High Hopes – English Lyrics

• By: Kodaline
• Album: In a Perfect World

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the compelling story behind Kodaline's hit song "High Hopes." This track offers a powerful message of overcoming adversity and holding onto aspirations, making it a relatable and inspiring piece for listeners seeking hope.

[English]

Broken bottles in the hotel lobby

Seems to me like I'm just scared of never feeling it again

I know it's crazy to believe in silly things

But it's not that easy

I remember it now, it takes me back to when it all first started

But I've only got myself to blame for it, and I accept it now

It's time to let it go, go out and start again

But it's not that easy

But I've got high hopes, it takes me back to when we started

High hopes, when you let it go, go out and start again

High hopes, when it all comes to an end

But the world keeps spinning around

...

And in my dreams, I meet the ghosts

Of all the people who have come and gone

Memories, they seem to show up so quick

But they leave you far too soon

Naïve I was just staring at the barrel of a gun

And I do believe that, yeah

But I've got high hopes, it takes me back to when we started

High hopes, when you let it go, go out and start again

High hopes, oh, when it all comes to an end

Now the world keeps spinning

Yeah, the world keeps spinning around

...

Ohh! High hopes, it takes me back to when we started

High hopes, when you let it go, go out and start again

High hopes, oh yeah

And the world keeps spinning

Ooh, yeah, this world keeps spinning

...

How this world keeps spinning around

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
broken /ˈbroʊkən/ B1	adjective - having been fractured or damaged.
scared /skerd/ A2	adjective - afraid; frightened.
feeling /ˈfiːlɪŋ/ A1	noun - an emotional state or reaction. verb - perceive (something) by touch or other physical sensation.
crazy /ˈkreɪzi/ B1	adjective - mentally deranged; insane.
believe /bɪˈliːv/ A2	verb - accept (something) as true; feel sure of the truth of.
remember /rɪˈmembər/ A2	verb - have in or be able to bring to one's mind an awareness of (someone or something that one has known or experienced in the past).
blame /bleɪm/ B1	verb - assign responsibility for a fault or wrong.
accept /əkˈsept/ B1	verb - consent to receive or undertake (something offered).
start /stɑːrt/ A1	verb - begin or be reckoned from a particular point in time or space.
high /haɪ/ A1	adjective - of great vertical extent.
hopes /hoʊps/ B1	noun - a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.
world /wɜːrld/ A1	noun - the earth, together with all of its countries, peoples, and natural features.
spinning /ˈspɪnɪŋ/ B1	verb - turn or cause to turn or whirl around quickly.
dreams /driːmz/ A2	noun - a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep.
ghosts /ɡoʊsts/ B1	noun - an apparition of a dead person which is believed to appear or become manifest to the living, typically as a nebulous image.
memories /ˈmeməriz/ B1	noun - something remembered from the past; a recollection.
naive /naɪˈiːv/ B2	adjective - (of a person or action) showing a lack of experience, wisdom, or judgment.

Key Grammar Structures

• It takes me back to when it all first started

  ➔ Present simple tense used with 'it takes' to describe a general truth or action

  ➔ 'It takes' is used to indicate the amount of time or effort needed for something

• But it's not that easy

  ➔ Use of 'it is not that easy' to express difficulty or challenge

  ➔ 'It's not that easy' is a common phrase to acknowledge difficulty in achieving or doing something

• Memories, they seem to show up so quick

  ➔ Use of 'seem to' + base verb to express an opinion or perception

  ➔ 'Seem to' is used to indicate something appears to be a certain way based on perception

• And the world keeps spinning around

  ➔ Present continuous tense with 'keeps' to show ongoing action or persistence

  ➔ 'Keeps spinning' illustrates the idea of something continuing without stopping