High Hope – English Lyrics

• By: Josie Edwards

Lyrics & Translation

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
hope /hoʊp/ A2	noun - a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen; a person or thing that may help or save someone.
hang /hæŋ/ A2	verb - to be suspended or supported from above; (in the context 'hanging by my high hope') to rely on something for support or survival.
hollow /ˈhɒloʊ/ B2	adjective - having a hole or empty space inside; (of a feeling, sound, or statement) without real value or meaning, empty.
tightrope /ˈtaɪtroʊp/ C1	noun - a tightly stretched rope or wire on which acrobats perform; (figurative) a precarious or difficult situation.
echo /ˈekoʊ/ B1	noun - a sound or series of sounds caused by the reflection of sound waves from a surface back to the listener. verb - (of a sound or statement) be repeated or reverberate; (of a person or thing) repeat or reflect (another's words, sentiments, or style).
twist /twɪst/ B1	verb - to distort or change the meaning, form, or appearance of something; to turn or bend out of shape.
spin /spɪn/ B1	verb - to turn or cause to turn rapidly around an axis; (in context 'spin words') to present information in a particular way, especially a deceptive one.
vertigo /ˈvɜːrtɪɡoʊ/ C1	noun - a sensation of whirling and loss of balance, associated with looking down from a great height or with disease affecting the inner ear or brain.
dizzy /ˈdɪzi/ B1	adjective - having a sensation of spinning around and losing one's balance.
shadow /ˈʃædoʊ/ A2	noun - a dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface; a very slight trace or faint presence of something.
leap /liːp/ B2	noun - a forceful jump or sudden movement; a sudden large increase or change.
trust /trʌst/ A2	verb - to believe in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something. noun - firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.
ghost /ɡoʊst/ B1	noun - an apparition of a dead person which is believed to appear or become manifest to the living; a faint, shadowy, or insubstantial trace.
dreamless /ˈdriːmləs/ B2	adjective - (of sleep) not accompanied by dreams.
lie /laɪ/ A2	noun - an intentionally false statement.
beg /beɡ/ B1	verb - to ask (someone) earnestly or humbly for something.
cross /krɔːs/ A2	verb - to go or extend across or to the other side of (an area, road, etc.); to pass from one place or limit to another (as in 'crossed the world').
steady /ˈstedi/ B1	adjective - firmly fixed, supported, or balanced; not shaking or moving.
rush /rʌʃ/ B1	noun - a sudden rapid movement or activity; a sudden strong emotional or physical feeling (e.g., 'head rush').

Key Grammar Structures

• I'VE BEEN FALLIN' FOR THE LONGEST TIME

  ➔ Present Perfect Continuous

  ➔ This tense, indicated by "I'VE BEEN FALLIN'" and "FOR THE LONGEST TIME", expresses an action that started in the past and continued up to the present, emphasizing its duration.

• HOLD ME STEADY WHEN WE'RE ON THE LINE

  ➔ Imperative + Adverbial Clause of Time

  ➔ The phrase "HOLD ME STEADY" is an imperative, giving a direct command. "WHEN WE'RE ON THE LINE" is an adverbial clause of time, specifying the condition or moment for the command.

• IT'S YOUR SHADOW THAT I'M SLIPPING IN?

  ➔ Cleft Sentence (`It's...that...`)

  ➔ The structure "IT'S YOUR SHADOW THAT I'M SLIPPING IN" is a cleft sentence, used to emphasize the part 'your shadow' by placing it after 'It is/was' and before a 'that' clause.

• I'M DIZZY FROM THE WORDS THAT YOU TWIST AND SPIN?

  ➔ Adjective + Preposition + Defining Relative Clause

  ➔ "DIZZY FROM" shows the cause of the feeling. "THAT YOU TWIST AND SPIN" is a defining relative clause that specifies which 'words' are being referred to.

• ‘TIL IT LEFT ME FEELING HOLLOW

  ➔ Verb `leave` + Object + Present Participle

  ➔ The verb "leave" is used here in the structure "LEFT ME FEELING", describing the result or state someone is in after an action, followed by an object and a present participle.

• I BEGGED YOU NOT TO LET GO

  ➔ Verb + Object + Negative Infinitive

  ➔ This structure, with "NOT TO LET GO", shows that someone pleaded with another person to avoid performing a specific action, using 'not to' before the base form of the verb.

• NOW I'M HANGING BY MY HIGH HOPE

  ➔ Present Continuous + Idiomatic Expression

  ➔ The present continuous "I'M HANGING" describes an action happening at the moment. "BY MY HIGH HOPE" is an idiomatic expression, implying reliance on a fragile or slim chance.

• I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN FROM THE START

  ➔ Modal Perfect (Should Have + Past Participle)

  ➔ The modal perfect "SHOULD HAVE KNOWN" is used to express regret or to say that something was expected or advisable in the past, but it didn't happen.

• I STAYED BY YOUR SIDE AS A GHOST YOU KEEP

  ➔ "As a" (role/capacity) + Omitted Relative Pronoun

  ➔ "AS A GHOST" indicates the role or capacity the speaker was in. The relative pronoun (that/whom) is omitted before "YOU KEEP", which is common when it's the object of the clause.