Ice Queen – English Lyrics

• By: Within Temptation
• Album: Mother Earth

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the enchanting world of "Ice Queen" by Within Temptation, a symphonic metal anthem that beautifully intertwines powerful music with poetic lyrics. This iconic song is perfect for language learners as its clear vocals and evocative imagery make it easier to grasp English vocabulary related to nature, emotions, and storytelling. Discover how the band uses metaphors to describe both the literal coming of winter and deeper emotional landscapes, making it a rich and special piece for understanding English in a captivating musical context.

[English]

When leaves have fallen and skies turned to grey

The night keeps on closing in on the day

A nightingale sings his song of farewell

You better hide for her freezing hell

On cold wings she's coming

You better keep moving

For warmth, you'll be longing

Come on just feel it

Don't you see it?

You better believe

When she embraces your heart turns to stone

She comes at night when you are all alone

And when she whispers your blood shall run cold

You better hide before she finds you

Whenever she is raging

Taking life away

Haven't you seen?

Haven't you seen?

The ruins of our world

Whenever she is raging

Taking life away

Haven't you seen?

Haven't you seen?

The ruins of our world

She covers the earth with a breathtaking cloak

The sun awakes and melts it away

The world now opens its eyes and it sees

The dawning of the new day

On cold wings she's coming

You better keep moving

For warmth, you'll be longing

Come on just feel it

Don't you see it?

You better believe

Whenever she is raging

Taking life away

Haven't you seen?

Haven't you seen?

The ruins of our world

Whenever she is raging

Taking life away

Haven't you seen?

Haven't you seen?

The ruins of our world

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
fallen /ˈfɔːlən/ A2	verb - past participle of fall; to drop or come down
grey /ɡreɪ/ A1	adjective - of a color between black and white
nightingale /ˈnaɪtɪnɡeɪl/ B1	noun - a small bird known for its beautiful song
farewell /fɛərˈwɛl/ A2	noun - a goodbye or parting
freezing /ˈfriːzɪŋ/ A2	adjective - extremely cold
longing /ˈlɒŋɪŋ/ B1	noun - a strong desire or yearning
embraces /ɪmˈbreɪsɪz/ B1	verb - to hold someone closely in one's arms
stone /stoʊn/ A1	noun - a hard solid mineral matter
whispers /ˈhwɪspərz/ A2	verb - to speak very softly
raging /ˈreɪdʒɪŋ/ B1	adjective - very angry or violent
ruins /ˈruɪnz/ B1	noun - the remains of a building or place that has been destroyed
breathtaking /ˈbrɛθˌteɪkɪŋ/ B2	adjective - extremely beautiful or amazing
dawning /ˈdɔːnɪŋ/ B2	noun - the first light of day; beginning
melts /mɛlts/ A2	verb - to change from a solid to a liquid state
cloak /kloʊk/ B1	noun - a loose outer garment

Key Grammar Structures

• When leaves have fallen and skies turned to grey

  ➔ Present Perfect

  ➔ The phrase "have fallen" indicates an action that started in the past and has a result or relevance in the present (the leaves are now on the ground).

• You better hide for her freezing hell

  ➔ Had Better (Strong Recommendation/Warning)

  ➔ The phrase "better hide" is a strong recommendation or warning, implying that negative consequences will follow if the advice is not taken.

• On cold wings she's coming

  ➔ Present Continuous for Future/Imminent Action

  ➔ Here, "she's coming" is used to describe an action that is definitely going to happen very soon, emphasizing its imminent nature.

• For warmth, you'll be longing

  ➔ Future Continuous

  ➔ The phrase "you'll be longing" describes an action that will be in progress at some point in the future, suggesting a continuous state of desire.

• Don't you see it?

  ➔ Negative Interrogative (Rhetorical Question)

  ➔ The question "Don't you see it?" is a rhetorical question used to emphasize a point or express surprise, often expecting agreement rather than a direct answer.

• When she embraces your heart turns to stone

  ➔ Zero Conditional (General Truth/Habitual Action)

  ➔ The sentence describes a general truth or a habitual outcome: "When she embraces", the immediate and inevitable consequence is that "your heart turns to stone". Both clauses are in the simple present.

• She comes at night when you are all alone

  ➔ Adverbial Clause of Time (with 'when')

  ➔ The clause "when you are all alone" specifies the exact time or condition under which the main action ("She comes at night") occurs.

• You better hide before she finds you

  ➔ Adverbial Clause of Time (with 'before')

  ➔ The clause "before she finds you" indicates that the action of hiding must be completed prior to the Ice Queen finding you.

• Whenever she is raging

  ➔ Adverbial Clause of Time (with 'whenever')

  ➔ The word "Whenever" indicates that the action described happens every time or at any time the condition of 'she is raging' is met.

• Taking life away

  ➔ Present Participle Phrase (Consequence/Simultaneous Action)

  ➔ The phrase "Taking life away" functions as a non-finite clause, describing a consequence or an action happening simultaneously with 'she is raging'.