I'm Not OK – English Lyrics

• By: H.E.R.
• Album: I Used To Know Her

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the power of emotional honesty through H.E.R.'s 'I'm Not OK.' This soulful piano ballad offers a beautiful opportunity to learn English by exploring themes of vulnerability and introspection. The song's direct and heartfelt lyrics make it a poignant and relatable piece for language learners to connect with.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
hurt /hɜːrt/ A1	verb - to cause physical pain or injury adjective - feeling emotional pain
broken /ˈbroʊkən/ A2	adjective - damaged and not working
heal /hiːl/ A2	verb - to become healthy again
struggle /ˈstrʌɡəl/ B1	verb - to experience difficulty and make efforts to overcome it
alone /əˈloʊn/ A1	adjective - without anyone else
pretend /prɪˈtɛnd/ A2	verb - to behave as if something is true when it is not
mask /mæsk/ B1	noun - a covering for the face verb - to hide one's true feelings
fragile /ˈfrædʒaɪl/ B2	adjective - easily broken or damaged
unravel /ʌnˈrævəl/ C1	verb - to become understood or solved
resilient /rɪˈzɪliənt/ C1	adjective - able to recover quickly from difficulties
echo /ˈɛkoʊ/ B1	noun - a sound heard again after the original sound has stopped verb - to repeat a sound
shadow /ˈʃædoʊ/ A2	noun - a dark shape made by an object blocking light
whisper /ˈhwɪspər/ A2	verb - to speak very softly noun - a very soft voice
crack /kræk/ A2	noun - a narrow opening in a surface verb - to break or cause to break partially
fade /feɪd/ B1	verb - to gradually become weaker or less distinct

Key Grammar Structures

• I haven't slept in a week or two, I haven't seen the light

  ➔ Present Perfect with 'in' for duration

  ➔ The "Present Perfect" tense (e.g., "haven't slept," "haven't seen") is used here with "in a week or two" to describe an action that started in the past and continues up to the present, or a state that has been true for a period, emphasizing the lack of action over that duration.

• I've been going through it, going through it

  ➔ Present Perfect Continuous; Phrasal Verb

  ➔ The "Present Perfect Continuous" tense ("I've been going through") indicates an action that started in the past and is still ongoing or has recently stopped, emphasizing its duration and continuous nature. "Go through" is a "phrasal verb" meaning to experience a difficult or unpleasant situation.

• Trying to figure out what to do, what to do

  ➔ Gerund as reduced clause; Question word + infinitive

  ➔ "Trying" is a "gerund" used as a reduced participle clause, implying "I am trying." "Figure out" is a phrasal verb meaning to understand or solve something. It is followed by "what to do," which is a "question word + infinitive" construction used to express an indirect question or a problem that needs a solution.

• I keep on telling myself it's gonna be fine

  ➔ 'Keep on + -ing' for repeated action; Informal 'gonna'

  ➔ The phrase "keep on telling" uses "keep on + -ing" to express an action that is repeated or continues over a period of time, often despite difficulties. "Gonna" is an "informal contraction" of "going to," commonly used in spoken English to indicate future intention or prediction.

• But every morning I wake up, you're still on my mind

  ➔ 'Every + noun' for frequency; Adverb 'still'

  ➔ "Every morning" uses "every + singular noun" to indicate that an action or event happens regularly at that specific interval. "Still" is an "adverb" that indicates an action or state continues to exist or happen, often implying persistence or a lack of change.

• Maybe I just need some time

  ➔ Adverb 'Maybe' for possibility; Adverb 'just' as intensifier

  ➔ "Maybe" is an "adverb" used to express possibility or to make a suggestion, indicating that something is not certain. "Just" is an "adverb" here that acts as an intensifier or a limiter, meaning "only" or "simply," emphasizing that the need is straightforward and nothing more.

• To clear my head and just unwind

  ➔ Infinitive of purpose; Compound verb phrase; Idiomatic expression

  ➔ The "infinitive of purpose" ("to clear my head," "to unwind") explains why someone needs something (time, in this context). "Clear my head" is an "idiomatic expression" meaning to relax and think clearly, and "unwind" means to relax after a period of work or tension. The two verbs are linked by "and" forming a "compound verb phrase."

• A way to leave you behind

  ➔ Noun + infinitive; Phrasal verb

  ➔ The structure "a way to leave" uses a "noun + infinitive" to describe the purpose or function of the noun, indicating what action is needed. "Leave behind" is a "phrasal verb" meaning to abandon or move on from someone or something.