expectations – English Lyrics

• By: Olivia Rodrigo

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into Olivia Rodrigo’s 'expectations' to master colloquial American English and emotive storytelling. The song is a perfect study for learners looking to understand nuances in expressing disappointment and personal growth through conversational, rhythmic phrasing.

[English]

作词 : Daniel Nigro/Olivia Rodrigo/Amy Allen

作曲 : Daniel Nigro/Olivia Rodrigo/Amy Allen

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
expectations /ˌɛk.spekˈteɪ.ʃənz/ B2	noun - beliefs that something will happen or be the case in the future
convinced /kənˈvɪnst/ B2	verb - persuaded someone to believe something
evolved /ɪˈvɒlvd/ C1	adjective - developed gradually over time
stipulations /ˌstɪp.jəˈleɪ.ʃənz/ C2	noun - demands or requirements as part of an agreement
passive /ˈpæs.ɪv/ B2	adjective - accepting what happens without active response
indecision /ˌɪn.dɪˈsɪʒ.ən/ C1	noun - inability to make a decision
unattractive /ˌʌn.əˈtræk.tɪv/ B2	adjective - lacking beauty or appeal
procured /prəˈkjʊərd/ C2	verb - to obtain something with care or effort
adored /əˈdɔːrd/ C1	verb - to love and respect deeply
desperate /ˈdes.pər.ət/ B2	adjective - feeling a hopeless sense that a situation is bad
consideration /kənˌsɪd.əˈreɪ.ʃən/ B2	noun - careful thought, typically over a period of time
secure /sɪˈkjʊər/ B2	adjective - feeling confident and free from fear
settle /ˈset.əl/ B2	verb - to accept something that is not as good as you wanted
perfect /ˈpɜː.fɪkt/ A2	adjective - having all the required elements; flawless
painfully /ˈpeɪn.fəl.i/ B2	adverb - in a way that causes distress or difficulty

Key Grammar Structures

• I convinced myself he was

  ➔ Ellipsis (omission of words)

  ➔ The word "smart or funny" is omitted after "was".

• Now his number’s blocked

  ➔ Passive voice

  ➔ Used to show the state of the object "number" being acted upon.

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

  ➔ Phrasal verb

  ➔ "Settle for" means to accept something that is not exactly what you want.

• Gave my heart with zero stipulations

  ➔ Dropped subject (Colloquialism)

  ➔ The subject "I" is understood in conversational English.

• I’m not kissing any boy that is passive

  ➔ Relative clause

  ➔ "That is passive" describes the type of "boy" the singer avoids.

• I hit the new year like a single girl

  ➔ Simile

  ➔ Comparing her approach to the new year to a single girl using "like".

• A man will be procured

  ➔ Future passive voice

  ➔ Used to express the expectation of finding a partner in the future.

• Past mistakes are just new information

  ➔ Linking verb

  ➔ "Are" links the subject "mistakes" to the complement "new information".