Fake A Smile – English Lyrics

• By: Alan Walker, salem ilese

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the emotional depths of "Fake A Smile" by Alan Walker and salem ilese, a powerful electropop anthem about vulnerability and the strength found in true connections. Through its honest lyrics and captivating melody, this song offers a unique opportunity to learn English expressions related to emotional support, resilience, and hidden feelings. Discover how music can convey profound messages about human connection and self-acceptance, making your language learning journey both meaningful and memorable.

[English]

You and I up all night

Nothing's wrong, nothing's right

I swear these walls are upside down

Swear the roof is underground

Demons don't sleep at night

Oh, oh, oh

I try to turn off my mind

Say I'm doing just fine

But I'm screaming inside like (oh, oh)

Say these words on repeat

While I'm trying to breathe

Now you're counting on me

So I fake a smile

But I know you know me too well

But it's alright

You're like heaven when I'm in hell

You were there, held me hard

Tasted light but felt the dark

I'm waiting for them all to see

I don't deserve your company

To love myself is way too hard

Oh, oh, oh

I try to turn off my mind

Say I'm doing just fine

But I'm screaming inside like (oh, oh)

Say these words on repeat

While I'm trying to breathe

Now you're counting on me

So I fake a smile

But I know you know me too well

But it's alright

You're like heaven when I'm in hell

...

No sleep

It's alright

No sleep

...

So I fake a smile

But I know you know me too well

But it's alright

You're like heaven when I'm in hell

So I fake a smile

But I know you know me too well

But it's alright

You're like heaven when I'm in hell

...

So I fake a smile

But I know you know me too well

But it's alright

You're like heaven when I'm in hell

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
smile /smaɪl/ A1	noun - a facial expression showing happiness verb - to make a facial expression showing happiness
night /naɪt/ A1	noun - the time of day when it is dark
breathe /briːð/ B1	verb - to take air into the lungs and let it out
scream /skriːm/ B1	verb - to make a loud, high-pitched sound
dark /dɑːrk/ A2	adjective - having little or no light
heaven /ˈhɛvən/ B2	noun - a place regarded as perfect happiness
company /ˈkʌmpəni/ B2	noun - the fact of being with someone
try /traɪ/ A1	verb - to make an effort to do something
fine /faɪn/ B1	adjective - satisfactory or acceptable
upside /ˈʌp.saɪd/ B2	noun - the positive or favorable aspect
wrong /rɔːŋ/ A1	adjective - not correct or true
wait /weɪt/ A1	verb - to stay in one place until something happens

Key Grammar Structures

• Nothing's wrong, nothing's right

  ➔ Parallel Structure & Contractions

  ➔ Parallel structure contrasts "wrong/right" using identical grammatical forms. "Nothing's = Nothing is" contraction in both clauses shows informal speech.

• I try to turn off my mind

  ➔ Verb + Infinitive

  ➔ "Try" directly followed by the infinitive "to turn" shows attempt/effort. No need for gerund (-ing) since "try" specifically governs infinitives.

• But I'm screaming inside like (oh, oh)

  ➔ Present Continuous & Simile

  ➔ Present continuous ("am screaming") expresses ongoing internal emotion. "Like" creates simile comparing internal state to audible screaming.

• So I fake a smile

  ➔ Conjunction + Verb Choice

  ➔ "So" indicates consequence or result. "Fake" (verb choice) is more poetic than "pretend to"/"force", emphasizing artistic expression.

• You're like heaven when I'm in hell

  ➔ Simile + Adverbial Clause

  ➔ "Like" establishes simile contrasting "heaven/hell". "When" introduces adverbial clause showing simultaneous actions/contingent relationship.

• You were there, held me hard

  ➔ Past Simple + Coordinated Clauses

  ➔ Past simple ("were") describes completed action. Comma replaces "and" in coordinated clauses implying cause-effect relationship.

• To love myself is way too hard

  ➔ Infinitive Subject + Phrasal Intensity

  ➔ Infinitive phrase "To love myself" functions as subject. "Way too" acts as compound intensifier, more emphatic than "very" alone.

• Now you're counting on me

  ➔ Present Continuous + Phrasal Verb

  ➔ Present continuous ("you're counting") describes current dependence. Phrasal verb "count on" (rely on) must be kept intact; separating particles changes meaning.