I'll Be Waiting – English Lyrics

• By: Lenny Kravitz
• Album: Baptism

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the heartfelt rock anthem "I'll Be Waiting" by Lenny Kravitz, a song that beautifully blends powerful emotions with straightforward yet profound English lyrics. Through its themes of unwavering commitment and patient love, learners can grasp expressions of loyalty and emotional support. The song's clear narrative and Kravitz's distinct vocal delivery make it an excellent choice for understanding conversational English within a deeply resonant musical context, exploring how to convey steadfastness and hope.

[English]

(footsteps thudding) (bell ringing)

(machine rattling)

(slow rock music)

♪ He broke your heart ♪

♪ He took your soul ♪

♪ You're hurt inside ♪

♪ Because there's a hole ♪

♪ You need some time ♪

♪ To be alone ♪

♪ Then you will find ♪

♪ What you've always known ♪

♪ I'm the one who really loves you, baby ♪

♪ I've been knocking at your door ♪

♪ As long as I'm living, I'll be waiting ♪

♪ As long as I'm breathing, I'll be there ♪

♪ Whenever you call me, I'll be waiting ♪

♪ Whenever you need me, I'll be there ♪

♪ I've seen you cry ♪

♪ Into the night ♪

♪ I feel your pain ♪

♪ Can I make it right ♪

♪ I realized there's no end inside ♪

♪ Yet still I wait ♪

♪ For you to see the light ♪

♪ I'm the one who really loves you, baby ♪

♪ I can't take it anymore ♪

♪ As long as I'm living, I'll be waiting ♪

♪ As long as I'm breathing, I'll be there ♪

♪ Whenever you call me, I'll be waiting ♪

♪ Whenever you need me, I'll be there ♪

♪ You are the only one I've ever known ♪

♪ That makes me feel this way ♪

♪ Couldn't on my own ♪

♪ I want to be with you until we're old ♪

♪ You've got the love you need right in front of you ♪

♪ Please come home ♪

♪ As long as I'm living, I'll be waiting ♪

♪ As long as I'm breathing, I'll be there ♪

♪ Whenever you call me, I'll be waiting ♪

♪ Whenever you need me, I'll be there ♪

♪ As long as I'm living, I'll be waiting ♪

♪ As long as I'm breathing, I'll be there ♪

♪ Whenever you call me, I'll be waiting ♪

♪ Whenever you need me, I'll be there ♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
heart /hɑːrt/ A1	noun - the organ that pumps blood; also the centre of emotions
soul /soʊl/ B2	noun - the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being, regarded as immortal
hurt /hɜːrt/ A2	verb - to cause pain or injury adjective - in pain; suffering
hole /hoʊl/ A1	noun - an opening or empty space in something
alone /əˈloʊn/ A2	adjective - without other people; solitary
find /faɪnd/ A1	verb - to discover or locate something
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - deep affection or strong feeling of attachment verb - to feel deep affection for someone
baby /ˈbeɪ.bi/ A1	noun - a very young child; also an affectionate term for a loved one
knocking /ˈnɑː.kɪŋ/ A2	verb - to strike a surface noisily, especially a door
door /dɔːr/ A1	noun - a hinged or sliding barrier for entering or exiting a building or room
living /ˈlɪv.ɪŋ/ B1	verb - to be alive; to have a life adjective - relating to one’s existence or livelihood
waiting /ˈweɪ.tɪŋ/ A2	verb - to stay in one place or remain inactive until something happens noun - the act of staying in expectation
breathing /ˈbriː.ðɪŋ/ A2	verb - to inhale and exhale air noun - the act of inhaling and exhaling
call /kɔːl/ A1	verb - to speak loudly to attract someone's attention
cry /kraɪ/ A1	verb - to shed tears, typically from pain or emotion
pain /peɪn/ A2	noun - physical or emotional suffering
realized /ˈriː.ə.laɪzd/ B1	verb - to become aware of something; to understand fully
light /laɪt/ A1	noun - visible electromagnetic radiation that makes things visible; also a symbol of hope

Key Grammar Structures

• He broke your heart

  ➔ Simple Past Tense

  ➔ The verb 'broke' is in the simple past tense, indicating a completed action in the past. It describes a finished event – the act of breaking someone's heart.

• You need some time to be alone

  ➔ Modal Verb + Infinitive

  ➔ "Need" is a modal verb expressing necessity. It's followed by the infinitive 'to be' indicating the requirement for solitude. The phrase 'some time' functions as an adverbial of degree.

• I'm the one who really loves you, baby

  ➔ Relative Clause

  ➔ The clause 'who really loves you' is a relative clause modifying 'the one'. 'Who' is a relative pronoun referring back to 'the one', providing additional information about them.

• I've seen you cry into the night

  ➔ Present Perfect + Infinitive

  ➔ "I've seen" is the present perfect, indicating an experience in the past with relevance to the present. 'Cry' is used in the infinitive form after 'seen', and 'into the night' is a prepositional phrase indicating time.

• Couldn't on my own

  ➔ Modal Verb of Past Ability + Adverb

  ➔ "Couldn't" is the contracted form of 'could not', a modal verb expressing inability in the past. 'On my own' is an adverbial phrase meaning independently.