Farewell To The Fairground – English Lyrics

• By: White Lies

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the language of change and longing with White Lies' "Farewell To The Fairground." This song uses vivid imagery and poignant lyrics to depict the universal desire for escape and renewal. Dive into the lyrics to uncover layers of meaning, from sarcastic farewells to hopeful journeys, and discover how the band crafts a sound that's both nostalgic and forward-looking.

[English]

The lights still in our eyes

We're leaving this whole fairground behind

It's a dream that's going cold

The circus never dies

The act forever haunts these skies

I know we cannot stay

Farewell to the fairground

These rides aren't working anymore

Goodbye to this dead town

Until the ice begins to thaw

...

This place used to gleam

I see it in my hopeful dreams

Now I have to get away

We move towards the stars

And all that we touch becomes ours

Let's keep warm 'til it's day

Farewell to the fairground

These rides aren't working anymore

Goodbye to this dead town

Until the ice begins to thaw

We'll head south, just hold my hand now

I feel like I'm casting off my clothes

And I'm running through the snow towards the sunset

And I'm always with you

...

Keep on running

Keep, keep on running

There's no place like home

There's no place like home

Keep on running

Keep, keep on running

There's no place like home

There's no place like home

Keep on running

Keep, keep on running

There's no place like home

There's no place like home

Keep on running

Keep, keep on running

There's no place like home

There's no place like home

Keep on running

Keep, keep on running

There's no place like home

There's no place like home

Keep on running

Keep, keep on running

There's no place like home

There's no place like home

Farewell to the fairground

These rides aren't working anymore

Goodbye to this dead town

Until the ice begins to thaw

We'll head south, just hold my hand now

I feel like I'm casting off my clothes

And I'm running through the snow towards the sunset

And I'm always with you

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
fairground /ˈfɛərɡraʊnd/ B2	noun - an open area where a fair or amusement rides are set up
circus /ˈsɜːrkəs/ B2	noun - a travelling entertainment show featuring acrobats, clowns and animals
haunt /hɔːnt/ C1	verb - to appear repeatedly in someone's mind; to persist as a memory or feeling noun - a place frequented by a particular person or thing, especially a ghost
thaw /θɔː/ C1	verb - to become liquid or softer as a result of warming; to melt
star /stɑːr/ A2	noun - a luminous celestial body visible at night; also a famous performer
sunset /ˈsʌnˌsɛt/ B2	noun - the time when the sun disappears below the horizon in the evening
hold /hoʊld/ A2	verb - to grasp with the hands; to keep or retain
hand /hænd/ A1	noun - the prehensile part at the end of a human arm
cast /kæst/ C1	verb - to throw or fling something; to discard clothing (cast off) noun - the group of actors in a play or film; a plastered support for a broken bone
snow /snoʊ/ A1	noun - frozen precipitation that falls as white flakes
dream /driːm/ A2	noun - a series of images, thoughts, or emotions occurring during sleep; a cherished aspiration verb - to experience such thoughts or images while sleeping; to imagine something desired
cold /koʊld/ A1	adjective - having a low temperature; lacking warmth
dead /dɛd/ B1	adjective - no longer alive; lifeless
town /taʊn/ A2	noun - a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city
home /hoʊm/ A1	noun - the place where one lives permanently, especially as a member of a family
running /ˈrʌnɪŋ/ A2	verb - moving swiftly on foot; the act of jogging or sprinting
lights /laɪts/ A2	noun - sources of illumination; visible glowing objects
eyes /aɪz/ A1	noun - the organs of sight in humans and many animals
rides /raɪdz/ B1	noun - attractions, usually mechanical, that people can sit on and be moved, such as at a fair
warm /wɔːrm/ A2	adjective - moderately hot; having a comfortable temperature

Key Grammar Structures

• The lights still in our eyes

  ➔ Present continuous tense

  ➔ The phrase uses the present continuous tense with 'still' to indicate an ongoing action that continues up to the present.

• We're leaving this whole fairground behind

  ➔ Present continuous tense with 'be going to'

  ➔ The sentence uses the present continuous tense with 'be going to' to express a future action that is already planned or certain.

• It's a dream that's going cold

  ➔ Present continuous tense with 'be going to'

  ➔ The phrase uses the present continuous tense with 'be going to' to describe a process that is happening over time.

• Farewell to the fairground

  ➔ Vocative or exclamatory expression

  ➔ This is a direct address or exclamation, often used to express strong emotion or farewell.

• Until the ice begins to thaw

  ➔ Future time clause with 'until'

  ➔ The phrase uses 'until' to indicate a future point in time when a condition will be met.

• We'll head south, just hold my hand now

  ➔ Future tense with 'will'

  ➔ The sentence uses 'will' to express a future action decided at the moment of speaking.

• There's no place like home

  ➔ Present simple with 'there is'

  ➔ The sentence uses the present simple with 'there is' to make a general statement about a fact or truth.