I Was Only Joking – English Lyrics

• By: Rod Stewart
• Album: Foot Loose & Fancy Free

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the story behind Rod Stewart's "I Was Only Joking," a song that offers more than just a memorable melody. Through its introspective lyrics, you can explore themes of regret, vulnerability, and the complexities of human relationships. Learning the language of this song provides a unique window into nuanced emotional expression and storytelling in music, making it a special piece for anyone interested in the deeper meaning behind the words.

[English]

Ever since I was a kid at school

I messed around with all the rules

Apologised then realised

I'm not different after all

Me and the boys thought we had it sussed

Valentinos all of us

My dad said we looked ridiculous

But boy we broke some hearts

In and out of jobs, running free

Waging war with society

Dumb blank faces stare back at me

But nothing ever changed

Promises made in the heat of the night

Creeping home before it got too light

I wasted all that precious time

And blamed it on the wine

I was only joking my dear

Looking for a way to hide my fear

What kind of fool was I

I could never win

...

Never found a compromise

Collected lovers like butterflies

Illusions of that grand first prize

Are slowly wearing thin

Susie baby you were good to me

Giving love unselfishly

But you took it all too seriously

I guess it had to end

I was only joking my dear

Looking for a way to hide my fear

What kind of fool was I

I could never win

Yeah baby

...

Now you ask me if I'm sincere

That's the question that I always fear

Seven is never clear

But I'll tell you what you want to hear

I try to give you all you want

But giving love is not my strongest point

If that's the case it's pointless going on

I'd rather be alone

'Cause what I'm doing must be wrong

Pouring my heart out in a song

Owning up for prosperity

For the whole damn world to see

Quietly now while I turn a page

Act one is over without costume change

The principal would like to leave the stage

The crowd don't understand

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
kid /kɪd/ A2	noun - a child or young person
school /skuːl/ A1	noun - an institution for educating children
rules /ruːlz/ A2	noun - explicit or understood regulations or principles
apologise /əˈpɒlədʒaɪz/ B2	verb - to express regret for something done or said
realise /ˈriːəlaɪz/ B2	verb - to become aware of something
different /ˈdɪfərənt/ B1	adjective - not the same as another or each other
ridiculous /rɪˈdɪkjʊləs/ B2	adjective - deserving or inviting mockery; absurd
war /wɔːr/ B1	noun - a state of armed conflict between different groups
society /səˈsaɪəti/ B2	noun - the aggregate of people living together in a more or less ordered community
hearts /hɑːrts/ B1	noun - the organ that pumps blood; used metaphorically for love or courage
promises /ˈprɒmɪsɪz/ B1	noun - a declaration that one will definitely do something
precious /ˈpreʃəs/ B2	adjective - of great value; cherished
fear /fɪər/ B1	noun - an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous
compromise /ˈkɒmprəmaɪz/ B2	noun - an agreement reached by each side making concessions
illusion /ɪˈluːʒən/ B2	noun - a false idea or belief
prosperity /prɒˈspɛrɪti/ C1	noun - the state of being successful, especially economically
crowd /kraʊd/ A2	noun - a large number of people gathered together
stage /steɪdʒ/ A2	noun - a raised platform for performers; a phase in a process

Key Grammar Structures

• I messed around with all the rules

  ➔ Phrasal Verb

  ➔ A "phrasal verb" like "messed around with" combines a verb ("mess") with a preposition ("around") and sometimes another preposition ("with") to create a new meaning, often idiomatic. Here, it means to behave playfully or irresponsibly, often breaking rules.

• Me and the boys thought we had it sussed

  ➔ Past Perfect

  ➔ The "Past Perfect" tense ("had sussed") is used to describe an action that was completed before another action in the past (in this case, before "thought"). "Sussed" is an informal term meaning understood or figured out.

• Promises made in the heat of the night

  ➔ Past Participle as Adjective (Reduced Relative Clause)

  ➔ The past participle "made" acts as an adjective modifying "Promises." This is a "reduced relative clause," short for "Promises *that were* made..." It describes a characteristic or state resulting from an action.

• Looking for a way to hide my fear

  ➔ Present Participle Phrase (Adverbial) + Infinitive of Purpose

  ➔ The "present participle phrase" "Looking for a way..." functions as an adverbial clause, indicating the reason or manner of the main action (implied: "I was looking..."). "to hide" is an "infinitive of purpose," explaining the goal of "a way."

• Are slowly wearing thin

  ➔ Present Continuous (for gradual change) + Phrasal Verb

  ➔ The "Present Continuous" tense ("are wearing") is used here to describe a gradual, ongoing change. "Wearing thin" is a "phrasal verb" meaning to become weaker, less effective, or less believable over time.

• Now you ask me if I'm sincere

  ➔ Indirect Question (Reported Question)

  ➔ This is an "indirect question," also known as a reported question. It rephrases a direct question ("Are you sincere?") into a statement that includes the question, often using "if" or "whether" for yes/no questions, and maintaining statement word order.

• But giving love is not my strongest point

  ➔ Gerund as Subject

  ➔ The "gerund" "giving" (the -ing form of a verb used as a noun) functions as the "subject" of the sentence. It refers to the *act* of giving love.

• If that's the case it's pointless going on

  ➔ Conditional Clause + Adjective + Gerund

  ➔ "If that's the case" is a "conditional clause" setting a condition. "pointless going on" uses an "adjective" ("pointless") followed by a "gerund" ("going on") to express that an action is without purpose or value.

• I'd rather be alone

  ➔ "Would Rather" for Preference

  ➔ "I'd rather" is a contraction of "I would rather." This construction is used to express preference, meaning "I would prefer to be alone." It is followed by the bare infinitive ("be").

• 'Cause what I'm doing must be wrong

  ➔ Modal Verb for Deduction + Noun Clause

  ➔ The "modal verb" "must" is used here to express a strong logical "deduction" or conclusion based on evidence. "what I'm doing" is a "noun clause" acting as the subject of "must be wrong."