Goodnight Sweetheart – English Lyrics

• By: Al Bowlly
• Album: The Very Thought Of You

Lyrics & Translation

Discover a classic of the 1930s British dance band era with Al Bowlly's "Goodnight Sweetheart." The song's clear, gentle, and heartfelt lyrics make it a wonderful and accessible piece for learning English. Its simple vocabulary and romantic theme offer a perfect window into the language and sentimental style of a bygone era, allowing you to learn classic expressions of love and farewell.

[English]

Goodnight sweetheart

All my prayers are for you

Goodnight sweetheart

I'll be watching on you

Tears and the parting may make us forlorn

But with the dawn

A new day is born

So I'll say

Goodnight sweetheart

Sleep will banish sorrow

Goodnight sweetheart

When we meet tomorrow

Dreams enfold you

In them, dear, I'll hold you

Goodnight sweetheart

Goodnight

...

Goodnight sweetheart

Sleep will banish sorrow

Goodnight sweetheart

When we meet tomorrow

Dreams enfold you

In them, dear, I'll hold you

Goodnight sweetheart

goodnight

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
prayers /ˈpreərz/ B1	noun - a solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God or an object of worship
forlorn /fəˈlɔːrn/ C1	adjective - pitifully sad or abandoned
dawn /dɔːn/ A2	noun - the first light of day verb - to begin to appear
banish /ˈbænɪʃ/ B2	verb - to send away suddenly, especially as a punishment
sorrow /ˈsɒroʊ/ B1	noun - a feeling of deep distress caused by loss or disappointment
meet /miːt/ A2	verb - to come into the presence or company of someone
dreams /driːmz/ A2	noun - series of images, ideas, or emotions occurring during sleep
enfold /ɛnˈfoʊld/ C1	verb - to surround or envelop completely
hold /hoʊld/ A2	verb - to grasp or carry with the hands
sweetheart /ˈswiːthɑːrt/ A2	noun - a romantic partner; a loved one
sleep /sliːp/ A1	verb - to rest with eyes closed noun - the natural periodic state of rest

Key Grammar Structures

• All my prayers are for you

  ➔ Use of the present simple tense with 'are' to express a current state.

  ➔ 'Are' is the present tense form of 'be' for plural subjects.

• Goodnight sweetheart

  ➔ Use of the noun 'sweetheart' as a term of endearment.

  ➔ 'Sweetheart' is a noun referring to a loved one or someone cherished.

• Sleep will banish sorrow

  ➔ Future tense using 'will' to indicate an action that will happen.

  ➔ 'Will' is used to form the simple future tense, expressing intention or prediction.

• When we meet tomorrow

  ➔ Use of the simple present tense ('meet') after 'when' to refer to future time.

  ➔ In clauses beginning with 'when', the present simple tense is used to refer to future actions.

• Dreams enfold you

  ➔ Use of the present tense 'enfold' to indicate an ongoing or current action.

  ➔ 'Enfold' is a verb in the present tense, meaning to surround or enclose.

• Goodnight sweetheart

  ➔ Imperative phrase used as a farewell or good wishes.

  ➔ This phrase functions as a common way to say farewell at night, using the word 'goodnight'.