Gotta Go My Own Way – English Lyrics

• By: Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens
• Album: High School Musical 2

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the emotional depth of "Gotta Go My Own Way," a pop ballad from Disney's *High School Musical 2*. This song, performed by Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens as their characters Troy and Gabriella, explores the challenging decision to prioritize individual growth even when it means stepping away from a beloved relationship. It offers valuable insights into expressing personal needs and navigating complex emotions during times of change, making it a great song to understand themes of self-discovery and independence in English.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
mean /miːn/ B1	verb - to intend or signify
remember /rɪˈmɛmbər/ A2	verb - to bring back to mind
hope /hoʊp/ A2	verb - to wish for a positive outcome
place /pleɪs/ A1	noun - a particular position or point in space
world /wɜːrld/ A1	noun - the earth and all its inhabitants
leave /liːv/ A2	verb - to go away from a place
best /bɛst/ A2	adjective - of the highest quality
move /muːv/ A1	verb - to change position
belong /bɪˈlɔːŋ/ B1	verb - to be a member of or in the right place
understand /ˌʌndərˈstænd/ A2	verb - to grasp the meaning of something
say /seɪ/ A1	verb - to express in words
hard /hɑːrd/ A2	adjective - difficult to do or understand
color /ˈkʌlər/ A1	noun - the property of an object that produces different sensations on the eye
fall /fɔːl/ A2	verb - to drop down from a higher place
way /weɪ/ A1	noun - a method or manner of doing something

Key Grammar Structures

• I'm sure you did at the time.

  ➔ Past simple tense with 'did' for emphasis

  ➔ 'Did' is used to emphasize the past action or certainty.

• But I also meant what I said.

  ➔ Past simple tense with 'meant' (irregular verb)

  ➔ 'Meant' is the past of 'mean,' indicating intention or significance in the past.

• I gotta say what's on my mind.

  ➔ Informal contraction of 'got to' + base verb

  ➔ 'Gotta' is an informal way to say 'have got to,' expressing necessity or obligation.

• Life keeps getting in the way.

  ➔ Present simple tense with 'keeps' + gerund (getting)

  ➔ 'Keeps' indicates a repeated or ongoing action in the present, with 'getting' showing the process.

• It's so hard to say but I've got to do what's best for me.

  ➔ Infinitive phrase 'to say' following 'hard' to express difficulty

  ➔ 'To say' is an infinitive used after 'hard' to indicate that expressing something is difficult.

• I hope you understand.

  ➔ Present simple tense with 'hope' + base verb ('understand')

  ➔ 'Hope' is used with the base form of a verb to express a desire or wish that something will happen.