Don't Look Back – English Lyrics

• By: Bryan Adams
• Album: Shine A Light

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the uplifting message of Bryan Adams' "Don't Look Back," a song about moving forward and cherishing the present. Explore the song's origins in a film soundtrack and learn how its encouraging lyrics can inspire you to embrace new beginnings and let go of the past.

[English]

Look into the eyes of a child,

It's magic

Once in a while

You don't know what to say

You throw it all away

Hold onto your dreams,

you can find them

Take a look around

Remember who you are

You don't have to look that far

I'd given up on

happy endings

I know that it won't last

Don't look back

Don't look back

Don't look back

Don't look back

Reach into your soul,

it's amazing

Open up your eyes

And face another day

And find a better way

Hang onto your heart,

it's surprising

It's easy to believe

You can lose it in the end

And find it all again

It's turning nightmares

into dreams

And the fear is fading fast

Don't look back

Don't look back

Don't look back

Don't look back

Don't look back

How can I go

on pretending

Living in the past

Don't look back

Don't look back

Don't look back

Don't look back

Don't look back

How can I go on

pretending

I'd given up on

happy endings

Even though your

heart is breaking

Love is there -

it's for the taking

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
look /lʊk/ A1	verb - to direct one's eyes toward something noun - an act of looking; a glance
back /bæk/ A1	noun - the rear part of the body; the part opposite the front adverb - to or toward a previous place or time
dream /driːm/ B1	noun - a series of thoughts, images, or emotions occurring during sleep verb - to experience thoughts, images, or emotions while sleeping
heart /hɑːt/ A1	noun - the organ that pumps blood; the centre of emotions
fear /fɪə(r)/ B1	noun - an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous verb - to be afraid of something
magic /ˈmædʒɪk/ B1	noun - the power of apparently influencing events by using mysterious or supernatural forces
happy /ˈhæpi/ A1	adjective - feeling or showing pleasure or contentment
ending /ˈendɪŋ/ B1	noun - the final part of something, especially a story or event
soul /səʊl/ B2	noun - the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being or animal, regarded as immortal
pretend /prɪˈtend/ B1	verb - to act as if something is true when it is not
break /breɪk/ A2	verb - to separate into pieces or parts, often suddenly or violently noun - an interruption or pause
take /teɪk/ A1	verb - to get hold of something with one's hands; to acquire
hold /həʊld/ A2	verb - to keep or carry something in one's hands or arms
remember /rɪˈmembə(r)/ B1	verb - to bring to mind an earlier idea or memory
face /feɪs/ B1	noun - the front part of a person's head, where the eyes, nose and mouth are verb - to confront or deal with something directly
open /ˈəʊpən/ A2	verb - to move something so that it is no longer closed adjective - not closed or shut; allowing access
fade /feɪd/ B2	verb - to gradually become less bright, distinct, or strong
past /pɑːst/ A2	noun - the time before the present adjective - having happened or existed before the present time

Key Grammar Structures

• Look into the eyes of a child,

  ➔ imperative (command)

  ➔ The word "Look" is in the **imperative** mood, giving a direct command to the listener.

• You don't know what to say

  ➔ present simple negative with do‑support

  ➔ The auxiliary **don't** makes the verb "know" negative in the **present simple** tense.

• Hold onto your dreams, you can find them

  ➔ imperative + modal verb "can" + bare infinitive

  ➔ "Hold" is an **imperative** verb. In the second clause, the modal **can** is followed by the **bare infinitive** "find".

• Remember who you are

  ➔ imperative + embedded question (who‑clause)

  ➔ The verb **Remember** is an **imperative**. The phrase "who you are" is an **embedded question** acting as the object of "Remember".

• I'd given up on happy endings

  ➔ past perfect (had + past participle)

  ➔ "I'd" = **I had**. The structure **had + past participle** ("given") forms the **past perfect**, showing an action completed before another past moment.

• It's magic

  ➔ contraction of "it is" (present simple)

  ➔ "It's" is the **contraction** of **it is**, used here in the **present simple** to state a fact.

• Reach into your soul, it's amazing

  ➔ imperative + contraction "it's" (present simple)

  ➔ "Reach" is an **imperative** verb. The clause "it's amazing" uses the **contraction** "it's" (= it is) in the **present simple**.

• You can lose it in the end

  ➔ modal verb "can" + bare infinitive

  ➔ The modal **can** expresses ability or possibility and is followed by the **bare infinitive** "lose".

• How can I go on pretending

  ➔ interrogative with modal "can" + gerund

  ➔ The sentence begins with the interrogative word **How**, followed by the modal **can** and the **gerund** "pretending" acting as the complement of "go on".