Dust Clears – English Lyrics

• By: Clean Bandit, Noonie Bao

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the lyrical landscape of Clean Bandit's 'Dust Clears,' a song that beautifully merges electronic rhythms with classical instrumentation. Its evocative lyrics offer a chance to explore English vocabulary related to perception, change, and self-awareness, making it a unique and melodically rich piece for language learners.

[English]

Imagine if the life that you thought you shared wasn't really there

It was made up in your mind, could be anyone, anywhere

'Cause you'd been living in a world of your own design, undermined

In another place, other space in time

...

As the dust clears and it all starts to disappear

It may get harder 'cause you just restarted

And wherever you are, land on another stone

It may get harder 'cause you just restarted

You better get real, real, real

And realise that the situation's going nowhere

Because you act so tough, I've totally lost control

So please try to understand that if I could

I'd call and I would be there

And if it didn't hurt so much, you know I'd give you it all

You know I'd give you it all

...

Imagine if the friend that you thought you knew wasn't really true

It just existed in your head, the reflection used wasn't you

Completely unaware, could be anywhere, anytime

...

'Cause there was a shift in the paradigm

...

As the dust clears and it all starts to disappear

It may get harder 'cause you just restarted

And wherever you are, land on another stone

It may get harder 'cause you just restarted

You better get real, real, real

And realise that the situation's going nowhere

Because you act so tough, I've totally lost control

So please try to understand that if I could

I'd call and I would be there

And if it didn't hurt so much, you know I'd give you it all

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
imagine /ɪˈmædʒɪn/ B1	verb - to form a mental image or concept of
share /ʃer/ A2	verb - to have or use something with others
mind /maɪnd/ A2	noun - the element of a person that enables them to be aware of the world and their experiences, to think, and to feel; the faculty of consciousness and thought
living /ˈlɪvɪŋ/ A2	verb - the state of being alive
design /dɪˈzaɪn/ B1	noun - a plan or drawing produced to show the look and function or workings of a building, garment, or other object before it is built or made
dust /dʌst/ A2	noun - fine, dry powder consisting of tiny particles of earth or waste matter
clear /klɪr/ A2	verb - to remove obstructions or unwanted contents from
disappear /ˌdɪsəˈpɪr/ B1	verb - cease to be visible
harder /ˈhɑːrdər/ A2	adjective - more difficult
restarted /ˌriːˈstɑːrtɪd/ B1	verb - begin again
land /lænd/ A2	verb - to come down to the ground
stone /stoʊn/ A1	noun - a piece of rock
realise /ˈriːəlaɪz/ B2	verb - become fully aware of (something) as a fact; understand clearly
situation /ˌsɪtʃuˈeɪʃən/ B1	noun - a set of circumstances in which one finds oneself; a state of affairs
control /kənˈtroʊl/ B1	noun - the power to influence or direct people's behaviour or the course of events
friend /frend/ A1	noun - a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically exclusive of sexual or family relations.
true /truː/ A2	adjective - in accordance with fact or reality.
reflection /rɪˈflekʃən/ B2	noun - the throwing back by a body or surface of light, heat, or sound without absorbing it
shift /ʃɪft/ B1	noun - a slight change in position, direction, or tendency
hurt /hɜːrt/ A2	verb - cause pain or injury to

Key Grammar Structures

• Imagine if the life that you thought you shared wasn't really there

  ➔ Use of the second conditional 'if' clause to express hypothetical situations.

  ➔ 'if' introduces a hypothetical condition that is not real, often paired with 'would' or 'could' in the main clause.

• It was made up in your mind, could be anyone, anywhere

  ➔ Use of 'could be' to express possibility or uncertainty.

  ➔ 'could be' indicates that something is possible but not certain.

• And if it didn't hurt so much, you know I'd give you it all

  ➔ Use of the second conditional 'if' with past tense to express hypothetical regret or unreal situations.

  ➔ 'if' + past tense in the 'if' clause and 'would' + base verb in the main clause express hypothetical situations.

• And realise that the situation's going nowhere

  ➔ Use of the present continuous tense 'is going' to describe ongoing or developing situations.

  ➔ 'is going' is the present continuous tense, used to describe actions or situations that are happening now or ongoing.