Expectations – English Lyrics

• By: Anne-Marie, 민니

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into "Expectations" by Anne-Marie and Minnie, a powerful and authentic pop track that’s perfect for learning English. Its clear, direct, and empowering lyrics offer valuable vocabulary related to self-worth, independence, and overcoming challenges. The song's catchy melody and meaningful message make it an engaging way to grasp English expressions and cultural sentiments of self-empowerment.

[English]

There was a time when I couldn't

Stop loving you so much

Haven't seen that me in so long

Forgot I shouldn't care

I sang "Dum di di"

Who I used to be

Is not who I am, look at me

These dreams of mine

Do not need your advice or cheap blessing

Here's my crown you couldn't lift 

You want me to act a certain way

I'm no one's toy no more, it hurts them

To know they can't control me each day

Enjoy the pain

I don't need your expectations

Made the bricks to pave my way

Fuck that Grammy nomination

Happiness cannot be bought

One summer day, we just might meet up again

Hey, look at you sitting here all on your own

Lost in your expectations

I can't help you with that

I can't ever hate you

But had to let you go

Changing myself for your ego and selfish pride stops there

I sang "Karate"

Who I used to be

Is not who I am, look at me

These dreams of mine

Do not need your advice or cheap blessing

Here's my crown you couldn't lift 

You want me to act a certain way

I'm no one's toy no more, it hurts them

To know they can't control me each day

Enjoy the pain

I don't need your expectations

Made the bricks to pave my way

Fuck that Grammy nomination

Happiness cannot be bought

One summer day, we just might meet up again

Hey, look at you sitting here all on your own

Lost in your expectations

I can't help you with that

I can't lie, say it was easy,

Each day alone filled me with fear

But here I stand tall

My face to the crowd

I don't need your expectations

Made the bricks to pave my way

Fuck that Grammy nomination

Happiness cannot be bought

One summer day, we just might meet up again

Hey, look at you sitting here all on your own

Lost in your expectations

I can't help you with that

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
expectations /ɛkspɛkteɪʃənz/ B2	noun - belief that something will happen or that someone will do something
dreams /driːmz/ B2	noun - series of images, ideas, or emotions occurring during sleep; hopes or ambitions
happiness /ˈhæpiˌnɛs/ B2	noun - state of being happy; feeling pleasure or contentment
control /kənˈtroʊl/ B2	verb - to have power to influence or direct behavior or development noun - the ability to manage or regulate something
pain /peɪn/ B1	noun - physical suffering or discomfort caused by injury or illness
blessing /ˈblɛsɪŋ/ B2	noun - a beneficial thing for someone; a prayer invoking divine favor
crown /kraʊn/ B2	noun - a circular ornamental headdress worn by a monarch; a symbol of victory or honor
act /ækt/ B1	verb - to do something intentionally noun - a deed or action
pride /praɪd/ B2	noun - a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction from one's own achievements or qualities
sing /sɪŋ/ A2	verb - to produce musical sounds with the voice
stand /stænd/ A2	verb - to take an upright position on one's feet

Key Grammar Structures

• who I used to be

  ➔ Relative clause using 'who' to specify a subject

  ➔ The phrase 'who I used to be' is a relative clause that describes the subject 'I', indicating a previous state or identity.

• do not need your advice or cheap blessing

  ➔ Use of modal verb 'do not need' for negation and emphasis

  ➔ The phrase 'do not need' is a negative form used to express absence of necessity, with emphasis on independence.

• Happiness cannot be bought

  ➔ Use of modal 'cannot' with passive voice to express impossibility

  ➔ The phrase 'Happiness cannot be bought' employs the modal 'cannot' with a passive construction to indicate that happiness is unpurchasable.

• we just might meet up again

  ➔ Use of 'might' to express possibility in the future

  ➔ The phrase 'we just might meet up again' uses 'might' to indicate a tentative possibility of an event happening in the future.

• each day alone filled me with fear

  ➔ Past simple tense to describe completed actions or states in the past

  ➔ The phrase 'filled me with fear' uses a past simple tense to describe the emotion experienced during those days.

• look at you sitting here all on your own

  ➔ Present participle 'sitting' as part of a present continuous phrase

  ➔ The word 'sitting' is a present participle used to form the present continuous tense, describing an ongoing action.