down to you – English Lyrics

• By: Kelly Clarkson
• Album: chemistry

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the empowering message of Kelly Clarkson's 'Down To You,' a song about overcoming negativity and reclaiming your strength. By diving into the lyrics and background of this song, you'll gain insights into themes of resilience and self-respect, all while enjoying Clarkson's signature blend of pop and rock.

[English]

I heard you started running your mouth again

Biting hands that feed ya

A little birdie told me you're nobody's friend

And the joke's on me, yeah

Well, baby, who are you to underestimate me?

Smiling in my face as you take your aim

I tried to be your friend

I won't make that mistake again

I won't make that mistake again

I can't dance with the devil on my back

Need somebody who can meet me where I'm at

These dark days are knocking on my door

You ain't welcome 'round here no more

On a different level than I was before

You can't bring me down to you

Can't bring me down

Can't bring me down

You can't bring me down

You can't bring me down to you

I can't keep doing this to myself again

Crossing hearts that bleed, yeah

Saw this coming, but I didn't want it to end

My eyes are wide and I see ya

Yeah, baby, who are you to go and drag my name?

Living in your skin has got to feel so fake

I tried to be your friend

I won't make that mistake again

I won't make that mistake again

I can't dance with the devil on my back

Need somebody who can meet me where I'm at

These dark days are knocking on my door

You ain't welcome 'round here no more

On a different level than I was before

You can't bring me down to you

Can't bring me down (can't bring me down)

Can't bring me down (can't bring me down)

You can't bring me down

You can't bring me down to you

Can't bring me down (can't bring me down)

Can't bring me down (can't bring me down)

You can't bring me down (no, no)

You can't bring me down to you

It must be cold in your veins

And now I know you'll never change

I don't wanna be your friend

Can't do that again

I can't dance with the devil on my back

Need somebody who can meet me where I'm at

These dark days are knocking on my door

You ain't welcome 'round here no more

On a different level than I was before

You can't bring me down to you

Can't bring me down (can't bring me down)

Can't bring me down (can't bring me down)

You can't bring me down

You can't bring me down to you

Can't bring me down (can't bring me down)

Can't bring me down (can't bring me down)

Can't bring me down (no, no)

You can't bring me down to you

It must be cold in your veins

And now I know you'll never change

Can't bring me down

You can't bring me down to you

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
friend /frɛnd/ A1	noun - a person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection
underestimate /ˌʌndərˈɛstɪmeɪt/ C1	verb - to assess someone or something as less capable or important than they actually are
devil /ˈdɛvəl/ B1	noun - a supernatural being regarded as evil
dance /dæns/ A1	verb - to move rhythmically to music noun - a series of rhythmic movements performed to music
bring /brɪŋ/ A1	verb - to cause something to come with oneself
down /daʊn/ A1	adverb - toward a lower place or position adjective - depressed or sad
dark /dɑːrk/ A1	adjective - having little or no light
days /deɪz/ A1	noun - periods of twenty‑four hours
knock /nɒk/ B1	verb - to strike a surface noisily, especially to gain attention
door /dɔːr/ A1	noun - a hinged or sliding barrier that can be opened or closed to allow entry or exit
cold /kəʊld/ A1	adjective - having a low temperature; not warm
veins /veɪnz/ B2	noun - blood vessels that carry blood toward the heart
change /tʃeɪndʒ/ A2	verb - to make or become different noun - the act or result of becoming different
fake /feɪk/ B1	adjective - not genuine; counterfeit
bleed /bliːd/ B2	verb - to lose blood from the body
heart /hɑːt/ A1	noun - the organ that pumps blood through the circulatory system
level /ˈlɛvl/ B1	noun - a particular height or position adjective - flat, even, without irregularities
mistake /mɪˈsteɪk/ A2	noun - an error or fault verb - to be wrong about something

Key Grammar Structures

• I heard you started running your mouth again

  ➔ Past Simple, Present Perfect, Adverbial of time

  ➔ The use of "heard" is past simple. "Again" is an adverbial of time. This sentence sets the scene with a past action.

• Biting hands that feed ya

  ➔ Present participle acting as an adjective, Relative clause

  ➔ "Biting" modifies "hands", acting as an adjective. "That feed ya" is a relative clause describing the hands.

• Well, baby, who are you to underestimate me?

  ➔ Question structure with infinitive of purpose

  ➔ The question uses the structure "who are you to..." which questions the person's right or basis to do something.

• I tried to be your friend

  ➔ Past Simple, Infinitive of purpose.

  ➔ The use of the past simple "tried" indicates a past attempt or action.

• I can't dance with the devil on my back

  ➔ Modal verb "can't", prepositional phrase.

  ➔ "Can't" expresses inability. "On my back" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating location/position.

• Need somebody who can meet me where I'm at

  ➔ Verb of necessity, Relative clause, reduced relative clause.

  ➔ "Need" expresses a necessity. "Who can meet me..." is a relative clause. "Where I'm at" is a reduced relative clause.

• These dark days are knocking on my door

  ➔ Present Continuous, subject-verb inversion.

  ➔ Uses the present continuous tense. The phrase is a metaphor, personifying the "dark days" as something actively approaching.

• You ain't welcome 'round here no more

  ➔ Contraction, negative adverb of frequency, adverbial phrase.

  ➔ Uses the contraction "ain't". "No more" acts as a negative adverbial phrase, indicating that the situation has ceased.

• On a different level than I was before

  ➔ Prepositional phrase, comparative adjective, subordinate clause.

  ➔ "On a different level" is a prepositional phrase. "Different" is a comparative adjective. "Than I was before" is a subordinate clause comparing levels.

• It must be cold in your veins

  ➔ Modal verb of deduction, prepositional phrase.

  ➔ "Must" here expresses a strong deduction or conclusion. "In your veins" is a prepositional phrase.