Godspeed – English Lyrics

• By: Frank Ocean
• Album: Boys Don't Cry

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the profound emotions of Frank Ocean's 'Godspeed' to experience the nuanced beauty of English in expressing love, loss, and acceptance. This gospel-infused R&B ballad offers a masterclass in conveying deep sentiment through its poignant lyrics and soulful delivery, making it an ideal song to appreciate the expressive power of the language.

[English]

I will always love you

How I do

Let go of a prayer for you

Just a sweet word

The table is prepared for you

...

Wishing you godspeed, glory

There will be mountains you won't move

...

Still, I'll always be there for you

How I do

I let go of my claim on you, it's a free world

You look down on where you came from sometimes

But you'll have this place to call home, always

...

This love will keep us through blinding of the eyes (oh)

Silence in the ears, darkness of the mind (until it's time)

This love will keep us through blinding of the eyes (oh, oh-oh)

Silence in the ears, darkness of the mind (oh, oh-oh, oh)

This love will keep us through blinding of the eyes (oh, until it's time we die)

Silence in the ears, darkness of the mind

...

Hmm-oh-oh, oh, oh-oh

...

I'll always love you until the time we die

...

Oh-oh, hmm

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - a deep affection or emotional attachment verb - to feel deep affection for someone
prayer /prɛər/ A1	noun - a solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God
prepared /prɪˈpɛərd/ A2	verb - to make ready or be ready for something
wishing /ˈwɪʃɪŋ/ A2	verb - to hope or desire something
godspeed /ˈɡɑdˌspid/ B2	noun - a wish for success and safety in a journey or endeavor
glory /ˈɡlɔri/ B1	noun - high renown or honor
mountains /ˈmaʊntənz/ A1	noun - large natural elevations of the earth's surface
claim /kleɪm/ B1	verb - to state that something is true or to demand something
free /friː/ A1	adjective - not under the control or in the possession of another
home /hoʊm/ A1	noun - the place where one lives permanently
blinding /ˈblaɪndɪŋ/ B2	adjective - so bright as to obscure vision
silence /ˈsaɪləns/ A2	noun - complete absence of sound
darkness /ˈdɑrknɪs/ A2	noun - the absence of light
keep /kiːp/ A1	verb - to retain possession of something
die /daɪ/ A1	verb - to stop living

Key Grammar Structures

• I will always love you

  ➔ Future with 'will' + continuous aspect

  ➔ The use of 'will' indicates a future action, and 'always' emphasizes the permanence of the love. The continuous aspect ('love' without a specific time frame) suggests an ongoing state.

• Let go of a prayer for you

  ➔ Imperative mood + Infinitive phrase

  ➔ The sentence is a command or suggestion to release a prayer intended for the person being addressed. 'Let go' functions as an imperative, directing someone to relinquish something.

• You look down on where you came from sometimes

  ➔ Phrasal verb ('look down on') + Adverbial phrase of time ('sometimes')

  ➔ The phrasal verb 'look down on' means to consider someone or something inferior. 'Sometimes' indicates that this behavior doesn't happen constantly.

• But you'll have this place to call home, always

  ➔ Future with 'will' + possessive pronoun + Infinitive of purpose ('to call home') + Adverb of frequency ('always')

  ➔ This sentence offers reassurance. 'To call home' functions as an infinitive of purpose, explaining *why* this place is significant. 'Always' reinforces the enduring nature of this belonging.

• This love will keep us through blinding of the eyes

  ➔ Future with 'will' + Gerund phrase as object of preposition ('through')

  ➔ The gerund phrase 'blinding of the eyes' functions as a noun, representing a difficult or overwhelming experience. 'Through' indicates that the love will sustain them *during* this experience.