Faith – English Lyrics

• By: George Michael
• Album: Faith

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a powerful tool, and George Michael's 'Faith' offers a fantastic entry point. The lyrics are clear, direct, and emotionally resonant, exploring universal themes of love, loss, and hope. The song's structure, with its memorable chorus and narrative verses, makes it easy to follow and sing along to, helping with pronunciation and vocabulary acquisition. What makes 'Faith' special for language learners is its blend of straightforward language and deeper emotional meaning, allowing you to not only learn new words but also to understand the nuances of expression in English.

[English]

(gentle upbeat music) ♪ I don't need no bible ♪

♪ Just look in my eyes ♪

♪ I've waited so long, baby ♪

♪ Now that we're friends ♪

♪ Every man's got his patience ♪

♪ And here's where mine ends ♪

♪ I want your ♪ (gentle upbeat music ends)

(suspenseful organ music)

(spirited upbeat music)

♪ Well, I guess it would be nice if I could touch your body ♪

♪ I know not everybody has got a body like you ♪

♪ But I gotta think twice before I give my heart away ♪

♪ And I know all the games you play ♪

♪ Because I play them, too ♪

♪ Oh, but I need some time off from that emotion ♪

♪ Time to pick my heart up off the floor ♪

♪ Oh, when that love comes down without devotion ♪

♪ Well, it takes a strong man, baby ♪

♪ But I'm showin' you the door ♪

♪ 'Cause I gotta have faith ♪

♪ I gotta have faith ♪

♪ Because I gotta have faith, faith ♪

♪ I got to have faith, faith, faith ♪

♪ Baby, I know you're askin' me to stay ♪

♪ Say "Please, please, please don't go away" ♪

♪ You say I'm givin' you the blues ♪

♪ Maybe you mean every word you say ♪

♪ Can't help but think of yesterday ♪

♪ And another who tied me down to lover boy rules ♪

♪ Before this river becomes an ocean ♪

♪ Before you throw my heart back on the floor ♪

♪ Oh, baby, I reconsider my foolish notion ♪

♪ Well, I need someone to hold me ♪

♪ But I'll wait for somethin' more ♪

♪ Yes, I gotta have faith ♪

♪ Ooh, I gotta have faith ♪

♪ Because I gotta have faith, faith, faith ♪

♪ I gotta have faith, faith, faith, uh ♪

(spirited upbeat music continues)

(George vocalizing)

♪ I'll just have to wait ♪

♪ Because I've got to have faith ♪

♪ I gotta have faith ♪

♪ I've got to, got to, got to have faith ♪

♪ Before this river becomes an ocean ♪

♪ Before you throw my heart back on the floor ♪

♪ I just gotta have faith ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, baby ♪

♪ I reconsider my foolish notion ♪

♪ Well, I need someone to hold me ♪

♪ But I'll wait for somethin' more ♪

♪ 'Cause I gotta have faith ♪ (spirited upbeat music)

♪ Ooh, I gotta have faith ♪

♪ Because I gotta have faith, faith, faith ♪

♪ I gotta have faith, faith, faith, uh ♪

Key Grammar Structures

• ♪ I don't need no bible ♪

  ➔ Double Negative (Informal English)

  ➔ In standard English, this would be "I don't need *any* bible." The use of "don't" (negative) and "no" (negative determiner) together is a "double negative", which is grammatically incorrect in formal English but common in informal speech and song lyrics for emphasis.

• ♪ Well, I guess it would be nice if I could touch your body ♪

  ➔ Second Conditional (Unreal Present/Future)

  ➔ This structure expresses a hypothetical situation in the present or future that is unlikely or impossible, and its consequence. It uses "would be" (would + base verb) in the main clause and "if I could touch" (if + past simple/modal 'could') in the conditional clause.

• ♪ But I gotta think twice before I give my heart away ♪

  ➔ "Gotta" (Informal "have to") + "Before" as a Conjunction

  ➔ "Gotta" is an informal contraction of "have got to" or "have to," meaning obligation or necessity. "Before I give" acts as a conjunction, introducing a subordinate clause that indicates an event happening prior to the main clause's action.

• ♪ Oh, but I need some time off from that emotion ♪

  ➔ Phrasal Expression "Time off from"

  ➔ The expression "time off from [something]" means a period of rest or a break from a particular activity, duty, or, in this case, an emotional state. Here, it refers to needing a break from intense emotion.

• ♪ Time to pick my heart up off the floor ♪

  ➔ Infinitive of Purpose + Phrasal Verb "pick up"

  ➔ "To pick my heart up" is an infinitive phrase indicating the purpose or reason for "time." "Pick up" is a phrasal verb meaning to retrieve or lift something, often used metaphorically here to mean recovering from emotional distress.

• ♪ Can't help but think of yesterday ♪

  ➔ Fixed Expression "Can't help but"

  ➔ The expression "Can't help but think" means that one cannot avoid doing something; the action is involuntary or irresistible. It is followed by the base form of a verb.

• ♪ And another who tied me down to lover boy rules ♪

  ➔ Relative Clause with "who" + Phrasal Verb "tie down"

  ➔ "Who tied me down to lover boy rules" is a "relative clause" modifying "another" (referring to another person). "Who" is a relative pronoun referring to a person. "Tie down" is a phrasal verb meaning to restrict someone's freedom or movement.

• ♪ Before this river becomes an ocean ♪

  ➔ "Before" as a Conjunction (Time Clause with Present Simple for Future)

  ➔ "Before this river becomes" introduces a "time clause". When referring to future events in time clauses (with "before", "after", "when", "until", etc.), the present simple tense ("becomes") is used in the subordinate clause, even though the action is in the future.

• ♪ Well, I need someone to hold me ♪

  ➔ "Someone to + Infinitive" (Infinitive of Purpose/Description)

  ➔ This structure uses an indefinite pronoun ("someone") followed by an infinitive ("to hold me") to describe the kind of person or the purpose for which that person is needed. Here, it means 'I need a person whose purpose is to hold me'.

• ♪ But I'll wait for somethin' more ♪

  ➔ Future Simple with "will" (Intention/Decision) + Informal "somethin'"

  ➔ "I'll wait" is the future simple tense using "will," indicating a decision or intention made at the moment of speaking or a strong future plan. "Somethin'" is an informal contraction of "something."