if I had a choice – English Lyrics

• By: Michael Clifford, Ryan Hall
• Album: SIDEQUEST

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the depths of self-reflection and longing with Michael Clifford and Ryan Hall's poignant song, “if I had a choice.” This track offers a unique opportunity to connect with themes of identity and inner struggle, all while enjoying its acoustic and emo-inspired indie-pop sound, making it perfect for those who appreciate raw emotional honesty in music.

[English]

My own voice is silent to me

The loud one's in my head

There's a camera with a movie

Where I practise who I am

Let me decide on myself now

'Cause I won't be your possession

If I had a choice

I'd be somebody else

If I had a voice

I'd speak if no one tells

'Cause it's lately my own kind

Who's breaking me inside

If I had a choice

I'd be somebody else

My reflection hasn't met me

My shadow's scared to death

To the ghost writing in my story

Give me one I haven't read

Let me decide on myself now

'Cause I won't be your possession

If I had a choice

I'd be somebody else

If I had a voice

I'd speak if no one tells

'Cause it's lately my own kind

Who's breaking me inside

If I had a choice

I'd be somebody else

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
voice /vɔɪs/ A1	noun - the sound produced by humans when speaking or singing verb - to express something in words
silent /ˈsaɪlənt/ A2	adjective - not making or accompanied by any sound
loud /laʊd/ A1	adjective - producing a lot of sound
head /hɛd/ A1	noun - the upper part of the human body containing the brain
camera /ˈkæmrə/ B1	noun - a device for recording visual images
movie /ˈmuːvi/ A1	noun - a motion picture
practise /ˈpræktɪs/ B1	verb - to perform an activity repeatedly to improve skill
decide /dɪˈsaɪd/ B1	verb - to choose something after thinking
possession /pəˈzɛʃən/ B2	noun - the state of having, owning, or controlling something
choice /tʃɔɪs/ A2	noun - the act of selecting among alternatives
somebody /ˈsʌmbədi/ B1	noun - a person, an unspecified individual
else /ˈɛls/ A2	adverb - in addition, besides
speak /spiːk/ A1	verb - to talk, to utter words
kind /kaɪnd/ A2	adjective - having a friendly, generous nature
breaking /ˈbreɪkɪŋ/ B2	verb - to cause to separate into pieces
reflection /rɪˈflɛkʃən/ C1	noun - the image seen in a mirror; thoughtful consideration
shadow /ˈʃædoʊ/ B1	noun - dark shape produced by a body blocking light
death /dɛθ/ B2	noun - the end of life
ghost /ɡoʊst/ B2	noun - spirit of a dead person
story /ˈstɔːri/ A2	noun - a narrative, an account

Key Grammar Structures

• My own voice is silent to me

  ➔ Present Simple Tense

  ➔ The phrase uses the present simple tense to describe a habitual or permanent state, emphasizing that the speaker's voice is consistently silent to them.

• There's a camera with a movie

  ➔ Present Simple Tense with 'There is/are'

  ➔ The sentence uses 'There's' (contraction of 'There is') in the present simple tense to indicate the existence of something, here a camera with a movie.

• Let me decide on myself now

  ➔ Imperative Mood

  ➔ The phrase uses the imperative mood to express a direct request or command, here asking for permission to make a decision about oneself.

• If I had a choice

  ➔ Second Conditional

  ➔ The sentence uses the second conditional to express a hypothetical situation in the present or future, here imagining having a choice.

• 'Cause it's lately my own kind

  ➔ Contraction and Present Perfect

  ➔ The phrase uses a contraction ('it's' for 'it is') and the present perfect tense ('lately') to describe a recent action or state, here referring to one's own kind causing harm.

• My reflection hasn't met me

  ➔ Present Perfect with 'have/has + not'

  ➔ The sentence uses the present perfect tense with a negative form ('hasn't') to indicate that an action has not occurred up to the present, here referring to the reflection not meeting the speaker.