GoldenEye – English Lyrics

• By: Tina Turner

Lyrics & Translation

Immerse yourself in Tina Turner's 'GoldenEye,' a powerful James Bond theme that offers a captivating blend of classic espionage drama and Tina's electrifying vocals. Its sophisticated lyrics and intense delivery make it an excellent song for English language learners to explore complex emotions, storytelling, and the iconic vocabulary of the spy genre. Pay attention to Turner's commanding performance to grasp nuances in tone and expression.

[English]

See reflections on the water

More than darkness in the depths

See him surface in every shadow

On the wind I feel his breath

Goldeneye I found his weakness

Goldeneye he'll do what I please

Goldeneye no time for sweetness

But a bitter kiss will bring him to his knees

You'll never know how I watched you

From the shadows as a child

You'll never know how it feels to be the one

Who's left behind

You'll never know the days, the nights

The tears, the tears I've cried

But now my time has come

And time, time is not on your side

See him move through smoke and mirrors

Feel his presence in the crowd

Other girls they gather around him

If I had him I wouldn't let him out

Goldeneye not lace or leather

Golden chains take him to the spot

Goldeneye I'll show him forever

It'll take forever to see

What I've got

You'll never know how I watched you

From the shadows as a child

You'll never know how it feels to get so close

And be denied

It's a gold and honey trap

I've got for you tonight

Revenge it's a kiss, this time I won't miss

Now I've got you in my sight

With a Goldeneye, golden, goldeneye

With a goldeneye, goldeneye.

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
reflection /rɪˈflekʃən/ B2	noun - an image seen in a mirror or water
darkness /ˈdɑːrknəs/ B1	noun - the state of being dark or without light
surface /ˈsɜːrfəs/ B1	noun - the outermost layer or boundary of an object or place
shadow /ˈʃædoʊ/ A2	noun - a dark shape made when something blocks light
wind /wɪnd/ A1	noun - the movement of air
breath /brɛθ/ A2	noun - the act of taking air into the lungs and then releasing it
weakness /ˈwiːknəs/ B2	noun - a lack of strength or power
please /pliːz/ A2	verb - to make someone happy or satisfied by doing what they want
kiss /kɪs/ A2	noun - a touch with the lips as a sign of love or greeting
knees /niːz/ A2	noun - the joint connecting the leg to the foot
forever /fɚˈɛvər/ B2	adverb - for all time; for eternity
trap /træp/ B2	noun - a device or situation that catches or tricks someone
revenge /rɪˈvɛndʒ/ C1	noun - the act of harming someone in response to a hurt or wrong

Key Grammar Structures

• See reflections on the water

  ➔ Imperative form (See)

  ➔ While it appears to be a simple observation, 'See' is being used here as an imperative, perhaps suggesting a directive or an invitation to observe something specific. Although atypical, in song lyrics, it can set a tone of foreboding or awareness.

• On the wind I feel his breath

  ➔ Subject-Verb Inversion (I feel => feel I)

  ➔ The usual word order would be 'I feel his breath on the wind.' Inverting the subject and verb ('feel I') adds emphasis and a more poetic quality. It is not grammatical in everyday speech, but used for stylistic effect.

• Goldeneye he'll do what I please

  ➔ Future Simple (he'll do)

  ➔ "he'll do" is a contracted form of "he will do", indicating a future action. This highlights a sense of control and power the speaker has over the "Goldeneye".

• But a bitter kiss will bring him to his knees

  ➔ Future Simple (will bring)

  ➔ "will bring" expresses a future action that is anticipated as a consequence of the bitter kiss. It suggests inevitability and the power of the speaker's actions.

• You'll never know how I watched you

  ➔ Future Simple (You'll never know) + Embedded Question (how I watched you)

  ➔ "You'll never know" indicates a future impossibility of knowing. The embedded question 'how I watched you' is a noun clause functioning as the object of 'know'. The subject-verb order is preserved within the embedded question, rather than using a direct question form (e.g., 'how did I watch you?').

• Time is not on your side

  ➔ Present Simple (is)

  ➔ The use of the present simple tense here indicates a general truth or a current, unchanging situation. 'Time' is personified and said to be against the subject, implying a sense of urgency and impending doom.

• If I had him I wouldn't let him out

  ➔ Second Conditional (If + past simple, would + infinitive)

  ➔ This is a second conditional sentence, used to describe a hypothetical situation that is unlikely or contrary to fact. The "if" clause describes the hypothetical condition, and the main clause describes the result of that condition.

• It'll take forever to see What I've got

  ➔ Future Simple (It'll take) + Infinitive (to see) + Noun Clause (What I've got)

  ➔ "It'll take" is a contraction of "it will take", indicating a future action. "To see" is an infinitive of purpose, explaining the reason for the extensive amount of time required. "What I've got" is a noun clause acting as the object of the infinitive phrase "to see". 'What' is functioning as a relative pronoun introducing the noun clause.

• Revenge it's a kiss, this time I won't miss

  ➔ Ellipsis (Revenge is a kiss) + Future Negative (won't miss)

  ➔ There is an ellipsis of the verb 'is' to create a stronger, more impactful statement. 'Revenge is a kiss'. 'Won't miss' is a contraction of 'will not miss' indicating a firm intention not to fail in the future.