I Like the Way I Dance – English Lyrics

• By: Hooverphonic
• Album: In Wonderland

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the dreamy soundscapes of Hooverphonic in "I Like the Way I Dance." Featuring Bird's ethereal vocals, this track from *In Wonderland* explores themes of freedom and self-expression. Dive into the lyrics and learn how music can be a powerful form of escape and personal discovery.

[English]

I can't wake a world

That only wants to sleep

And I can't change a heart

That doesn't want to beat

Voice whispers that I don't fit

Walking down the street

Learning lines to protect myself

The story's incomplete

Well it's over

When it's over

I'm not sober

And I don't care

I like the way I dance when I'm

High

A broken record's playing

Is all you seem to want to be

I watch you walk in circles

Love, hate, sleep and press repeat

My life is elemental

Need the earth, wind and sea

I'm counting numbers

Look for synchronicity

Well it's over

When it's over

I'm not sober

And I don't care

I like the way I dance when I'm

High

I like the way I dance when I'm

High

I like the way I dance when I'm

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
wake /weɪk/ A2	verb - to stop sleeping
world /wɜːld/ A1	noun - the earth and all the people and things on it
sleep /sliːp/ A1	verb - to rest with your eyes closed noun - the natural state of rest
heart /hɑːt/ A1	noun - the organ in your chest that pumps blood
beat /biːt/ A2	verb - to hit repeatedly noun - a rhythmic sound or pattern
voice /vɔɪs/ A1	noun - sound produced in the larynx and uttered through the mouth
whispers /ˈwɪspərz/ B1	verb - to speak very softly
walk /wɔːk/ A1	verb - to move on foot
street /striːt/ A1	noun - a public road in a city or town
lines /laɪnz/ A2	noun - a sequence of words
protect /prəˈtekt/ B1	verb - to keep safe from harm or injury
story /ˈstɔːri/ A1	noun - an account of past events in someone's life
incomplete /ˌɪnkəmˈpliːt/ B2	adjective - not finished or complete
sober /ˈsəʊbər/ B1	adjective - not drunk
care /keər/ A2	verb - to feel concern or interest noun - the provision of what is necessary for the health, welfare, maintenance, and protection of someone or something.
dance /dɑːns/ A1	verb - to move rhythmically to music noun - a series of steps and movements that are performed to music
high /haɪ/ A2	adjective - affected by alcohol or drugs
broken /ˈbrəʊkən/ A2	adjective - damaged or in pieces
record /ˈrekərd/ A2	noun - a vinyl disc for playing music
playing /ˈpleɪɪŋ/ A1	verb - to engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation
circles /ˈsɜːkəlz/ A2	noun - a round plane figure bounded by one curve
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - a strong feeling of affection
hate /heɪt/ A2	verb - to feel intense dislike for
sleep /sliːp/ A1	verb - to rest with your eyes closed noun - the natural state of rest
press /pres/ B1	verb - to push against something with steady force
repeat /rɪˈpiːt/ A2	verb - to say or do something again
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death.
elemental /ˌelɪˈmentəl/ C1	adjective - fundamental or essential.
earth /ɜːθ/ A1	noun - the planet on which we live
wind /wɪnd/ A1	noun - the perceptible natural movement of the air, especially in the form of a current of air blowing from a particular direction.
sea /siː/ A1	noun - the expanse of salt water that covers most of the earth's surface and surrounds its landmasses.
counting /ˈkaʊntɪŋ/ A1	verb - to determine the total number of (things)
numbers /ˈnʌmbərz/ A1	noun - an arithmetical value, expressed by a word, symbol, or figure, representing a particular quantity and used in counting and making calculations.
look /lʊk/ A1	verb - direct one's gaze towards someone or something or in a specified direction.
synchronicity /ˌsɪŋkrəˈnɪsəti/ C1	noun - the simultaneous occurrence of events that appear significantly related but have no discernible causal connection.

Key Grammar Structures

• I can't wake a world That only wants to sleep

  ➔ Relative Clause

  ➔ The clause "That only wants to sleep" modifies the noun "world". "That" acts as a relative pronoun, referring back to 'world' and providing additional information about it. This demonstrates a complex sentence structure.

• Voice whispers that I don't fit

  ➔ Reported Speech/Indirect Statement

  ➔ The verb 'whispers' introduces a reported thought. The clause 'that I don't fit' is the content of the whisper, presented as an indirect statement. Note the change in tense (from 'do' to 'don't').

• I like the way I dance when I'm High

  ➔ Adverbial Clause of Time

  ➔ "When I'm High" is an adverbial clause of time, modifying the verb 'like'. It tells us *when* the liking occurs. The use of 'when' introduces the time condition.

• A broken record's playing Is all you seem to want to be

  ➔ Genitive Case/Possessive 's

  ➔ The phrase "A broken record's playing" uses the possessive 's' to show that the playing belongs to the broken record. It indicates ownership or association.

• Love, hate, sleep and press repeat

  ➔ Parallel Structure/List

  ➔ The list 'Love, hate, sleep and press repeat' uses parallel structure. Each item is a verb (or implied verb) and maintains a similar grammatical form, creating a rhythmic effect.