How Far I'll Go – English Lyrics

• By: Auli'i Cravalho
• Album: Moana

Lyrics & Translation

The song "How Far I'll Go" from Disney's "Moana," performed by Auli'i Cravalho, is an inspiring and emotionally rich ballad that beautifully captures the universal theme of self-discovery and pursuing one's dreams. Its clear, narrative lyrics and powerful vocal performance make it an excellent song for English language learners to grasp vocabulary related to aspirations, journeys, and internal conflict, while immersing themselves in a modern classic.

[English]

♪ I've been staring at the edge of the water ♪

♪ Long as I can remember ♪

♪ Never really knowing why ♪

♪ I wish I could be the perfect daughter ♪

♪ But I come back to the water ♪

♪ No matter how hard I try ♪

♪ Every turn I take, every trail I track ♪

♪ Every path I make, every road leads back ♪

♪ To the place I know where I cannot go ♪

♪ Where I long to be ♪

♪ See the line where the sky meets the sea ♪

♪ It calls me ♪

♪ And no one knows ♪

♪ How far it goes ♪

♪ If the wind in my sail on the sea stays behind me ♪

♪ One day I'll know ♪

♪ If I go, there's just no telling how far I'll go ♪

♪ I know everybody on this island ♪

♪ Seems so happy on this island ♪

♪ Everything is by design ♪

(snorting)

♪ I know everybody ♪

♪ On this island ♪

♪ Has a role on this island ♪

♪ So maybe I can roll with mine ♪

♪ I can lead with pride, I can make us strong ♪

♪ I'll be satisfied if I play along ♪

♪ But the voice inside sings a different song ♪

♪ What is wrong with me? ♪

♪ See the light as it shines on the sea ♪

♪ It's blinding ♪

♪ But no one knows ♪

♪ How deep it goes ♪

♪ And it seems like it's calling out to me ♪

♪ So come find me ♪

♪ And let me know ♪

♪ What's beyond that line, will I cross that line? ♪

♪ The line where the sky meets the sea ♪

♪ It calls me ♪

♪ And no one knows ♪

♪ How far it goes ♪

♪ If the wind in my sail on the sea stays behind me ♪

♪ One day I'll know ♪

♪ How far I'll go. ♪

Whoa! (groans)

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
staring /ˈstɛərɪŋ/ B1	verb - to look fixedly at something for a long time
edge /ɛdʒ/ A2	noun - the border or part around the outside of something
water /ˈwɔːtər/ A1	noun - a clear liquid that forms the seas, lakes, rivers, and rain
know /noʊ/ A1	verb - to have information or be aware of something
try /traɪ/ A2	verb - to attempt to do something
path /pæθ/ B1	noun - a route or way for walking or continuing forward
reach /riːtʃ/ B2	verb - to arrive at a place or goal
trail /treɪl/ B2	noun - a path through a countryside or wilderness
road /roʊd/ A2	noun - a wide way leading from one place to another
long /lɔːŋ/ A2	adjective - measuring a great distance from end to end
place /pleɪs/ A2	noun - a particular position or area
sea /siː/ A1	noun - a large area of salt water that covers most of the Earth's surface
call /kɔːl/ B1	verb - to shout or use a sound to attract attention or summon someone
know /noʊ/ A1	verb - to have information or be aware of something
far /fɑːr/ A2	adjective - at a great distance
go /ɡoʊ/ A1	verb - to move from one place to another

Key Grammar Structures

• I've been staring at the edge of the water

  ➔ Present Perfect Continuous

  ➔ The phrase "I've been staring" indicates an action that started in the past and continues to the present.

• I wish I could be the perfect daughter

  ➔ Wish + past subjunctive

  ➔ The phrase "I wish I could be" expresses a desire for a situation that is not true.

• Every turn I take, every trail I track

  ➔ Every + singular noun

  ➔ The phrase "Every turn" emphasizes each individual instance of the noun.

• Where I long to be

  ➔ Infinitive phrase

  ➔ The phrase "to be" indicates a desire or intention.

• If the wind in my sail on the sea stays behind me

  ➔ Conditional clause

  ➔ The phrase "If the wind... stays behind me" sets a condition for the following statement.

• One day I'll know

  ➔ Future simple tense

  ➔ The phrase "I'll know" indicates a future action or event.

• So maybe I can roll with mine

  ➔ Modal verb + base form

  ➔ The phrase "I can roll" expresses ability or possibility.