I Have Nothing – English Lyrics

• By: Whitney Houston

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the emotional depth of Whitney Houston's "I Have Nothing," a power ballad that truly showcases her extraordinary vocal talent and range. This song is a fantastic way for English language learners to grasp nuanced expressions of intense love, vulnerability, and longing. Its clear, emotive lyrics and powerful delivery make it a captivating and memorable piece for understanding heartfelt declarations in English.

[English]

("I Have Nothing" intro music)

♪ Share my life ♪

♪ Take me for what I am ♪

♪ 'Cause I'll never change ♪

♪ All my colors for you ♪

♪ Take my love ♪

♪ I'll never ask for too much ♪

♪ Just all that you are ♪

♪ And everything that you do ♪

♪ I don't really need to look ♪

♪ Very much further ♪

♪ I don't wanna have to go ♪

♪ Where you don't follow ♪

♪ I will hold it back again ♪

♪ This passion inside ♪

♪ Can't run from myself ♪

♪ There's nowhere to hide ♪

♪ Don't make me close one more door ♪

♪ I don't wanna hurt anymore ♪

♪ Stay in my arms if you dare ♪

♪ Or must I imagine you there ♪

♪ Don't walk away from me ♪

♪ I have nothing, nothing, nothing ♪

♪ If I don't have you ♪

♪ You, you ♪

♪ You, you, you ♪

♪ You see through ♪

♪ Right to the heart of me ♪

♪ You break down my walls ♪

♪ With the strength of your love, mm ♪

♪ I never knew ♪

♪ Love like I've known it with you ♪

♪ Will a memory survive ♪

♪ One I can hold on to ♪

♪ I don't really need to look ♪

♪ Very much further ♪

♪ I don't wanna have to go ♪

♪ Where you don't follow ♪

♪ I will hold it back again ♪

♪ This passion inside ♪

♪ I can't run from myself ♪

♪ There's nowhere to hide ♪

♪ Your love I'll remember forever ♪

♪ But don't make me close one more door ♪

♪ I don't want to hurt anymore ♪

♪ Stay in my arms if you dare ♪

♪ Or must I imagine you there ♪

♪ Don't walk away from me ♪

♪ I have nothing, nothing, nothing ♪

♪ Don't make me ♪

♪ Close one more door ♪

♪ I don't wanna hurt anymore ♪

♪ Stay in my arms if you dare ♪

♪ Or must I imagine you there ♪

♪ Don't walk away from me ♪

♪ No, don't walk away from me ♪

♪ Don't you dare walk away from me ♪

♪ I have nothing, nothing, nothing ♪

♪ If I don't have you ♪

♪ You ♪

♪ If I don't have you ♪

♪ Oh, oh ♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
share /ʃɛər/ A2	verb - to have in common with others
life /laɪf/ A2	noun - the existence of a person or animal
change /tʃeɪndʒ/ B1	verb - to become different
colors /ˈkʌl.ərz/ B2	noun - the visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or reflect
love /lʌv/ A2	noun - an intense feeling of deep affection verb - to feel deep affection for someone
ask /æsk/ A2	verb - to request information or action
colors /ˈkʌl.ərz/ B2	noun - the visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or reflect
heart /hɑːrt/ B1	noun - the organ that pumps blood through the body
walls /wɔːlz/ B2	noun - solid vertical structures that enclose or divide spaces
love /lʌv/ A2	noun - an intense feeling of deep affection verb - to feel deep affection for someone
survive /sərˈvaɪv/ B2	verb - to continue to live or exist
memory /ˈmɛm.əri/ B2	noun - the ability to store and recall past experiences

Key Grammar Structures

• Share my life

  ➔ Imperative verb form used for giving instructions or requests.

  ➔ The phrase 'Share my life' is a command, instructing someone to share their life with the speaker.

• I'll never ask for too much

  ➔ Future tense with 'will' + base verb, indicating a promise or determination.

  ➔ The speaker is expressing a future promise to not ask for more than what is reasonable.

• Don't make me close one more door

  ➔ Imperative negative with 'do not' + base verb, expressing prohibition or a plea.

  ➔ The speaker is requesting someone not to force them to 'close a door', metaphorically implying shutting away feelings or possibilities.

• Or must I imagine you there

  ➔ Modal verb 'must' used here in a rhetorical question to express necessity or obligation.

  ➔ The speaker is questioning whether they are obliged to only imagine the person instead of being with them physically.

• I have nothing, nothing, nothing

  ➔ Repetition of 'nothing' for emphasis, often used in poetic or emotional contexts.

  ➔ The repetition emphasizes the depth of the speaker's feeling of lacking or emptiness without the other person.