expectations – English Lyrics

• By: Olivia Rodrigo

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into Olivia Rodrigo's 'expectations' to master expressive English vocabulary related to emotions and interpersonal relationships. Its storytelling style and clear, emotive lyrics make it a perfect tool for learning how to articulate complex feelings in everyday English.

[English]

作词 : Amy Allen/Olivia Rodrigo/Daniel Nigro

作曲 : Amy Allen/Olivia Rodrigo/Daniel Nigro

I met him at a party

I think he was on drugs

He wasn’t smart or funny

I convinced myself he was

He had a great apartment

And a car his parents bought

I thought that he was perfect

And now his number’s blocked

Took a couple months

But now I am secure

I am so evolved

Now I ask for more and more

And more and more and more

I won’t settle for a guy with a fake job

They seem so desperate for loving

But baby I’m not

Gave my heart with zero stipulations

Now I take careful consideration

I’m not kissing any boy that is passive

Their indecision is painfully unattractive

Past mistakes are just new information

These days I’ve got expectations

So I hit the new year

Like a single girl at a Vegas bar

Rockin’ my mini dress

With a vodka cran and an open heart

Yeah I got hope

Yeah I got drive

I will not lose my faith

Don’t think my future husband’s at this bar in Silverlake

But in a couple months

A man will be procured

He will be evolved

And I will be adored

Adored, adored, adored, adored

I won’t settle for a guy with a fake job

They seem so desperate for loving

But baby I’m not

Gave my heart with zero stipulations

Now I take careful consideration

I’m not kissing any boy that is passive

Their indecision is painfully unattractive

Past mistakes are just new information

These days I’ve got expectations

I’ve got big expectations

I’ve got real big expectations

I’ve got big expectations

I’ve got real big expectations

She’s got big expectations

She’s got real big expectations

She’s got big expectations

She’s got real big expectations

I won’t settle for a guy with a fake job

They seem so desperate for loving

But baby I’m not

Gave my heart with zero stipulations

Now I take careful consideration

I’m not kissing any boy that is passive

Their indecision is painfully unattractive

Past mistakes are just new information

These days I’ve got expectations

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
convinced /kənˈvɪnst/ B2	verb - to persuade someone to do or believe something
perfect /ˈpɜːrfɪkt/ A1	adjective - having all the required or desirable elements
secure /sɪˈkjʊər/ B2	adjective - feeling confident and free from fear or anxiety
evolved /ɪˈvɒlvd/ C1	adjective/verb - developed gradually over time
settle /ˈsetl/ B1	verb - to accept something that is not as good as one wanted
desperate /ˈdespərət/ B2	adjective - having a great need or desire for something
stipulations /ˌstɪpjuˈleɪʃnz/ C2	noun - a condition or requirement that is specified
consideration /kənˌsɪdəˈreɪʃn/ B2	noun - careful thought, typically over a period of time
passive /ˈpæsɪv/ B2	adjective - accepting or allowing what happens without active response
indecision /ˌɪndɪˈsɪʒn/ C1	noun - the inability to make a decision quickly
unattractive /ˌʌnəˈtræktɪv/ B2	adjective - not pleasing or appealing to look at or think about
expectations /ˌekspekˈteɪʃnz/ B1	noun - a strong belief that something will happen
procured /prəˈkjʊəd/ C2	verb - to obtain something with care or effort
adored /əˈdɔːrd/ B2	verb - to love and respect someone deeply
mistakes /mɪˈsteɪks/ A1	noun - an action or judgment that is misguided or wrong

Key Grammar Structures

• I convinced myself he was

  ➔ Ellipsis (omission of predicate)

  ➔ The speaker omits 'smart or funny' after 'was' to avoid repetition.

• Now his number’s blocked

  ➔ Causative Passive (have/get + object + past participle)

  ➔ Uses 'is blocked' to describe a state resulting from an action done to the object.

• I won’t settle for a guy with a fake job

  ➔ Phrasal Verb (settle for)

  ➔ 'Settle for' means to accept something that is not exactly what you wanted.

• Gave my heart with zero stipulations

  ➔ Prepositional phrase as an adverbial

  ➔ 'With zero stipulations' modifies the verb 'gave', describing the manner of the action.

• I’m not kissing any boy that is passive

  ➔ Relative Clause (defining)

  ➔ 'That is passive' defines the specific type of boy the singer refuses to kiss.

• Their indecision is painfully unattractive

  ➔ Adverb modifying an adjective

  ➔ The adverb 'painfully' intensifies the adjective 'unattractive'.

• A man will be procured

  ➔ Passive Voice (Future Simple)

  ➔ The subject 'a man' receives the action of being 'procured' in the future.

• She’s got big expectations

  ➔ Present Perfect (have got = have)

  ➔ 'She’s got' is a colloquial way of saying 'she has', indicating possession.