

  ➔ "Broke-down" is a past participle acting as an adjective to describe the condition of the car. It means the car was not working or in a state of disrepair.

• Now you're lookin' pretty in a hotel bar

  ➔ Present Continuous Tense (informal spelling)

  ➔ "You're lookin'" is an informal contraction of "you are looking". The present continuous describes an action happening now or around now.

• Pull me closer in the backseat of your Rover

  ➔ Imperative mood

  ➔ "Pull" is the imperative form of the verb, giving a direct command or request.

• That I know you can't afford

  ➔ Relative Clause with omitted relative pronoun

  ➔ The full clause would be "that I know *that* you can't afford". The relative pronoun "that" (or sometimes "which") is often omitted when it is the object of the relative clause.

• We ain't ever gettin' older

  ➔ Double Negative (Non-Standard English)

  ➔ "Ain't ever" is a double negative construction. In standard English, it would be "aren't ever" or "are never". Using "ain't ever" is a feature of some dialects and is considered grammatically incorrect in formal settings.