Goodnight Lovers – English Lyrics

• By: Depeche Mode

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the poignant beauty of Depeche Mode's "Goodnight Lovers" and immerse yourself in its gentle, minimalist soundscape. This song offers a unique opportunity to learn English through its heartfelt and repetitive lyrics, which explore the universal theme of love's inherent connection to sacrifice. What makes "Goodnight Lovers" special is its lullaby-like quality, a suggestion from producer Mark Bell to frontman Dave Gahan, making it a deeply personal and emotionally resonant track.

[English]

Here, somewhere in the heart of me

There is still a part of me

That cares

And I'll, I'll still take the best you've got

Even though I'm sure it's not

The best for me

When you're born a lover

You're born to suffer

Like all soul sisters and soul brothers

I, I can see the danger signs

They only help to underline

Your beauty

I'm not looking for an easy ride

True happiness cannot be tried

So easily

When you're born a lover

You're born to suffer

Like all soul sisters and soul brothers

Like all soul sisters and soul brothers

You can take your time

I'll be waiting in line

You don't even have to give me the time of day

When you're born a lover

You're born to suffer

Like all soul sisters and soul brothers

Like all soul sisters and soul brothers

Like all soul sisters and soul brothers

Like all soul sisters and soul brothers

...

Key Grammar Structures

• Here, somewhere in the heart of me

  ➔ Prepositional Phrase + Possessive Pronoun

  ➔ Prepositional phrase modifying location (in the heart) with possessive pronoun "of me" showing intimate ownership

• When you're born a lover

  ➔ Passive Voice + Noun Complement

  ➔ Passive construction "born" followed by noun complement "a lover" defining inherent identity

• I'll still take the best you've got

  ➔ Contracted Present Perfect + Informal Possession

  ➔ Contracted present perfect "you've got" expresses informal possession (instead of "you have") in relative clause modifying "best"

• Even though I'm sure it's not

  ➔ Concessive Adverbial Clause

  ➔ "Even though" introduces contrast between expectation (best for me) and reality (it's not)

• True happiness cannot be tried

  ➔ Modal Passive Voice (Negation)

  ➔ Negated modal passive construction "cannot be tried" shows inability to perform action on abstract concept (happiness)

• You can take your time

  ➔ Phrasal Verb (Imperative Sense)

  ➔ Phrasal verb "take your time" functions as implied imperative despite declarative structure, meaning proceed without rush

• I'll be waiting in line

  ➔ Future Continuous Tense

  ➔ Future continuous "will be waiting" emphasizes ongoing action at future point, showing patient commitment

• You don't even have to give me the time of day

  ➔ Emphatic Negation + Idiom

  ➔ "Don't even" adds emotional emphasis to negation. Idiom "give the time of day" means minimal attention/acknowledgment