I Can't Go Back – English Lyrics

• By: Samantha Barks, Bryan Adams
• Album: Pretty Woman: The Musical

Lyrics & Translation

Step into the inspiring world of "Pretty Woman: The Musical" with "I Can't Go Back," a powerful and emotionally charged song performed by Samantha Barks. This ballad offers a wonderful opportunity for English language learners to immerse themselves in a clear narrative of self-discovery and transformation. Through its accessible lyrics and poignant delivery, you can explore themes of personal growth, determination, and the courage to forge a new path, making it a compelling piece to enhance your English vocabulary and comprehension while connecting with an uplifting story.

[English]

You know you make me happy

You know just what to say

But I ain't Cinderella

Who'd wanna be anyway

Of all the things I wanted

One thing I never got

Was to be treated like somebody

Just to have one shot

I can't go back!

No, I can't go back!

But now you got me thinking

About working on a dream

I'm not quite there yet

I'm somewhere in between

I hear you talking

How I deserve the best

A voice inside my head keeps saying

Don't settle for less

I can't go back!

I've seen the world

I can't go back!

I'm a different girl

I can't go back!

To who I was before

I can't go back!

I always wanted more

I have regrets

But I can't change the past

I want the real thing

Is that too much to ask?

For the first time in my life

It gets to be my choice

I feel I've found myself, yeah

I've found my voice!

I can't go back!

I've seen the world

I can't go back!

I'm a different girl

I can't go back!

To who I was before

I can't go back!

I always wanted more!

I can see my future

And all my plans

I'm gonna be okay

This is who I am!

It's true I sold my body

But I never sold my soul

I've learned I don't need anyone

It's me who's in control

They can take away my innocence

But they can't erase my pride

I've seen another life

I've seen the other side

I can't go back!

I've seen the world

I can't go back!

I'm a different girl

I can't go back!

To who I was before

I can't go back!

I can't go back!

Key Grammar Structures

• You know you make me happy

  ➔ Causative Verb "make"

  ➔ The structure "make" + object + adjective or base verb is used to show that someone or something causes another person/thing to be in a certain state or do something. Here, "you make me happy" means you cause me to be happy.

• Was to be treated like somebody

  ➔ Passive Infinitive

  ➔ The passive infinitive "to be treated" is formed with "to be" + past participle. It's used when the subject of the infinitive is the receiver of the action, not the performer.

• But now you got me thinking / About working on a dream

  ➔ Causative Verb "get" + Gerund after Preposition

  ➔ Here, "got me thinking" is an informal causative structure ("get" + object + present participle), similar to "make" but often implying persuasion or a process. Additionally, prepositions like "about" are followed by a gerund ("working").

• A voice inside my head keeps saying

  ➔ Phrasal Verb "keep + Gerund"

  ➔ The phrasal verb "keep + -ing verb" means to continue doing something repeatedly or without stopping. Here, "keeps saying" implies the voice is continuously repeating the message.

• I've seen the world

  ➔ Present Perfect (Experience)

  ➔ The present perfect tense "have/has + past participle" is used here to talk about an experience that happened at an unspecified time in the past and is relevant to the present.

• To who I was before

  ➔ Relative Clause (Informal "who")

  ➔ A relative clause describes a noun. Here, "who I was before" acts as a noun phrase referring to the speaker's past self. "Who" is informally used instead of the more formal "whom" or a phrase like "the person I was".

• Is that too much to ask?

  ➔ "too much to + Infinitive"

  ➔ The structure "too + adjective/adverb + to + infinitive" indicates that something exceeds a desirable limit, making an action impossible, difficult, or undesirable. Here, it questions if the request is excessively large or unreasonable.

• It gets to be my choice

  ➔ Phrasal Verb "get to + Infinitive"

  ➔ The phrasal verb "get to + verb" means to have the opportunity or permission to do something, or to finally reach a state or position. Here, it implies the speaker now has the chance to choose.

• It's me who's in control

  ➔ Cleft Sentence (It's... who/that...)

  ➔ A cleft sentence like "It's + stressed element + who/that + rest of the sentence" is used to emphasize a particular part of a sentence. Here, "It's me who's in control" emphasizes that *I* am the one in control, not someone else.

• I've learned I don't need anyone

  ➔ Present Perfect (Result) + Negative with "anyone"

  ➔ The present perfect "I've learned" emphasizes the result of past learning that is still relevant. "Don't need anyone" uses "anyone" in a negative context to mean "no person at all", reinforcing the speaker's independence.