Hello – English Lyrics

• By: Adele
• Album: 25

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into Adele's 'Hello,' a global phenomenon perfect for English language learners! This powerful ballad's clear, emotive lyrics offer a fantastic opportunity to understand expressions of longing, regret, and reconciliation. With its conversational style and Adele's distinct enunciation, you can grasp natural English phrasing while appreciating a song that resonates with universal human emotions and speaks to reconnecting with both others and yourself.

[English]

Hello, it's me

I was wondering if after all these years you'd like to meet

To go over everything

They say that time's supposed to heal ya, but I ain't done much healing

Hello, can you hear me?

I'm in California dreaming about who we used to be

When we were younger and free

I've forgotten how it felt before the world fell at our feet

There's such a difference between us

And a million miles

Hello from the other side

I must've called a thousand times

To tell you I'm sorry for everything that I've done

But when I call, you never seem to be home

Hello from the outside

At least I can say that I've tried

To tell you I'm sorry for breaking your heart

But it don't matter, it clearly doesn't tear you apart anymore

...

Hello, how are you?

It's so typical of me to talk about myself, I'm sorry

I hope that you're well

Did you ever make it out of that town where nothing ever happened?

It's no secret that the both of us

Are running out of time

So hello from the other side (other side)

I must've called a thousand times (thousand times)

To tell you I'm sorry for everything that I've done

But when I call, you never seem to be home

Hello from the outside (outside)

At least I can say that I've tried (I've tried)

To tell you I'm sorry for breaking your heart

But it don't matter, it clearly doesn't tear you apart anymore

(Highs, highs, highs, highs)

Ooh (lows, lows, lows, lows), anymore

(Highs, highs, highs, highs)

Ooh (lows, lows, lows, lows), anymore

(Highs, highs, highs, highs)

Ooh (lows, lows, lows, lows), anymore

(Highs, highs, highs, highs)

Anymore (lows, lows, lows, lows)

Hello from the other side (other side)

I must've called a thousand times (thousand times)

To tell you I'm sorry for everything that I've done

But when I call, you never seem to be home

Hello from the outside (outside)

At least I can say that I've tried (I've tried)

To tell you I'm sorry for breaking your heart

But it don't matter, it clearly doesn't tear you apart anymore

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
heal /hiːl/ B1	verb - become sound or healthy again.
dream /driːm/ A2	noun - a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep. verb - to experience images, emotions, and sensations during sleep.
forget /fərˈɡet/ A2	verb - fail to remember something.
difference /ˈdɪfərəns/ B1	noun - the way two or more things are not the same.
call /kɔːl/ A1	verb - to shout or cry out. verb - to telephone.
sorry /ˈsɒri/ A1	adjective - feeling or expressing regret or sadness.
heart /hɑːt/ A1	noun - the organ in your chest that pumps blood around your body.
break /breɪk/ A2	verb - to separate or divide into pieces.
matter /ˈmætər/ B1	noun - a thing or an idea that is important.
typical /ˈtɪpɪkəl/ B2	adjective - having the distinctive qualities of a particular type.
town /taʊn/ A1	noun - a populated area with fixed boundaries.
secret /ˈsiːkrət/ B1	noun - something kept hidden or unknown.
running /ˈrʌnɪŋ/ A1	verb - to move at a speed faster than a walk.
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole.
tried /traɪd/ A2	verb - made an effort to do something.
apart /əˈpɑːt/ B1	adverb - separated or divided.

Key Grammar Structures

• Hello, it's me

  ➔ Present simple of the verb "to be" (contraction)

  ➔ The word "it's" is a contraction of "it is" used in the present simple.

• I was wondering if after all these years you'd like to meet

  ➔ Past progressive + conditional "would"

  ➔ The phrase "was wondering" is past progressive, and "you'd" (you would) expresses a polite conditional.

• They say that time's supposed to heal ya, but I ain't done much healing

  ➔ Reported speech + modal "be supposed to" + colloquial negative "ain't"

  ➔ "They say that" introduces reported speech, "time's supposed to" uses the modal phrase "be supposed to", and "ain't" is a colloquial negative for "am not / is not".

• I'm in California dreaming about who we used to be

  ➔ Present continuous + gerund "dreaming" + "used to" for past habit

  ➔ "I'm" (I am) + present continuous "dreaming" shows an ongoing action, and "used to be" describes a past state that no longer exists.

• I've forgotten how it felt before the world fell at our feet

  ➔ Present perfect + past simple

  ➔ "I've" (I have) + present perfect "forgotten" shows an action with present relevance, while "felt" and "fell" are simple past describing past events.

• I must've called a thousand times

  ➔ Modal verb "must" + perfect infinitive "have + past participle"

  ➔ "must've" is the contraction of "must have"; it expresses a strong assumption about a past action.

• But when I call, you never seem to be home

  ➔ Zero conditional (present simple + present simple)

  ➔ "when" introduces a condition; both clauses use the present simple, expressing a general truth.

• At least I can say that I've tried

  ➔ Modal "can" + infinitive + present perfect

  ➔ "can" expresses ability or permission, followed by the base verb "say"; the clause "I've tried" uses present perfect to show a past action with present relevance.

• But it don't matter, it clearly doesn't tear you apart anymore

  ➔ Negative contraction "don't" and "doesn't" with present simple

  ➔ "don't" (do not) and "doesn't" (does not) are negative contractions used with the present simple verb "matter" and "tear".