Don't Chain My Heart – English Lyrics

• By: Toto

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into Toto's "Don't Chain My Heart" to explore the English language through its heartfelt lyrics. This hard-rocking track from 1992 offers a rich vocabulary related to emotions, relationships, and the longing for freedom, making it an engaging way to understand expressive English in a musical context.

[English]

Tired and frozen

I'm under your spell

I thought I knew you

But now I know you well

I wake up beside you

Move across your killing floor

I need my freedom and I see an open door

The room is getting smaller and the walls are closin' in

No one's leavin' and nobody's gettin' in

I try to run

I try to hide

I try to tell you what I'm feelin' inside

Should I stay

Should I go

You know I wanna touch you

But there's nothing left to hold

Don't chain my heart (Don't chain my heart)

Don't chain my soul (Don't chain my soul)

Don't chain my heart (Don't chain my heart)

'Cause you got to let it go

Looks like trouble

The signs are everywhere

I bend a little but you take more than your share

Crimes of passion

Crimes of mortal men

It's a deadly attraction and I won't be fooled again, baby

The storm is coming

The winds begin to rise

Please release me from this house of compromise

All day

All night

Your love is like an outlaw waiting till the time is right

Nobody's wrong

No one's to blame

Maybe it's just too hot because we're standin' in the flame

Don't chain my heart (Don't chain my heart)

Don't chain my soul (Don't chain my soul)

Don't chain my heart (Don't chain my heart)

'Cause you got to let it go

I'm a victim of your pain and jealousy

I feel like a prisoner and you hold the lock and key

We lost our vision

We lost our paradise

But there's still a part of me I refuse to sacrifice

I try to run

I try to hide

I need to tell you what I'm feelin' inside, baby

Should I stay

Should I go

You know I wanna touch you

But there's nothing left to hold

Don't chain my heart (Don't chain my heart)

Don't chain my soul (Don't chain my soul)

Don't chain my heart (Don't chain my heart)

'Cause you got to let it go

Don't chain my heart

Don't chain my soul

Don't chain my heart

'Cause you got to let it go

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
heart /hɑːrt/ A1	noun - the organ that pumps blood around the body
run /rʌn/ A1	verb - to move quickly on foot
soul /səʊl/ A2	noun - the spiritual or immaterial part of a person
know /nəʊ/ A2	verb - to be aware of through observation, inquiry, or information
hide /haɪd/ A2	verb - to put or keep out of sight
feel /fiːl/ A2	verb - to experience an emotion
love /lʌv/ A2	noun - an intense feeling of affection verb - to feel deep affection for
touch /tʌtʃ/ A2	verb - to put a hand or other part of the body on something
trouble /ˈtrʌbl/ B1	noun - difficulty or problems
wind /waɪnd/ B1	noun - the perceptible natural movement of the air, especially in the form of a current of air blowing from a particular direction.
victim /ˈvɪktɪm/ B1	noun - a person harmed, injured, or killed as a result of a crime, accident, or other event or action.
pain /peɪn/ B1	noun - physical suffering or discomfort caused by illness or injury.
jealousy /ˈdʒeləsi/ B2	noun - the feeling of being jealous.
passion /ˈpæʃən/ B2	noun - a strong and barely controllable emotion.
sacrifice /ˈsækrəfaɪs/ B2	verb - to give up something valued for the sake of other considerations.
compromise /ˈkɒmprəmaɪz/ C1	noun - an agreement or a settlement of a dispute that is reached by each side making concessions.
attraction /əˈtrækʃən/ B2	noun - the action or power of evoking interest, pleasure, or liking for someone or something.

Key Grammar Structures

• I thought I knew you, But now I know you well

  ➔ Past Simple vs. Past Perfect

  ➔ The contrast between 'thought' (Past Simple) and 'have known' (Past Perfect) shows a change in understanding over time.

• I need my freedom and I see an open door

  ➔ Present Simple with Modal Verb

  ➔ 'Need' and 'see' are in the Present Simple, expressing a current desire and observation.

• The room is getting smaller and the walls are closin' in

  ➔ Present Continuous for Change

  ➔ 'Is getting' and 'are closin'' use the Present Continuous to describe a gradual change.

• Should I stay, Should I go

  ➔ Should for Advice/Suggestion

  ➔ 'Should' is used to express uncertainty and seek advice.

• Don't chain my heart (Don't chain my heart)

  ➔ Imperative Mood with 'Do' for Emphasis

  ➔ The negative imperative with 'Don't' is repeated for strong emphasis.

• It's a deadly attraction and I won't be fooled again, baby

  ➔ Will/Won't for Future Determination

  ➔ 'Won't be fooled' uses 'won't' to express strong determination not to repeat a mistake.

• But there's still a part of me I refuse to sacrifice

  ➔ Present Simple with 'Refuse'

  ➔ 'Refuse' in the Present Simple indicates a current and ongoing stance.