I Believe I Can Fly – English Lyrics

• By: R.Kelly
• Album: R.

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language can be a journey of overcoming challenges, much like the story told in "I Believe I Can Fly." This iconic song offers simple, repetitive, and powerful lyrics that are perfect for English learners. Its clear message of hope and perseverance is universally understood, making it a special and motivating tool to help you believe that you, too, can spread your wings and fly towards your language goals.

[English]

I used to think that I could not go on

And life was nothing but an awful song

But now I know the meaning of true love

I'm leaning on the everlasting arms

If I can see it, then I can do it

If I just believe it, there's nothing to it

I believe I can fly

I believe I can touch the sky

I think about it every night and day

Spread my wings and fly away

I believe I can soar

I see me running through that open door

I believe I can fly

I believe I can fly

I believe I can fly (woo)

See I was on the verge of breaking down

Sometimes silence can seem so loud

There are miracles in life I must achieve

But first I know it starts inside of me, ho-oh

If I can see it (woo), then I can be it

If I just believe it, there's nothing to it

I believe I can fly

I believe I can touch the sky

I think about it every night and day

Spread my wings and fly away

I believe I can soar

I see me running through that open door

I believe I can fly

I believe I can fly

Oh, I believe I can fly (woo)

Hey, 'cause I believe in me

Ohh

If I can see it (woo), then I can do it (I can do it)

If I just believe it, there's nothing to it (hey!)

I believe I can fly (woo!)

I believe I can touch the sky

I think about it every night and day

Spread my wings and fly away

I believe I can soar

I see me running through that open door

I believe I can fly (I can fly)

I believe I can fly (I can fly)

I believe I can fly (I can fly)

Hey, if I just spread my wings (I can fly)

I can fly (I can fly)

I can fly (I can fly)

I can fly, hey (I can fly)

If I just spread my wings (I can fly)

I can fly (I can fly, I can fly)

(Woo!) (I can fly)

...

...

Fly-eye-eye

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
fly /flaɪ/ A1	verb - to move through the air using wings noun - an insect with wings
believe /bɪˈliːv/ A2	verb - to accept something as true
touch /tʌtʃ/ A2	verb - to put your hand or another part of your body lightly on something
sky /skaɪ/ A1	noun - the area above the earth
night /naɪt/ A1	noun - the period from sunset to sunrise
day /deɪ/ A1	noun - the period from sunrise to sunset
wings /wɪŋz/ A2	noun - body parts that allow birds, insects, and some mammals to fly
soar /sɔːr/ B2	verb - to fly high in the sky
running /ˈrʌnɪŋ/ A1	verb - moving quickly on foot
open /ˈoʊpən/ A1	adjective - not closed or fastened
door /dɔːr/ A1	noun - a hinged barrier used to close and open an entrance to a building, room, or vehicle
verge /vɜːrdʒ/ C1	noun - an edge or border
breaking /ˈbreɪkɪŋ/ A1	verb - separating into pieces
silence /ˈsaɪləns/ B1	noun - the complete absence of sound
loud /laʊd/ A2	adjective - producing much noise
miracles /ˈmɪrəkəlz/ B2	noun - extraordinary events that are believed to be caused by God
achieve /əˈtʃiːv/ B2	verb - to successfully bring about or reach (a desired objective or result) by effort, skill, or courage.

Key Grammar Structures

• I used to think that I could not go on

  ➔ Used to + infinitive

  ➔ Expresses a past habit or state that is no longer true. Here, it indicates the speaker *no longer* feels that way.

• And life was nothing but an awful song

  ➔ Nothing but + noun

  ➔ Emphasizes that something is only one thing; equivalent to "only". Life *only* felt like a bad song.

• If I can see it, then I can do it

  ➔ Conditional Sentence Type 1 (Zero Conditional variation)

  ➔ Expresses a real and possible condition. This variation is close to Zero Conditional indicating certainty. *If* I can see it, *then* I can do it.

• I believe I can touch the sky

  ➔ Noun Clause after "believe"

  ➔ "I can touch the sky" functions as the object of the verb "believe". The entire phrase expresses *what* the speaker believes.

• See I was on the verge of breaking down

  ➔ On the verge of + gerund

  ➔ "On the verge of" means close to doing or experiencing something. "Breaking down" is a gerund functioning as a noun. The speaker was *close* to collapsing.

• Sometimes silence can seem so loud

  ➔ Adverb of frequency + modal verb + verb

  ➔ "Sometimes" is the adverb of frequency, "can" is the modal verb, and "seem" is the verb. The modal verb "can" expresses possibility, but the adverb strengthens it. In certain cases, *silence* has the *ability* to *appear* loud.