Gotta Be Somebody – English Lyrics

• By: Nickelback

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the heartfelt lyrics and universal message of Nickelback's "Gotta Be Somebody," a rock anthem about the search for love and connection. Explore how this song uses relatable themes and emotional delivery to teach English learners about expressing feelings and desires, making it a perfect choice for understanding love and longing in a musical context .

[English]

This time, I wonder what it feels like

To find the one in this life

The one we all dream of

But dreams just aren't enough

So I'll be waiting for the real thing, I'll know it by the feeling

The moment when we're meeting

Will play out like a scene

Straight off the silver screen

So I'll be holding my breath, right up 'til the end

Until that moment when I find the one that I'll spend forever with

'Cause nobody wants to be the last one there

'Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares

Someone to love with my life in their hands

There's gotta be somebody for me like that

'Cause nobody wants to go it on their own (on their own)

And everyone wants to know they're not alone (not alone)

There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere (same somewhere)

There's gotta be somebody for me out there

Tonight, out on the street, out in the moonlight

And dammit, this feels too right

It's just like déjà vu

Me, standing here with you

So I'll be holding my breath, could this be the end?

Is it that moment when I find the one that I'll spend forever with?

'Cause nobody wants to be the last one there

'Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares

Someone to love with my life in their hands

There's gotta be somebody for me like that

'Cause nobody wants to go it on their own (on their own)

And everyone wants to know they're not alone (not alone)

There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere (same somewhere)

There's gotta be somebody for me out there

...

Ooh, you can't give up

(When you're looking for) a diamond in the rough

('Cause you never know) when it shows up

(Make sure you're holding on) 'cause it could be the one

The one you're waiting on

'Cause nobody wants to be the last one there

And everyone wants to feel like someone cares

Someone to love with my life in their hands

There's gotta be somebody for me, oh

Nobody wants to go it on their own (on their own)

And everyone wants to know they're not alone (not alone)

There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere (same somewhere)

There's gotta be somebody for me out there

Nobody wants to be the last one there (when you're looking for)

'Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares ('cause you never know)

There's somebody else that feels the same somewhere (make sure you're holding on)

There's gotta be somebody for me out there

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
wonder /ˈwʌndər/ B1	verb - to think about something with curiosity
dream /driːm/ A2	noun - a series of thoughts, images, or emotions occurring during sleep verb - to imagine or hope for something
feel /fiːl/ A2	verb - to experience an emotion or physical sensation
somebody /ˈsʌmbədi/ A2	pronoun - an unknown or unspecified person
last /læst/ A2	adjective - coming after all others in time or order
care /kɛr/ B1	verb - to feel concern or interest
hold /hoʊld/ A2	verb - to have or keep in the hand
moment /ˈmoʊmənt/ B1	noun - a very brief period of time
waiting /ˈweɪtɪŋ/ A2	verb - to stay in one place until something happens
spend /spɛnd/ B1	verb - to use time or money for a particular purpose
street /striːt/ A1	noun - a public road in a city or town
moonlight /ˈmuːnlaɪt/ B2	noun - the light of the moon
diamond /ˈdaɪəmənd/ B2	noun - a precious stone, typically colorless, used in jewelry
right /raɪt/ A2	adjective - morally good, justified, or acceptable

Key Grammar Structures

• This time, I wonder what it feels like To find the one in this life

  ➔ Indirect Question

  ➔ The phrase "I wonder what it feels like" introduces an indirect question. Instead of asking "What does it feel like?" directly, it's embedded within the statement "I wonder."

• But dreams just aren't enough

  ➔ Simple Present with Negative Contraction

  ➔ "aren't" is a contraction of "are not", the negative form of the verb "to be" in the present tense. It states a general truth: dreams are generally insufficient on their own.

• So I'll be waiting for the real thing, I'll know it by the feeling

  ➔ Future Continuous and Simple Future with 'by'

  ➔ "I'll be waiting" (future continuous) indicates an ongoing action in the future. "I'll know it by the feeling" uses "by" to indicate the means or method of knowing.

• 'Cause nobody wants to be the last one there

  ➔ Simple Present Tense (General Truth)

  ➔ The sentence expresses a general feeling or truth about human nature. The simple present tense shows that this is something generally true.

• 'Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares

  ➔ Modal Verb 'wants to' + 'like' indicating resemblance

  ➔ "wants to" expresses desire. "Feel like someone cares" uses "like" to indicate the desired sensation is similar to feeling cared for.

• Someone to love with my life in their hands

  ➔ Infinitive of Purpose

  ➔ The phrase "to love" expresses the purpose of having 'someone'. It clarifies why the speaker wants this person in their life.

• There's gotta be somebody for me like that

  ➔ Colloquial 'gotta' (got to) expressing certainty or obligation

  ➔ "Gotta" is a colloquial contraction of "got to," indicating a strong belief or expectation. Here, it expresses the speaker's firm belief that someone like that exists for them.

• And everyone wants to know they're not alone

  ➔ Present Simple, Indirect Statement with 'they're'

  ➔ "wants to know" expresses a desire. "they're not alone" is an indirect statement, originally "they are not alone", shortened to "they're" using a contraction.

• It's just like déjà vu Me, standing here with you

  ➔ Ellipsis for Emphasis

  ➔ The second line, "Me, standing here with you," is an elliptical sentence. The verb is omitted for emphasis, creating a more immediate and impactful image.

• You can't give up (When you're looking for) a diamond in the rough

  ➔ Modal Verb 'can't' for Prohibition and Ellipsis

  ➔ "can't" is a modal verb showing prohibition. The phrase in parentheses is an example of ellipsis where words are omitted because they are understood from the context.