Faster Than the Speed of Night – English Lyrics

• By: Bonnie Tyler

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into Bonnie Tyler's "Faster Than the Speed of Night," a powerful rock track produced by the legendary Jim Steinman. Its dramatic lyrics, filled with urgency and desire, offer a fantastic opportunity to explore expressive English vocabulary and the impactful storytelling common in 80s power rock. What makes this song special is Tyler's distinctive raspy voice perfectly complementing Steinman's 'wall-of-sound' production, making it an engaging listen for language learners.

[English]

作词 : Jim Steinman

作曲 : Jim Steinman

I don't want to let another minute get by

They're slipping through our fingers, but we're ready to fly

The night'll be our cover and we'll huddle below

We got the music in our bodies and the radio

There really isn't any time to lose

They're going to catch us if we wait until it gets too light

You're such a pretty boy

Let me show you what to do, and you'll do it

But you gotta move faster

Faster than the speed of night

Faster than the speed of night

It's all we ever wanted

And all we'll ever need

And it's slipping through our fingers

Faster than the speed of night

Faster than the speed of night

It's all we ever wanted

And all we'll ever need

And it's slipping through our fingers

Faster than the speed of night

Faster than the speed of night

Faster than the speed of night

Faster than the speed of night

Let me show you how to drive me crazy

Let me show you how to make me feel so good

Let me show you how to take me to the edge of the stars and then back again

You've gotta show me how to drive you crazy

You've gotta show me all the things you want to happen to you

We've gotta tell each other everything we always wanted someone to do

I don't want to push you now and I don't want to rush

We're getting closer every second now, but close is not enough

The night'll be our cover and we'll huddle below

We got the music in our fingers and the radio

There really isn't any time to lose

We're going to lose it if we wait until it gets too light

You're such a pretty boy

Let me show you what to do, and you'll do it

But you gotta move faster

Faster than the speed of night

Faster than the speed of night

Faster than the speed of night

It's all we ever wanted

And all we'll ever need

And it's slipping through our fingers

Faster than the speed of night

Faster than the speed of night

Faster than the speed of night

It's all we ever wanted

And all we'll ever need

And it's slipping through our fingers

Faster than the speed of night

Faster than the speed of night

Faster than the speed of night

Faster than the speed of night

Faster than the speed of night

Faster than the speed of night

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
faster /ˈfæstər/ A1	adverb - at a higher speed
speed /spiːd/ A1	noun - the rate at which someone or something moves
night /naɪt/ A1	noun - the period of darkness between sunset and sunrise
move /muːv/ A1	verb - to change position
show /ʃoʊ/ A1	verb - to allow someone to see something
cover /ˈkʌvər/ A2	noun - protection against attack or danger
music /ˈmjuːzɪk/ A1	noun - vocal or instrumental sounds combined in such a way as to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion
pretty /ˈprɪti/ A1	adjective - attractive in a delicate way
drive /draɪv/ A1	verb - to operate a vehicle
crazy /ˈkreɪzi/ A2	adjective - mentally deranged
edge /ɛdʒ/ A2	noun - the outside limit of an object, area, or surface
stars /stɑːrz/ A1	noun - a massive ball of gas, especially one that is part of a galaxy
wanted /ˈwɑːntɪd/ A2	verb - past tense of want; desired or wished for
need /niːd/ A1	noun - a requirement or necessity
slipping /ˈslɪpɪŋ/ A2	verb - to slide out of place or position
fingers /ˈfɪŋɡərz/ A1	noun - one of the five parts at the end of the hand

Key Grammar Structures

• I don't want to let another minute get by

  ➔ Present simple with 'don't' for emphasis

  ➔ The use of 'don't' with the present simple verb 'want' emphasizes a strong feeling or decision.

• They're slipping through our fingers, but we're ready to fly

  ➔ Present continuous for actions happening now

  ➔ The present continuous tense with 'are slipping' and 'are ready' describes actions that are happening at the moment of speaking.

• The night'll be our cover and we'll huddle below

  ➔ Future contraction for informal speech

  ➔ The contraction 'night'll' (will) and 'we'll' (will) is used in informal speech to express future actions.

• You're such a pretty boy

  ➔ Present simple for permanent qualities

  ➔ The present simple 'are' is used to describe a permanent quality or characteristic.

• But you gotta move faster

  ➔ Informal modal for necessity

  ➔ 'Gotta' is an informal contraction of 'have got to' used to express necessity or obligation.

• It's all we ever wanted

  ➔ Present perfect for past actions with present relevance

  ➔ The present perfect 'have wanted' is used to describe a past action that has a result or relevance in the present.

• And it's slipping through our fingers

  ➔ Present continuous for ongoing actions

  ➔ The present continuous 'is slipping' describes an action that is happening now and may continue into the future.

• Faster than the speed of night

  ➔ Comparative adjective for comparison

  ➔ The comparative adjective 'faster' is used to compare two things, indicating that one is greater in speed than the other.