Don't Look Down – English Lyrics

• By: Ed Sheeran
• Album: Play

Lyrics & Translation

Delve into the emotional landscape of Ed Sheeran's 'Don't Look Down', a compelling pop song that masterfully blends introspective lyrics with vibrant production. Learning English through this track offers a unique opportunity to explore rich vocabulary related to emotions, loss, and resilience. The song's vivid imagery and profound message make it an excellent resource for understanding idiomatic expressions and poetic phrasing, while its clear narrative structure can help in grasping complex themes in a straightforward manner. Its blend of vulnerability and hope makes it special, resonating deeply while providing accessible language for learners.

[English]

Can you see the wreckage now

Of all we had and all we lost?

The smell of roses, broken glass

All the tears and all the scars

Did we get the message, mm-mm

Of all the love and what it cost?

We're unfolding, holding on now

Will it get better? There's nothing left

It was forever, so what is next?

Used to be Heaven, lost grip, then fell

Now we're speeding to the ground

Ah-ah

It's almost over, don't look down

Ah-ah

It's almost over, don't look down

Ah-ah

It's almost over, don't look down

Ah-ah

It's almost over, don't look down

Give ourselves a second now

To take a breath and take a pause

We're imploding into dust

And I don't know how to make it stop

Write a different ending now

To turn this storm into a calm

Turning pages, burning out now

Will it get better? There's nothing left

It was forever, so what is next?

Used to be Heaven, lost grip, then fell

Now we're speeding to the ground

Ah-ah

It's almost over, don't look down

Ah-ah

It's almost over, don't look down

Ah-ah

It's almost over, don't look down

Ah-ah

It's almost over, don't look down

Let it fade away

Let it fade away

Let it fade away

'Til we feel nothing

Let it fade away

Let it fade away

Let it fade away

'Til we feel nothing

Ah-ah

It's almost over, don't look down

Ah-ah

It's almost over, don't look down

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
wreckage /ˈrekɪs/ B1	noun - the broken remains of a vehicle or aircraft
lost /lɒst/ A2	adjective - no longer owned or possessed verb - to fail to return or find one's way back
smell /smɛl/ A1	verb - to perceive a particular odor noun - a particular odor
roses /ˈroʊzɪz/ A2	noun - a plant with pretty flowers
broken /brəʊkən/ A2	adjective - not in good condition noun - a thing that is damaged or destroyed
glass /glɑːs/ A1	noun - a hard transparent material used for windows and containers
tears /tɪərz/ A1	noun - a drop of liquid coming from the eye
scars /skɑːrz/ A1	noun - a mark on the skin caused by an injury
message /ˈmesɪdʒ/ B1	noun - a communication intended to be understood
forever /ˈfɔːrəvər/ B1	adverb - for all time; without end noun - the state of being forever
next /nɛkst/ A2	adverb - in the following position or time noun - the thing that follows
heaven /ˈheɪvən/ B1	noun - a place or state of perfect happiness
speed /spēd/ A2	noun - the rate at which something moves or is done verb - to move or act quickly
ground /ɡraʊnd/ A1	noun - the surface of the earth verb - to cause to fall to the ground
almost /ˈalməst/ A2	adverb - very nearly; nearly all
fade /feɪd/ A1	verb - to become less intense or visible noun - the process of becoming less intense or visible
away /əˈweɪ/ A1	adverb - in a direction opposite to the speaker preposition - at a distance from

Key Grammar Structures

• Can you see the wreckage now

  ➔ Modal Verb + Auxiliary Verb + Main Verb (Present Continuous)

  ➔ The use of "Can" as a modal verb indicates ability or possibility. "Are seeing" is the present continuous, emphasizing the immediacy of the question. The word "now" highlights the present moment.

• Did we get the message, mm-mm?

  ➔ Past Simple (Interrogative) + Tag Question

  ➔ The sentence uses the past simple "did get" to inquire about a past understanding. The "mm-mm" functions as a shortened tag question, seeking confirmation.

• We're unfolding, holding on now

  ➔ Present Continuous (Descriptive) + Gerund

  ➔ "We're unfolding" uses the present continuous to describe a process happening now. "Holding on" is a gerund phrase functioning as a participle, showing simultaneous action.

• Write a different ending now

  ➔ Imperative + Adverb of Time

  ➔ This is a direct command ("Write"). "Now" is an adverb of time, indicating the immediacy of the action.

• Let it fade away

  ➔ Imperative + Infinitive Phrase

  ➔ This is an imperative sentence giving a command. "Let" is used to allow something to happen, followed by the infinitive "fade away".