Fairytale – English Lyrics

• By: Alexander Rybak

Lyrics & Translation

[English]

Years ago, when I was younger

I kinda liked a girl I knew

She was mine and we were sweethearts

That was then, but then it's true

I'm in love with a fairytale

Even though it hurts

'Cause I don't care if I lose my mind

I'm already cursed

...

Every day, we started fighting (tarara)

Every night, we fell in love (tarara, tara, tarara)

No one else could make me sadder (tarara)

But no one else could lift me high above

I don't know what I was doing

When suddenly, we fell apart

Nowadays, I cannot find her

But when I do, we'll get a brand-new start

I'm in love with a fairytale

Even though it hurts

'Cause I don't care if I lose my mind

I'm already cursed

...

She's a fairytale, yeah

Even though it hurts

'Cause I don't care if I lose my mind

I'm already cursed

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
fairytale /ˈfɛrɪˌteɪl/ A2	noun - a story about magical and imaginary beings and lands
love /lʌv/ A1	verb - to have deep affection for someone noun - a deep feeling of affection
hurt /hɜːrt/ A2	verb - to cause physical pain or emotional distress adjective - feeling physical pain or emotional distress
cursed /kɜːrst/ B1	adjective - having a curse or bad luck
fighting /ˈfaɪtɪŋ/ A2	verb - to engage in a physical or verbal conflict
sadder /ˈsædər/ A2	adjective - more unhappy or sorrowful
lift /lɪft/ A1	verb - to raise or move something to a higher position
suddenly /ˈsʌdənli/ A2	adverb - happening quickly and unexpectedly
apart /əˈpɑːrt/ A2	adverb - separated or divided
start /stɑːrt/ A1	verb - to begin or initiate something
sweethearts /ˈswiːthɑːrts/ B1	noun - people who are in a romantic relationship
mind /maɪnd/ A2	noun - the part of a person that thinks and feels
brand-new /ˈbrænd ˌnuː/ A2	adjective - completely new or unused
kinda /ˈkɪndə/ A2	adverb - somewhat or to some extent
sweet /swɪt/ A1	adjective - tasting like sugar; pleasant

Key Grammar Structures

• Years ago, when I was younger

  ➔ Past Simple with 'when'

  ➔ The phrase 'Years ago' indicates a past time frame, and 'when I was younger' uses the past simple to describe a specific time in the past.

• She was mine and we were sweethearts

  ➔ Past Continuous and Past Simple

  ➔ 'She was mine' uses the past simple to state a fact, while 'we were sweethearts' uses the past continuous to describe a ongoing state in the past.

• I'm in love with a fairytale

  ➔ Present Simple with 'be'

  ➔ The present simple with 'be' is used to describe a current state or condition, here expressing the speaker's ongoing emotion.

• Even though it hurts

  ➔ Subordinating Conjunction 'Even though'

  ➔ 'Even though' is used to introduce a contrasting idea, showing that the love continues despite the pain.

• I don't care if I lose my mind

  ➔ Present Simple with 'if'

  ➔ The present simple with 'if' is used to express a hypothetical situation, here indicating the speaker's indifference to a potential outcome.

• Every day, we started fighting (tarara)

  ➔ Past Simple with Adverb of Frequency

  ➔ 'Every day' is an adverb of frequency used with the past simple to indicate a repeated action in the past.

• No one else could make me sadder

  ➔ Comparative Degree with 'could'

  ➔ The comparative degree with 'could' is used to express that no one else could cause more sadness than the subject.

• But no one else could lift me high above

  ➔ Negative Sentence with 'could'

  ➔ The negative sentence with 'could' emphasizes that only the subject has the ability to lift the speaker's spirits.