Expectation – English Lyrics

• By: Tame Impala
• Album: Innerspeaker

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a fantastic way to connect with culture, and Tame Impala's "Expectation" offers a unique opportunity to delve into expressive and introspective English. The song's lyrical depth, exploring themes of anxiety and doubt, provides a rich vocabulary for expressing complex emotions. Its psychedelic and progressive rock structure also makes it a captivating piece of music to return to, reinforcing the language you learn. Discovering the nuances of Kevin Parker's songwriting is a special journey for any music and language enthusiast.

[English]

Everything you ever told me could have been a lie

We may never have been in love

Stuck on thinking that there is always something to lose

Or a hit from above

Or a hit from above

I don't need what I'm holding

What I'm holding on

I wish I didn't know

But meanwhile

Fluctuations are aching my soul

Expectation is taking its toll

Expectation is taking its toll

'Cause everything you ever told me could have been a lie

We may never have been in love

And then I will escape

I'll never ever have to see another disappointed face

No one to please

Every now and then it feels like

In all of the universe there is nobody for me

I told myself I wouldn't care, no I wouldn't care

But when she said she'd come 'round

I combed my hair, yes I checked my hair

Oh

And meanwhile, meanwhile, meanwhile

Fluctuations are aching my soul

Expectation is taking its toll

Fluctuations are aching my soul

Expectation is taking its toll

Fluctuation does make me feel old

Expectation is taking its toll

Fluctuations are aching my soul

(Expectation is taking its toll)

(Fluctuations are aching my soul)

(Expectation is taking its toll)

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
expectation /ˌɛk.spɛk.ˈteɪ.ʃən/ B1	noun - a strong belief that something will happen or be the case in the future
fluctuation /ˌflʌk.tʃuˈeɪ.ʃən/ C1	noun - a continuous change between one state and another
aching /ˈeɪ.kɪŋ/ B1	adjective - experiencing persistent pain verb - to feel persistent pain
toll /toʊl/ B2	noun - a negative effect or consequence
escape /ɪˈskeɪp/ A2	verb - to get away from a dangerous or unpleasant situation
disappointed /ˌdɪs.əˈpɔɪn.tɪd/ B1	adjective - feeling sad or unhappy because something did not happen as expected
universe /ˈjuː.nɪ.vɜːrs/ B1	noun - all existing matter, space, and time
fluctuate /ˈflʌk.tʃu.eɪt/ C1	verb - to change continually between one state and another
holding /ˈhoʊl.dɪŋ/ A2	verb - to have or keep something in your hand or arms noun - something that you own or possess
meanwhile /ˈmiːn.waɪl/ A2	adverb - at the same time as something else
care /keər/ A1	verb - to feel concern or interest noun - the state of being concerned or interested
please /pliːz/ A1	verb - to make someone happy or satisfied
comb /koʊm/ A1	verb - to tidy or untangle hair using a comb noun - a tool with teeth for tidying hair
soul /soʊl/ B1	noun - the spiritual or emotional part of a person
old /oʊld/ A1	adjective - having lived or existed for a long time

Key Grammar Structures

• Everything you ever told me could have been a lie

  ➔ Modal perfect (could have + past participle) for speculation about the past

  ➔ The phrase "could have been" expresses a past possibility that did not actually happen.

• We may never have been in love

  ➔ Modal verb may + perfect infinitive (have been) for uncertainty about a past state

  ➔ "may never have been" combines the possibility "may" with the perfect infinitive "have been" to talk about an uncertain past.

• I don't need what I'm holding

  ➔ Simple present negative with a wh‑clause object; present progressive "am/is/are + -ing" in the object clause

  ➔ "don't need" is a negative present‑simple verb, and "what I'm holding" is a noun clause where "am holding" is in the present progressive.

• I wish I didn't know

  ➔ Wish + past simple to express an unreal present desire

  ➔ "didn't know" is the past simple form used after "wish" to talk about a situation the speaker wishes were different now.

• Fluctuations are aching my soul

  ➔ Present continuous with a stative verb used metaphorically; object pronoun "my" before noun

  ➔ "are aching" uses the present continuous to give a vivid, ongoing feeling, even though "ache" is normally a stative verb.

• I told myself I wouldn't care

  ➔ Reported speech with conditional "wouldn't" + infinitive; reflexive pronoun "myself" as object

  ➔ "wouldn't care" is the conditional form of "will not" used after a past reporting verb "told".

• When she said she'd come 'round

  ➔ Indirect question with past reporting verb "said" + future-in-the-past "she'd" (would) + verb

  ➔ "she'd" is a contraction of "she would" indicating a future event viewed from a past perspective.

• In all of the universe there is nobody for me

  ➔ Existential there‑construction with indefinite pronoun "nobody"; prepositional phrase "in all of the universe" at the front

  ➔ "there is" introduces the existence of something; "nobody" is an indefinite pronoun meaning "no person".