House of Cards – English Lyrics

• By: Radiohead
• Album: In Rainbows

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the English language through the haunting beauty of Radiohead's "House of Cards." This song offers a chance to explore nuanced emotional vocabulary and metaphorical language, particularly the central image of a 'house of cards' representing fragile relationships. Its relatively clear and slow-paced vocals make it an excellent choice for learners to practice their listening skills while delving into a story of vulnerability and desire.

[English]

I don't want to be your friend

I just want to be your lover

...

No matter how it ends

No matter how it starts

...

Forget about your house of cards

And I'll do mine

...

Forget about your house of cards

And I'll do mine

...

Fall off the table

And get swept under

...

Denial, denial

...

The infrastructure will collapse

From voltage spikes

...

Throw your keys in the bowl

Kiss your husband goodnight

...

Forget about your house of cards

And I'll do mine

Forget about your house of cards

And I'll do mine

...

Fall off the table

And get swept under

...

Denial, denial

Denial, denial

...

(Your ears should be burning)

Denial, denial

(Your ears should be burning)

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
friend /frɛnd/ A1	noun - a person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection
lover /ˈlʌvər/ B1	noun - a person who is in a romantic or sexual relationship
house /haʊs/ A1	noun - a building for human habitation
cards /kɑrdz/ A2	noun - small rectangular pieces of stiff paper used for games or identification
table /ˈteɪbəl/ A1	noun - a piece of furniture with a flat top and legs
denial /dɪˈnaɪəl/ B2	noun - the act of refusing to accept something as true
infrastructure /ˈɪnfrəˌstrʌk.tʃər/ C1	noun - the basic physical and organizational structures needed for operation of a society
collapse /kəˈlæps/ B2	verb - to fall down or give way suddenly noun - a sudden failure or breakdown
voltage /ˈvoʊltɪdʒ/ C1	noun - the electrical potential difference between two points
spikes /spaɪks/ B2	noun - sharp, pointed objects; also sudden increases
keys /kiːz/ A1	noun - metal instruments used to open locks
bowl /boʊl/ A1	noun - a round, deep dish used for holding food or liquid
husband /ˈhʌzbənd/ A1	noun - a married man
ears /ɪərz/ A1	noun - the organs of hearing
burning /ˈbɜrnɪŋ/ B1	verb - to be on fire; to cause heat or pain adjective - producing heat or light; intense
forget /fərˈɡɛt/ A2	verb - to fail to remember
fall /fɔːl/ A1	verb - to drop down freely under the influence of gravity
throw /θroʊ/ A2	verb - to propel something through the air by a movement of the arm