How Can We Be Lovers – English Lyrics

• By: Michael Bolton
• Album: The Essential Michael Bolton

Lyrics & Translation

[English]

(upbeat pop-rock music)

♪ How can we be lovers if we can't be friends ♪

♪ How can we start over when the fighting never ends, baby ♪

♪ How can we make love if we can't make amends ♪

♪ How can we be lovers if we can't be, can't be friends ♪

♪ Look at us now, look at us, baby ♪

♪ Still trying to work it out, never get it right ♪

♪ We must be fools, we must be crazy ♪

♪ Whoa, whoa ♪

♪ There's no communication ♪

♪ Whoa, whoa ♪

♪ It's a no-win situation ♪

♪ How can we be lovers if we can't be friends ♪

♪ How can we start over when the fighting never ends, baby ♪

♪ How can we make love if we can't make amends, tell me ♪

♪ How can we be lovers if we can't be, can't be friends ♪

♪ We lie awake, this wall between us ♪

♪ We're just not talking, we've got so much to say ♪

♪ Let's break these chains, our love can free us ♪

♪ Whoa, whoa ♪

♪ Ain't it time we started trying ♪

♪ Whoa, whoa ♪

♪ Gotta stop this love from dying ♪

♪ How can we be lovers if we can't be friends ♪

♪ How can we start over when the fighting never ends, baby ♪

♪ How can we make love if we can't make amends ♪

♪ How can we be lovers if we can't be, can't be friends ♪

(upbeat pop-rock music continues)

♪ Baby ♪

♪ Baby ♪

♪ Love is tough but we can take it ♪

♪ How can we be lovers ♪

♪ Baby times are rough but we can make it ♪

♪ We can work it out ♪

♪ How can we be lovers if we can't be friends ♪

♪ How can we start over when the fighting never ends, baby ♪

♪ How can we make love if we can't make amends, tell me ♪

♪ How can we be lovers if we can't be, can't be friends ♪

♪ How can we be lovers if we can't be friends ♪

♪ How can we be lovers ♪

♪ How can we start over when the fighting never ends ♪

♪ How can we be lovers ♪

♪ How can we make love if we can't make amends ♪

♪ If we can't be friends ♪

♪ How can we be lovers if we can't be ♪

♪ Can't be friends ♪ ♪ How can we be lovers ♪

♪ How can we be lovers if we can't be friends ♪

♪ If we can't be friends ♪

♪ How can we start over when the fighting never ends ♪

♪ Ooh ♪

♪ Whoo ♪ ♪ How can we make love ♪

♪ If we can't make amends ♪

♪ If we can't be friends ♪

♪ How can we be lovers if we can't be ♪

♪ Oh-oh ♪

♪ Can't be friends ♪

♪ How can we be lovers if we can't be friends ♪

♪ How can we start over when the fighting never ends, baby ♪

♪ How can we make love if we can't make amends, tell me ♪

♪ How can we be lovers if we can't be, can't be friends ♪

♪ How can we be lovers ♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
lovers /ˈlʌvərz/ A2	noun - people who love each other
friends /frendz/ A1	noun - people you care about and enjoy spending time with
start /stɑːrt/ A1	verb - begin
fight /faɪt/ A2	verb - to use violence to try to win an argument noun - a physical or verbal struggle
make /meɪk/ A1	verb - to create or construct
amends /əˈmendz/ B2	noun - making up for a mistake
work /wɜːrk/ A2	verb - to do a job noun - activity involving effort
fools /fuːlz/ B1	noun - silly or unwise people
crazy /ˈkreɪzi/ A2	adjective - mentally disturbed
communication /kəˌmjuːnɪˈkeɪʃn/ B2	noun - the process of conveying information
situation /ˌsɪtʃuˈeɪʃn/ B1	noun - a set of circumstances
chains /tʃeɪnz/ B1	noun - metal links used for restraint
free /friː/ A2	adjective - not under the control or power of another verb - to release from confinement
dying /ˈdaɪɪŋ/ B1	verb - the process of ceasing to live
tough /tʌf/ A2	adjective - difficult
rough /rʌf/ A2	adjective - not smooth or easy

Key Grammar Structures

• How can we **be** lovers

  ➔ Modal verb + Base form (be)

  ➔ The modal verb "can" followed by the base form of the verb "be" to express possibility or ability.

• if we can't **be** friends

  ➔ Conditional clause (if + subject + can't + base form)

  ➔ This sentence uses a conditional clause with "if" to express a condition.

• How can we **start** over

  ➔ Modal verb + Base form (start)

  ➔ Similar to the first example, the modal verb "can" is followed by the base form of the verb "start".

• when the fighting **never ends**

  ➔ Present Simple (ends)

  ➔ The verb "ends" is in the Present Simple tense because it expresses a habitual action or a general truth.

• How can we **make** love

  ➔ Modal verb + Base form (make)

  ➔ Again, the modal verb "can" is followed by the base form "make".

• if we can't **make amends**

  ➔ Conditional clause (if + subject + can't + base form + complement)

  ➔ Another conditional clause using "if" and "can't" to express a condition with a specific action.

• We **lie** awake

  ➔ Present Simple (lie)

  ➔ The verb "lie" is used in the present simple to describe a state or habitual action.

• Ain't it time we **started** trying

  ➔ Past Simple (started)

  ➔ Past simple is used here to refer to a past action or a past point in time. The use of "ain't" is informal and reflects a colloquial style.

• Gotta **stop** this love from dying

  ➔ Modal verb (gotta) + base form

  ➔ "Gotta" is a contraction of "got to" and functions as a modal verb, followed by the base form of the verb "stop". It implies obligation or necessity.