I Want to Know What Love Is – English Lyrics

• By: Foreigner
• Album: Agent Provocateur

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a powerful and enjoyable experience, and Foreigner's 'I Want to Know What Love Is' offers a unique opportunity for English learners. The song's clear and repetitive chorus makes it easy to sing along and memorize key phrases. The lyrics tell a story of vulnerability and hope, allowing you to connect with deep and universal emotions. What makes this song special is its blend of rock balladry with the uplifting power of a gospel choir, creating a truly unforgettable and moving piece of music that can inspire your language learning journey.

[English]

♪♪

♪ I gotta take a little time ♪

♪ A little time to think things over ♪

♪ I better read between the lines ♪

♪ In case I need it when I'm older ♪

♪ Ohhhhh oh ohhhh ♪

♪ Now this mountain I must climb ♪

♪ Feels like the world upon my shoulders ♪

♪ Through the clouds I see love shine ♪

♪ It keeps me warm as life grows colder ♪

♪ In my life there's been heartache and pain ♪

♪ I don't know if I can face it again ♪

♪ Can't stop now, I've traveled so far ♪

♪ To change this lonely life ♪

♪ I wanna know what love is ♪

♪ I want you to show me ♪

♪ I wanna feel what love is ♪

♪ I know you can show me ♪

♪ Oh oh oh oh ♪

♪ I'm gonna take a little time ♪

♪ A little time to look around me ♪

♪ I've got nowhere left to hide ♪

♪ It looks like love has finally found me ♪

♪ In my life there's been heartache and pain ♪

♪ I don't know if I can face it again ♪

♪ I can't stop now, I've traveled so far ♪

♪ To change this lonely life ♪

♪ I wanna know what love is ♪

♪ I want you to show me ♪

♪ I wanna feel what love is ♪

♪ I know you can show me ♪

♪ I wanna know what love is ♪

♪ I want you to show me ♪

♪ And I wanna feel, I wanna feel what love is ♪

♪ And I know ♪

♪ I know you can show me ♪

♪ Let's talk about love ♪

♪ I wanna know what love is ♪

♪ The love that you feel inside ♪

♪ I want you to show me ♪

♪ And I'm feeling so much love ♪

♪ I wanna feel what love is ♪

♪ No, you just can't hide ♪

♪ I know you can show me ♪

♪ Yeah yeah ♪

♪ I wanna know what love is ♪

♪ Let's talk about love ♪

♪ I want you to show me ♪

-♪ I wanna feel it too ♪ -♪ I wanna feel what love is ♪

♪ I wanna feel it too ♪

♪ And I know and I know, I know you can show me ♪

♪ Show me love is real, yeah ♪

♪ I wanna know what love is ♪

♪ I wanna know ♪

♪ I want you to show me ♪

♪ I wanna know, I wanna know, I wanna know ♪

♪ I wanna feel what love is ♪

♪ Oh, I wanna feel ♪

♪ I know you can show me ♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - a point or period when something occurs
think /θɪŋk/ A1	verb - to have a particular belief or idea
mountain /ˈmaʊntɪn/ A2	noun - a large natural elevation of the earth's surface
climb /klaɪm/ A2	verb - to go up or ascend
world /wɜːrld/ A1	noun - the earth, together with all of its countries, peoples, and natural features
shoulders /ˈʃoʊldərz/ A2	noun - the part of the human body between the neck and the upper arm
clouds /klaʊdz/ A2	noun - a visible mass of condensed water vapor floating in the atmosphere
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - an intense feeling of affection verb - to feel deep affection for
shine /ʃaɪn/ A2	verb - to emit light
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic matter
heartache /ˈhɑːrteɪk/ B2	noun - mental suffering or distress
pain /peɪn/ A2	noun - physical suffering or discomfort
face /feɪs/ A2	verb - to confront and deal with
lonely /ˈloʊnli/ A2	adjective - sad because one has no friends or company
warm /wɔːrm/ A1	adjective - having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat verb - make or become warm
real /riːəl/ A2	adjective - actually existing or occurring; not imagined or pretended

Key Grammar Structures

• I gotta take a little time

  ➔ "Gotta" - Informal contraction of "got to", expressing obligation or necessity.

  ➔ This line uses a colloquial contraction to express the need to take time for reflection.

• I better read between the lines

  ➔ "Better" + bare infinitive (read) - Expressing advice or recommendation.

  ➔ The phrase "read between the lines" is an idiom meaning to understand the hidden or unstated meaning.

• Feels like the world upon my shoulders

  ➔ "Feels like" + noun phrase - Expressing a sensation or impression that something is similar to something else.

  ➔ This is a simile, comparing the burden on the speaker to the weight of the world.

• It keeps me warm as life grows colder

  ➔ "As" - Used as a conjunction to indicate a simultaneous action or a proportional relationship.

  ➔ The conjunction "as" links the feeling of warmth to the increasing coldness of life.

• I don't know if I can face it again

  ➔ Indirect Question: "if" or "whether" introducing an indirect question.

  ➔ This line expresses uncertainty using an indirect question to avoid a direct inquiry.

• Can't stop now, I've traveled so far

  ➔ Present Perfect Tense (I've traveled): Expressing an action that started in the past and continues to the present or has a result in the present.

  ➔ The present perfect emphasizes the length and significance of the journey so far, making it difficult to give up.

• It looks like love has finally found me

  ➔ "It looks like" - Impersonal expression suggesting probability or appearance.

  ➔ This implies that the speaker wasn't actively searching for love, but it unexpectedly appeared.

• The love that you feel inside

  ➔ Relative Clause: "that" introducing a relative clause modifying "love".

  ➔ The relative clause specifies which love the speaker is referring to, the love felt internally.