If I Say – English Lyrics

• By: Mumford & Sons
• Album: Delta

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into Mumford & Sons' "If I Say," a powerful and emotionally rich song that offers a unique window into nuanced English expressions of love and commitment. Its impactful lyrics and dynamic orchestral build-up provide an excellent opportunity to explore vocabulary related to deep emotion, assurance, and personal introspection. The song's clear enunciation and repetitive chorus make it particularly accessible for language learners, encouraging deeper engagement with its profound message and contributing to a better understanding of how emotional depth is conveyed in English music.

[English]

I came here without a choice

I'm sorry I could never thank you

For saving me more trouble

I didn't want any trouble

If you were given one more chance

Would you bring me back to life?

Bring me back into the light

Into the light

...

And let it shine on

Let it shine on us

And if I say I love you

Well, then I love you

And if I say I love you

Well, then I love you

The innocence in your face bled out without a trace

You've won without an enemy, you're ill without a remedy

As night bleeds into night, and I know I came off better than you

It doesn't mean that I feel better

It doesn't mean that I feel better

And let it shine on

Let it shine on us

And if I say I love you

Well, then I love you

And if I say I love you

Well, then I love you

And if I say I love you

Well, then I love you

And if I say I love you

Well, then I love you

...

Show me your hands

Are they cleaner than mine?

Show me your face

Did you cross the line?

Show me your eyes

They any drier than mine?

Your soul survives

But peace, you'll never find

...

And if I say I love you

Well, then I love you

And if I say I love you

Well, then I love you

And if I say I love you

Well, then I love you

And if I say I love you

Well, then I love you

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
choice /tʃɔɪs/ A2	noun - the act of selecting among alternatives
thank /θæŋk/ A2	verb - to express gratitude
save /seɪv/ A2	verb - to rescue or deliver from danger or harm
trouble /ˈtrʌb·əl/ B1	noun - difficulty or problems verb - to disturb or annoy
chance /tʃæns/ B2	noun - opportunity for something to happen
bring /brɪŋ/ A2	verb - to carry or take something to a place
shine /ʃaɪn/ B1	verb - to emit light
innocence /ˈɪn.ə.səns/ B2	noun - the state of being free from guilt or sin
enemy /ˈen.ə.mi/ B2	noun - a person or group that is hostile or opposed
remedy /ˈrɛm·ə·di/ C1	noun - a solution or treatment for a problem or disease
night /naɪt/ A2	noun - the period of darkness in each twenty-four hours
better /ˈbɛtər/ B1	adjective - of a higher standard or more desirable
peace /piːs/ B2	noun - a state of tranquility or quiet
survive /sərˈvaɪv/ B2	verb - to continue to live or exist
soul /soʊl/ B1	noun - the spiritual or immaterial part of a person

Key Grammar Structures

• I'm sorry I could never thank you

  ➔ Past modal verb 'could' for expressing inability in the past.

  ➔ The phrase "I could never thank you" indicates that the speaker was unable to express gratitude in the past.

• Would you bring me back to life?

  ➔ Conditional question using 'would' to express a hypothetical situation.

  ➔ The question "Would you bring me back to life?" suggests a scenario that is not real but imagined.

• And let it shine on us

  ➔ Imperative form used to give a command or request.

  ➔ The phrase "let it shine on us" is a request for something to happen, emphasizing the desire for light or positivity.

• You've won without an enemy

  ➔ Present perfect tense to indicate a completed action with relevance to the present.

  ➔ The phrase "You've won without an enemy" suggests that the victory was achieved without opposition, highlighting a unique situation.

• Show me your hands

  ➔ Imperative form used to give a command or request.

  ➔ The phrase "Show me your hands" is a direct command asking someone to reveal something.

• Your soul survives

  ➔ Simple present tense to express a general truth or fact.

  ➔ The phrase "Your soul survives" indicates a constant state of existence or resilience.