I'll Stand by You – English Lyrics

• By: The Pretenders
• Album: Last of the Independents

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a powerful tool, and "I'll Stand by You" offers a simple yet profound message of support that is easy to understand. The song's straightforward lyrics and emotional depth make it a great choice for English learners to connect with universal feelings of empathy and loyalty. Its status as a timeless anthem, covered by numerous artists, speaks to its special ability to touch hearts across generations.

[English]

Oh, why you look so sad?

Tears are in your eyes

Come on and come to me now

Don't be ashamed to cry

Let me see you through

'Cause I've seen the dark side too

When the night falls on you

You don't know what to do

Nothing you confess

Could make me love you less

I'll stand by you

I'll stand by you

Won't let nobody hurt you

I'll stand by you

So if you're mad, get mad

Don't hold it all inside

Come on and talk to me now

Hey, what you got to hide?

I get angry too

Well I'm a lot like you

When you're standing at the crossroads

And don't know which path to choose

Let me come along

'Cause even if you're wrong

I'll stand by you

I'll stand by you

Won't let nobody hurt you

I'll stand by you

Take me in, into your darkest hour

And I'll never desert you

I'll stand by you

...

And when

When the night falls on you baby

You're feeling all alone

You won't be on your own

I'll stand by you

I'll stand by you

Won't let nobody hurt you

I'll stand by you

Take me in, into your darkest hour

And I'll never desert you

I'll stand by you

I'll stand by you

Won't let nobody hurt you

I'll stand by you

...

Won't let nobody hurt you

I'll stand by you

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
sad /sæd/ A1	adjective - feeling or showing sorrow; unhappy.
tears /tɪrz/ A1	noun - drops of clear salty liquid secreted from glands in the eye as a result of strong emotion.
eyes /aɪz/ A1	noun - organs that detect light and enable vision.
ashamed /əˈʃeɪmd/ B1	adjective - feeling embarrassed or guilty because of one's actions, characteristics, or associations.
cry /kraɪ/ A1	verb - to shed tears.
dark /dɑːrk/ A1	adjective - with little or no light.
night /naɪt/ A1	noun - the period from sunset to sunrise in each twenty-four hours.
confess /kənˈfes/ B2	verb - admit or state formally that one has committed a crime or done something wrong.
love /lʌv/ A1	verb - to feel deep affection or strong liking for someone. noun - an intense feeling of affection.
hurt /hɜːrt/ A2	verb - cause physical pain or injury to. noun - physical injury or pain.
mad /mæd/ A2	adjective - angry; annoyed.
hide /haɪd/ A2	verb - to put something out of sight noun - a place of concealment or shelter.
angry /ˈæŋɡri/ A2	adjective - feeling or showing strong annoyance, displeasure, or hostility.
crossroads /ˈkrɔːsroʊdz/ B2	noun - a place where two or more roads intersect.
path /pæθ/ B1	noun - a way or track laid down for walking or made by continual treading.
wrong /rɔːŋ/ A1	adjective - not correct or true; incorrect.
darkest /ˈdɑːrkɪst/ B1	adjective - with the least or absence of light.
hour /ˈaʊər/ A1	noun - a period of time equal to sixty minutes.
desert /dɪˈzɜːrt/ B2	verb - abandon (someone) in a way considered disloyal or treacherous.
alone /əˈloʊn/ A2	adjective - having no one else present; lonely.

Key Grammar Structures

• Oh, why **do** you look so sad?

  ➔ Auxiliary verb 'do' for emphasis/question formation in present simple.

  ➔ The auxiliary verb "do" is used to form a question in the simple present tense. Although it could be omitted in informal speech, its presence makes the sentence grammatically correct and slightly more emphatic.

• Don't be ashamed **to cry**

  ➔ Infinitive of purpose (to cry) after an adjective (ashamed).

  ➔ The infinitive phrase "to cry" explains the reason or purpose for not being ashamed. It clarifies what someone should not feel ashamed of.

• Let me **see** you through

  ➔ 'Let' + object pronoun + base form of verb (see)' - causative structure.

  ➔ This structure implies that the speaker is offering to help the other person through a difficult situation. "Let" allows the speaker to express permission or an offer to facilitate something for the other person.

• Nothing you confess **could** make me love you less

  ➔ Use of "could" as a conditional, expressing hypothetical possibility. Also uses a double negative for emphasis.

  ➔ "Could" signifies that even if you confessed something, it wouldn't necessarily reduce the speaker's love. The double negative "nothing...less" intensifies the meaning, assuring unconditional love.

• If you're mad, get mad

  ➔ Imperative form to express an encouragement or permission.

  ➔ The repetition of "get mad" in the imperative mood is used to emphasize that it's okay to feel anger and express it, rather than suppressing emotions.

• Hey, what **have** you got to hide?

  ➔ Present perfect tense with 'have got to' expressing obligation or necessity.

  ➔ "Have got to" is an informal equivalent of "have to", and here it implies a gentle urging to reveal something that is being kept secret. It's a less formal way of asking "What do you have to hide?".

• When you're standing at the crossroads And don't know which path **to choose**

  ➔ Infinitive phrase as object of 'know' (which path to choose). Indirect question.

  ➔ The phrase "which path to choose" acts as a noun phrase, representing the thing the person doesn't know. The infinitive "to choose" clarifies the uncertainty.

• Cause even if you're wrong, I'll stand by you

  ➔ Conditional clause introduced by "even if", expressing that something will happen regardless of the condition.

  ➔ "Even if" emphasizes that the speaker's support will remain constant whether the other person makes a mistake or not. It highlights unconditional support and loyalty.