Fools Gold – English Lyrics

• By: The Stone Roses

Lyrics & Translation

Learn English with The Stone Roses' "Fools Gold," a unique track that merges rock with dance culture. The song's whispered, almost spoken-word, vocal delivery offers a distinct way to engage with the lyrics. Its narrative, inspired by a classic film, provides a great opportunity to explore storytelling and vocabulary related to themes of ambition and human nature.

[English]

The gold road's sure a long road

Winds on through the hills for fifteen days

...

The pack on my back is aching

The straps seem to cut me like a knife

The gold road's sure a long road

Winds on through the hills for fifteen days

...

The pack on my back is aching

The straps seem to cut me like a knife

...

I'm no clown I won't back down

I don't need you to tell me what's going down

Down, down, down, down, da-down, down, down

Down, down, down, down, da-down, down, down

I'm standing alone

I'm watching you all

I'm seeing you sinking

I'm standing alone

You're weighing the gold

I'm watching you sinking

Fool's gold

...

These boots were made for walking

The Marquis de Sade don't wear no boots like these

Gold's just around the corner

...

Breakdown's coming up round the bend

...

Sometimes you have to try to get along, dear

I know the truth and I know what you're thinking

Down, down, down, down, da-down, down, down

I'm standing alone

I'm watching you all

I'm seeing you sinking

I'm standing alone

You're weighing the gold

I'm watching you sinking

Fool's gold

Fool's gold

...

I'm standing alone

...

I'm watching you all

I'm seeing you sinking

...

I'm standing alone

You're weighing the gold

I'm watching you sinking

...

Fool's gold

...

Fool's gold

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
gold /ɡoʊld/ A1	noun - a precious yellow metal adjective - made of gold
road /roʊd/ A1	noun - a way or route between two places
hills /hɪlz/ A1	noun - a naturally raised area of land, not as high or craggy as a mountain
back /bæk/ A1	noun - the rear surface of the body verb - to support adverb - in or to the rear
aching /ˈeɪkɪŋ/ B1	adjective - suffering from a continuous dull pain
straps /stræps/ A2	noun - a strip of leather or other material used to fasten, secure, or carry something
cut /kʌt/ A1	verb - to divide or wound with a sharp-edged tool or object
knife /naɪf/ A1	noun - an instrument with a sharp blade used for cutting
clown /klaʊn/ A2	noun - a comic entertainer, especially one in a circus, wearing outlandish clothes and makeup.
down /daʊn/ A1	adverb - towards or in a lower place or position adjective - directed or moving downwards
standing /ˈstændɪŋ/ A1	verb - to have an upright position supported by one's feet noun - status; reputation.
watching /ˈwɒtʃɪŋ/ A1	verb - to look at something for an amount of time and pay attention to what is happening
sinking /ˈsɪŋkɪŋ/ B1	verb - to go down below the surface of water or other liquid; to descend
weighing /ˈweɪɪŋ/ A2	verb - to determine the weight of (someone or something)
boots /buːts/ A1	noun - a sturdy item of footwear covering the foot and ankle, and sometimes also the lower leg.
truth /truːθ/ B1	noun - the actual state of a matter

Key Grammar Structures

• The gold road's sure a long road

  ➔ Ellipsis (omission of 'is') and informal contraction ('road's' for 'road is').

  ➔ The sentence uses an informal construction, omitting 'is'. 'The gold road is sure a long road' becomes 'The gold road's sure a long road'. This is common in spoken English and adds to the colloquial feel.

• Winds on through the hills for fifteen days

  ➔ Use of the verb "winds" as intransitive. Preposition "through".

  ➔ Here, 'winds' means to meander or curve. The preposition "through" describes the path.

• The straps seem to cut me like a knife

  ➔ Use of "seem to" + infinitive. Simile using "like".

  ➔ "Seem to cut" indicates appearance rather than definite action. "Like a knife" is a simile, comparing the pain to being cut by a knife.

• I'm no clown I won't back down

  ➔ Use of the negative "no" as a determiner. Future simple with "won't" (will not).

  ➔ "I'm no clown" emphasizes that the speaker is serious. "Won't back down" is a declaration of future resolve.

• I don't need you to tell me what's going down

  ➔ Use of "need to" + infinitive (expressing lack of necessity). Use of "what's going down" (idiomatic expression).

  ➔ "I don't need you to tell me" indicates the speaker's self-reliance. "What's going down" means 'what is happening' or 'what is the situation'.

• These boots were made for walking

  ➔ Passive voice (past simple).

  ➔ The sentence uses the passive voice, indicating that the boots were designed or intended for walking. It's a somewhat idiomatic way of saying 'These boots are excellent for walking'.

• The Marquis de Sade don't wear no boots like these

  ➔ Double negative ("don't wear no"). Use of "like" as a preposition.

  ➔ The double negative is grammatically incorrect but common in colloquial speech, especially in certain dialects. It emphasizes the negative: 'The Marquis de Sade wears absolutely no boots like these.' "Like these" indicates a comparison.

• Sometimes you have to try to get along, dear

  ➔ Use of "have to" + infinitive (expressing obligation or necessity). Use of "dear" as a term of endearment (but potentially ironic).

  ➔ "Have to try" implies that getting along is a difficult but necessary effort. The use of "dear" can be sincere, or it can be used sarcastically or patronizingly depending on the context and tone of voice.