I'll Never Know Why – English Lyrics

• By: Jessie J

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the raw and heartfelt emotions of Jessie J's "I'll Never Know Why." This poignant ballad offers a unique opportunity to connect with English through its vulnerable lyrics and soulful delivery. Explore phrases related to grief, loss, and empathy, and appreciate how Jessie J uses language to convey profound personal experiences and universal feelings of sorrow and unanswered questions. It's a powerful track for understanding emotional expression in English music.

[English]

I never walked inside your shoes

I won't pretend what life was like for you

You always kept me close and safe

I wish I could've done the same for you

I wanna tell you everything

I love you and I mean it

But when you left, I lost my peace of mind

How could you say goodbye without saying goodbye?

How did I stop and notice you were lost and hopeless

And we still ran out of time?

I know you must've had your reasons to leave us all behind

I'll never know why

You knew me better than they did

You always took the worst of it alone

You sacrificed so much, I know

A heart of gold, but such a tortured soul

I wanna tell you everything

I love you and I mean it

But when you left, I lost my peace of mind

How could you say goodbye without saying goodbye?

How did I stop and notice you were lost and hopeless

And we still ran out of time?

I know you must've had your reasons to leave us all behind

I'll never know why

...

How could you say goodbye without saying goodbye?

How did I stop and notice you were lost and hopeless

And we still ran out of time?

I just want you to know that you're still loved like you're alive

I wish you knew why

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
walked wɔːkt A1	verb - to move along on foot
pretend prɪˈtɛnd A2	verb - to claim or behave as if something is true when it is not
close kloʊz A1	adjective - near in space or time
safe seɪf A1	adjective - free from harm or danger
sacrificed ˈsækrɪfaɪzd B1	verb - to give up something important for someone or something else
tortured ˈtɔːrtʃərd B1	adjective - causing or feeling great mental or physical pain
peace piːs A1	noun - freedom from disturbance; tranquility
mind maɪnd A1	noun - the faculty of human thought and consciousness
notice ˈnoʊtɪs A2	verb - to become aware of something
lost lɔːst A1	adjective - unable to find one's way or whereabouts
hopeless ˈhoʊplɪs A2	adjective - without hope; despairing
reasons ˈriːzənz A1	noun - a cause or explanation
behind bɪˈhaɪnd A1	preposition - at or to the back of
gold goʊld A1	noun - a precious yellow metallic element
soul soʊl A2	noun - the spiritual or immaterial part of a person
alive əˈlaɪv A1	adjective - having life

Key Grammar Structures

• I never walked inside your shoes

  ➔ Present Simple Negative

  ➔ The adverb "never" negates the verb in the present simple: "I "never" walked".

• I won't pretend what life was like for you

  ➔ Future Simple with "won't" + bare infinitive

  ➔ "won't" is the contracted form of "will not" and is followed by the base verb "pretend".

• I wish I could've done the same for you

  ➔ Wish + modal perfect (could have + past participle)

  ➔ "could've" is the contraction of "could have" and is used with the past participle "done" to express an unreal past desire.

• But when you left, I lost my peace of mind

  ➔ Temporal clause with "when" + past simple

  ➔ "when" introduces a temporal clause; the verb "left" is in the past simple to show a completed action.

• How could you say goodbye without saying goodbye?

  ➔ Question with modal "could" + bare infinitive; gerund after "without"

  ➔ "could" expresses ability or possibility in the past; after "without" the gerund "saying" shows the manner of the action.

• I know you must've had your reasons to leave us all behind

  ➔ Modal perfect "must have" + past participle; infinitive of purpose "to leave"

  ➔ "must've" = "must have" expresses strong deduction; "had" is the past participle. The infinitive "to leave" states the purpose of the reasons.

• I'll never know why

  ➔ Future simple with "will" + adverb "never" + base verb

  ➔ "will" forms the future; the adverb "never" negates the verb "know" to express that the speaker will not find the answer.

• I just want you to know that you're still loved like you're alive

  ➔ "want" + object + infinitive; that‑clause as complement; passive adjective "loved"

  ➔ "want" is followed by the object "you" and the infinitive "to know". The clause "that you're still loved..." functions as a content clause, and "loved" is a past‑participle used adjectivally.