Holyanna – English Lyrics

• By: Toto

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the intriguing story of "Holyanna" by Toto, a song that captures the essence of a young woman balancing religious expectations with her own desires for freedom. Through its catchy melody and vivid lyrics, this song offers a glimpse into the complexities of identity and the challenges of youth. Explore the language of rock and pop as you delve into the tale of Holyanna, a blue-eyed mystery that continues to resonate with listeners.

[English]

Your hair's a mess, you better put on a dress

And get your feet back on the ground

You fix your eyes for some city guys

Who wouldn't save you if you drowned

You hang on 42nd Street

And do your homework in the bar

Saint Helen says you're missin' school

And I'm wonderin' where you are

Holyanna, Holyanna

Girl, what you do to me?

Holyanna (Holyaana), Holyanna

Girl, you're a blue-eyed mystery

You read your books until nobody looks

And then you slip out after dark

You steal my love, then say you're sorry

And do your penance in the park

You fooled your mother when you skipped ballet

To paint your face for the midnight show

And in the morning you knelt beside your bed

And prayed she'd never know

Holyanna, Holyanna

Girl, what you do to me?

Holyanna (Holyaana), Holyanna

Girl, you're a blue-eyed mystery

Holyanna, Holyanna

Girl, what you do to me?

Holyanna (Holyaana), Holyanna

Girl, what you do to me?

Holyanna (Holyaana), Holyanna

Girl, what you do to me?

Oh, oh (Holyaana)

Girl, you're a blue-eyed mystery

Key Grammar Structures

• Your hair's a mess, you better put on a dress

  ➔ Had better + infinitive

  ➔ The phrase **"had better"** expresses a strong recommendation or warning: *you had better put on a dress*.

• And get your feet back on the ground

  ➔ Imperative mood (bare infinitive)

  ➔ The verb **"get"** appears without “to”, forming an imperative that tells someone what to do.

• Who wouldn't save you if you drowned

  ➔ Second conditional (would + base verb) + past simple in if‑clause

  ➔ The structure **"wouldn't … if you drowned"** imagines an unreal situation in the present or future.

• And I'm wonderin' where you are

  ➔ Present continuous (be + verb‑ing)

  ➔ The verb **"wonderin'"** (wondering) is in the -ing form following the auxiliary **"am"**, indicating an ongoing thought.

• You read your books until nobody looks

  ➔ Until + simple present for future reference

  ➔ The clause **"until nobody looks"** uses the simple present after **"until"** to talk about a future time limit.

• To paint your face for the midnight show

  ➔ Infinitive of purpose (to + verb)

  ➔ The phrase **"to paint"** explains why she does the action – *in order to paint her face*.

• You fooled your mother when you skipped ballet

  ➔ Past simple + when‑clause (time clause)

  ➔ The verb **"fooled"** is in the past simple, and **"when you skipped ballet"** tells us *when* the fooling happened.

• And prayed she'd never know

  ➔ Past simple + reported speech (that‑clause with past modal)

  ➔ The verb **"prayed"** is past simple; **"she'd never know"** is a that‑clause (omitted "that") reporting a future‑in‑the‑past idea.