I've Been Around – English Lyrics

• By: Johnny Cash, Marty Stuart

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into "I've Been Around," a captivating song that offers a unique window into the enduring legacy of Johnny Cash through his previously unreleased lyrics, masterfully set to music by Marty Stuart. Learning the lyrics will not only connect you to the poetic depth of two country legends but also expose you to classic country storytelling and a timeless rockabilly sound, making it a special piece for language learners and music enthusiasts alike.

[English]

(upbeat music)

♪ Well I have been around ♪

♪ I have been on the incoming ♪

♪ And the outward bound ♪

♪ I came up from the fields ♪

♪ On my hands and on my knees ♪

♪ I've been visited by angels ♪

♪ While the demons badgered me ♪

♪ And I guess I gave the devil ♪

♪ More than his due ♪

♪ But I always come back ♪

♪ Back around to you ♪

(upbeat music)

♪ I have been around ♪

♪ And I have kissed the moonlight ♪

♪ On a priceless pearl I found ♪

♪ Well I have been a counselor ♪

♪ And I have been a fool ♪

♪ I've road me a wild horse ♪

♪ And I rode a Mach 2 ♪

♪ I've been loved, I've been bored ♪

♪ And I have been blue ♪

♪ But I always come back ♪

♪ Back around to you. ♪

♪ Well all right ♪

(upbeat music)

♪ Well, I have been around ♪

♪ I have tasted raptures ♪

♪ That cannot again be found ♪

♪ I felt the power for and in ♪

♪ And I felt the power gone ♪

♪ I been pulled but hungry ♪

♪ And abandoned to the bone ♪

♪ But in the end I knew ♪

♪ Just one thing to pull me through ♪

♪ Yeah, I always come back ♪

♪ Come back ♪

♪ Hey, back around you to you. Come on ♪

(upbeat music)

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
incoming /ˈɪnˌkʌmɪŋ/ C1	adjective - arriving or about to arrive
outward /ˈaʊtwəd/ B2	adjective - directed toward the outside
fields /fiːlds/ A1	noun - open land, especially used for agriculture
angels /ˈeɪn.dʒəlz/ B1	noun - spiritual beings believed to act as messengers of God
demons /ˈdiː.mənz/ B1	noun - evil spirits or supernatural beings
devil /ˈdɛvəl/ B1	noun - the supreme evil spirit, especially in Christian belief
moon /muːn/ A1	noun - the natural satellite of the Earth
pearl /pɜːrl/ A2	noun - a smooth, shiny white or coloured object formed within the shells of certain molluscs
counselor /ˈkaʊn.səl.ɚ/ B2	noun - a person trained to give advice or guidance
fool /fuːl/ A2	noun - a person who acts unwisely or lacks sense
horse /hɔːrs/ A1	noun - a large, solid-hoofed herbivorous mammal used for riding or work
love /lʌv/ A1	verb - to feel deep affection for someone or something noun - a strong feeling of affection
bored /bɔːrd/ A2	adjective - feeling weary and impatient because one is uninterested
blue /bluː/ A1	adjective - of the colour between green and violet in the spectrum noun - the colour blue
rapture /ˈræp.tʃɚ/ C1	noun - a feeling of intense pleasure or joy
power /ˈpaʊ.ɚ/ B1	noun - the ability or capacity to do something or act in a particular way
pull /pʊl/ A1	verb - to exert force on something so as to move it toward oneself noun - the act of pulling; a forceful tug
bone /boʊn/ A1	noun - the hard part inside the body that makes up the skeleton
wild /waɪld/ A2	adjective - living or growing in a natural state; untamed
bound /baʊnd/ B2	adjective - going to a particular place; destined verb - to leap or spring

Key Grammar Structures

• I have been around

  ➔ Present Perfect

  ➔ The phrase 'I have been around' uses the Present Perfect to indicate an action that started in the past and continues to the present or has relevance now.

• I have been visited by angels

  ➔ Present Perfect Passive

  ➔ The phrase 'I have been visited by angels' uses the Present Perfect Passive to emphasize that the subject received the action, highlighting the experience of being visited.

• I guess I gave the devil more than his due

  ➔ Modal Verb (guess)

  ➔ The word 'guess' is a modal verb used to express uncertainty or speculation about a past action.

• But I always come back

  ➔ Adverb of Frequency (always)

  ➔ The adverb 'always' indicates that the action of coming back happens repeatedly or habitually.

• I have kissed the moonlight

  ➔ Metaphorical Language

  ➔ The phrase 'I have kissed the moonlight' uses metaphorical language to create a vivid and poetic image, suggesting a deep emotional experience.