I Know You Care – English Lyrics

• By: Ellie Goulding
• Album: Higher Than Heaven

Lyrics & Translation

Delve into the emotional landscape of Ellie Goulding's "I Know You Care," a deeply personal song about family and relationships. Experience the power of music to express complex feelings, and explore themes of longing, hope, and the struggle for closure. This song provides a window into understanding personal relationships and the emotional spectrum tied within them.

[English]

Clinging to me

Like a last breathe you, would breathe

You were like home to me

I don't recognize the street

...

Please don't close your eyes

Don't know where to look, without them

Outside, the cars speed by

I never heard them until now

I know you care

I know it is always been there

But there's trouble ahead, I can feel it

You are just saving yourself

When you hide it

Yeah, I know you care

I see it in the way you stare

As if there was trouble ahead

And you knew it

I'll be saving myself from

The ruin

And I know you care

...

I used to run down the stairs

To the door and I thought

You were there

Do you shape through the comfort of us?

Two lovers loved out of love

But I know you care

I know it is always been there

But there's trouble ahead

I can feel it

You are just saving yourself

When you hide it

Yeah, I know you care

I see it in the way you stare

As if there was trouble ahead

And you knew it

I'll be saving myself from

The ruin

I know it wasn't always wrong

But I've never known a

Winter so cold

Now I don't warm my hands

In a coat

But I still hope

'Cause this is how things ought

To have been

And I know the worst it

Wasn't all that it seemed

Why can't I dream?

Why can't I dream?

'Cause I know you care

And I know you care

I know you care

I know you care

I know it's always been there

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
clinging /ˈklɪŋɪŋ/ B1	verb (gerund) - holding tightly or grasping
breathe /briːð/ A2	verb - to take air into the lungs and then send it out
recognize /ˈrɛkəɡnaɪz/ B2	verb - to identify someone or something from previous knowledge
care /kɛər/ A2	verb/noun - to feel concern or interest; it is important
save /seɪv/ B1	verb - to keep safe or store for future use
hiding /ˈhaɪdɪŋ/ B1	verb (gerund) - to keep oneself or something out of sight
stare /stɛər/ B2	verb - to look at someone or something with wide-open eyes
ruin /ˈruɪn/ B2	noun - the destruction or damage of something
run /rʌn/ A1	verb - to move quickly on foot
shape /ʃeɪp/ B2	verb/noun - to form or create a particular form; a form or configuration
love /lʌv/ A1	noun/verb - a strong feeling of affection; to feel deep affection

Key Grammar Structures

• Like a last breathe you, would breathe

  ➔ Modal Verb "would" for Hypothetical/Conditional

  ➔ The line uses "would" to describe a hypothetical last breath, implying a strong desire or a potential action in a desperate situation. It emphasizes the preciousness of the connection.

• You were like home to me

  ➔ Simile (using "like" for comparison)

  ➔ This is a simile, comparing the person to "home", implying comfort, safety, and familiarity.

• I don't recognize the street

  ➔ Present Simple Tense (for a state)

  ➔ The present simple tense indicates a current state of not recognizing the street. This might symbolize disorientation or a changed perspective.

• Don't know where to look, without them

  ➔ Imperative in negative form and implied condition

  ➔ "Don't know where to look" is part of an implied conditional: "If I don't have your eyes (implied: if you are not here), I don't know where to look."

• I know it is always been there

  ➔ Incorrect use of Present Perfect. Should be "has"

  ➔ This line contains a grammatical error. "It" requires the singular form of "have", thus it should be "I know it *has* always been there". This is a common error in informal speech and can sometimes be used intentionally for stylistic effect, though likely not in this context.

• But there's trouble ahead, I can feel it

  ➔ Existential "There is/are" and Present Simple with Modal Verb "can"

  ➔ "There's" is a contraction of "There is," indicating existence. "I can feel it" uses the modal verb "can" to express ability or possibility.

• You are just saving yourself

  ➔ Present Continuous Tense (for an action happening now/around now)

  ➔ The present continuous emphasizes that saving yourself is an action happening at the moment or in this period of time.

• As if there was trouble ahead

  ➔ "As if" to introduce hypothetical situation/comparison.

  ➔ "As if" suggests the situation being described isn't necessarily true, but appears to be. It introduces a comparison with a hypothetical situation.