Gone Too Soon – English Lyrics

• By: Michael Jackson
• Album: Dangerous

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music can be a deeply emotional experience, and Michael Jackson's "Gone Too Soon" offers a poignant opportunity to connect with English in a meaningful way. The song's simple yet powerful lyrics about loss and remembrance can help you learn vocabulary related to emotions and metaphors. What makes this song special is its raw honesty and the universal feeling of grief it captures, allowing you to not only practice your language skills but also to reflect on the beauty and fragility of life.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
comet /ˈkɒmɪt/ B2	noun - A celestial object consisting of a nucleus of ice and dust and, when near the sun, a tail of gas and dust.
blazing /ˈbleɪzɪŋ/ B2	adjective - Shining brightly; radiant. verb - Burning fiercely or brightly.
fading /ˈfeɪdɪŋ/ B1	verb - Gradually becoming less visible, audible, or distinct.
sparkly /ˈspɑːrkli/ A2	adjective - Covered with or reflecting many small flashes of light.
splendidly /ˈsplɛndɪdli/ B2	adverb - In a magnificent or very impressive way.
bright /braɪt/ B2	adjective - Giving off or reflecting a lot of light; shining.
loss /lɒs/ B1	noun - The fact or process of losing something or someone.
sunlight /ˈsʌnlaɪt/ A2	noun - The light from the sun.
cloudy /ˈklaʊdi/ A2	adjective - Covered with or containing clouds.
castle /ˈkɑːsl/ A2	noun - A large fortified building or set of buildings.
sandy /ˈsændi/ A2	adjective - Consisting of or like sand.
beach /biːtʃ/ A1	noun - A strip of land beside the sea.
flower /ˈflaʊər/ A1	noun - The reproductive part of a plant.
reach /riːtʃ/ A2	verb - To be able to arrive at or get something. noun - The extent to which someone is able to achieve something.
inspire /ɪnˈspaɪər/ B1	verb - To fill someone with the urge or ability to do or feel something.
delight /dɪˈlaɪt/ B1	noun - Great pleasure. verb - To give great pleasure to.
sunset /ˈsʌnset/ A2	noun - The disappearance of the sun below the horizon.
rising /ˈraɪzɪŋ/ A2	verb - Moving upwards.
moon /muːn/ A1	noun - The natural satellite of the Earth.

Key Grammar Structures

• Like a comet Blazing 'cross the evening sky

  ➔ Simile, Present Participle as Adjective

  ➔ The phrase uses 'Like' to create a **simile**, comparing the subject to a comet. 'Blazing' is a **present participle** functioning as an adjective, describing the comet's action.

• Shiny and sparkly, and splendidly bright

  ➔ Adjectives, Adverbs modifying Adjectives

  ➔ This line showcases a series of **adjectives** ('shiny', 'sparkly', 'bright') describing a quality. 'Splendidly' is an **adverb** modifying the adjective 'bright', intensifying its meaning.

• Born to amuse, to inspire, to delight

  ➔ Infinitive Phrases as Purpose

  ➔ The phrase uses **infinitive phrases** ('to amuse', 'to inspire', 'to delight') to express the **purpose** for which someone is born.

• Like the loss of sunlight On a cloudy afternoon

  ➔ Simile, Prepositional Phrase

  ➔ Again, a **simile** is used with 'Like'. 'On a cloudy afternoon' is a **prepositional phrase** providing context and describing *when* the loss of sunlight occurs.