Got Me Wrong – English Lyrics

• By: Alice In Chains
• Album: MTV Unplugged

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a fantastic journey, and Alice in Chains' "Got Me Wrong" offers a great starting point for English learners. The song's clear, deliberate vocal delivery and relatively straightforward lyrics make it easy to follow along and pick up new vocabulary related to relationships and emotions. What makes this song special is its raw honesty and the beautiful vocal harmonies between Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell, showcasing a softer, more melodic side of the iconic grunge band.

[English]

(audience clapping) (gentle music)

(audience cheering)

♪ Yeah, it goes away ♪

♪ All of this and more of nothing in my life ♪

♪ No, color clay ♪

♪ Individuality not safe ♪

♪ As of now I bet you got me wrong ♪

♪ So unsure you run from something strong ♪

(gentle upbeat music)

♪ I can't let go ♪

♪ Threadbare tapestry unwinding slow ♪

♪ Feel a tortured brain ♪

♪ Show your belly like you want me to ♪

♪ As of now, I bet you got me wrong ♪

♪ So unsure, we reach for something strong ♪

♪ I haven't felt like this in so long ♪

♪ Wrong ♪

♪ In a sense too far gone from love ♪

♪ That don't last forever ♪

♪ Something's gotta turn out right ♪

(gentle upbeat music)

♪ You, sugar taste ♪

♪ Sweetness doesn't often touch my face ♪

♪ Stay if you please ♪

♪ You may not be here when I leave ♪

♪ As of now, I bet you got me wrong ♪

♪ So unsure, we reach for something strong ♪

♪ I haven't felt like this in so long ♪

♪ Wrong ♪

♪ In a sense too far gone from love ♪

♪ Strong ♪

♪ I haven't felt like this in so long ♪

♪ Wrong ♪

♪ In a sense too far gone from love ♪

♪ That don't last forever ♪

♪ Something's gotta turn out right ♪

(gentle upbeat music) (audience cheering)

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
clap /klæp/ A2	verb - to strike the palms of both hands together repeatedly
music /ˈmjuːzɪk/ A1	noun - art of arranging sounds in a pleasing way
cheer /tʃɪər/ A2	verb - to shout approval or encouragement
away /əˈweɪ/ A1	adverb - to a different place or position
nothing /ˈnʌθɪŋ/ A1	pronoun - not anything
color /ˈkʌl.ər/ A2	noun - the property of objects that produces different sensations on the eye
individuality /ˌɪndɪˌvɪdʒuˈælɪti/ C1	noun - the quality that makes one person or thing different from others
safe /seɪf/ B1	adjective - not in danger or likely to be harmed
uncertain /ʌnˈsɜːrtən/ B2	adjective - not confident or definite; unsure
strong /strɒŋ/ or /strɔːŋ/ B2	adjective - having great power or strength
long /lɒŋ/ or /lɔːŋ/ A2	adjective - extending a great distance from end to end
grazed /ɡreɪzd/ C1	verb - to scrape or touch lightly in passing
love /lʌv/ A1	noun / verb - a deep affection or strong feeling
forever /fərˈɛvər/ B2	adverb - for all future time; always
turn /tɜːrn/ B1	verb / noun - to change position or direction

Key Grammar Structures

• As of now I bet you got me wrong

  ➔ Phrasal Verb / Idiomatic Expression

  ➔ The phrase "**got me wrong**" is an idiomatic expression meaning "misunderstood me" or "formed an incorrect opinion about me." It uses the past tense of "get."

• I can't let go

  ➔ Modal Verb + Phrasal Verb

  ➔ "**Can't**" is a modal verb indicating inability or impossibility. "**Let go**" is a phrasal verb meaning to release something or someone, or to stop holding onto something emotionally.

• Show your belly like you want me to

  ➔ Comparative Clause + Ellipsis

  ➔ This sentence contains a comparative clause introduced by "**like**", implying a comparison: "show your belly in the way that you want me to (show my belly)". The verb "show your belly" is elliptically omitted at the end.

• I haven't felt like this in so long

  ➔ Present Perfect Negative + 'in so long'

  ➔ The **Present Perfect Negative** ("**haven't felt**") is used to describe an action or state that started in the past and continues up to the present, or its effect is still relevant. "In so long" emphasizes the duration.

• In a sense too far gone from love

  ➔ 'Too + adjective/adverb' construction + Past Participle as Adjective

  ➔ The construction "**too far gone**" uses "too" to indicate an excessive degree, meaning "beyond a point of no return" or "irreversible." "**Gone**" is the past participle of "go", here functioning as an adjective describing a state of being lost or damaged beyond recovery.

• That don't last forever

  ➔ Colloquial Subject-Verb Agreement (don't for doesn't)

  ➔ In standard English, the third person singular subject "That" would require "**doesn't**". However, "**don't**" is commonly used in informal speech and song lyrics, especially in American English, as a colloquialism for "doesn't".

• Something's gotta turn out right

  ➔ Colloquial 'gotta' + Phrasal Verb

  ➔ "**Gotta**" is a colloquial contraction of "got to" or "have got to", expressing necessity or strong obligation, similar to "must" or "have to". It can also informally mean "going to" for future plans/predictions. "**Turn out**" is a phrasal verb meaning to result or happen in a particular way.

• You may not be here when I leave

  ➔ Modal Verb for Possibility

  ➔ The modal verb "**may not**" is used to express possibility or uncertainty, indicating that something might not happen or might not be true in the future.

• Threadbare tapestry unwinding slow

  ➔ Present Participle as Adjective/Description

  ➔ "**Unwinding**" is a present participle functioning as an adjective, describing the ongoing action of the "threadbare tapestry". It indicates that the tapestry is currently in the process of unraveling.

• Stay if you please

  ➔ Conditional Clause for Politeness / Imperative with courtesy

  ➔ "**If you please**" is a polite conditional clause used to make a request or suggest something courteously. It softens the imperative "Stay".