Fools Gold – English Lyrics

• By: The Stone Roses

Lyrics & Translation

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.