Impossible – English Lyrics

• By: James Arthur

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the raw emotion of James Arthur's "Impossible," a powerful ballad that gained international fame after his X Factor win. This song is an excellent choice for language learners, particularly for those looking to grasp expressions related to heartbreak, betrayal, and emotional resilience. Its clear, poignant lyrics and Arthur's expressive vocal delivery make it special, allowing listeners to connect deeply with universal themes of love and loss while enhancing their understanding of English vocabulary and sentiment.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
impossible /ɪmˈpɒsəbl/ B1	adjective - not able to be done or achieved
broken /ˈbrəʊkən/ B1	adjective - having been fractured or damaged and no longer in one piece or in working order
heart /hɑːt/ A1	noun - the organ that pumps blood through the body; the center of emotion
remember /rɪˈmembər/ A1	verb - to have in or be able to bring to one's mind an awareness of someone or something from the past
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - an intense feeling of deep affection verb - feel deep affection for someone
tell /tel/ A1	verb - to communicate information to someone in spoken or written words
know /nəʊ/ A1	verb - to have information in your mind; to be aware of something
gone /ɡɒn/ A2	adjective - no longer present; departed
hope /həʊp/ A2	noun - a feeling of expectation and desire for a particular thing to happen verb - want something to happen or be the case
shout /ʃaʊt/ A2	verb - to say something very loudly
write /raɪt/ A1	verb - to mark letters or words on a surface
caution /ˈkɔːʃən/ B2	noun - care taken to avoid danger or mistakes
mistake /mɪˈsteɪk/ A2	noun - an action or judgment that is misguided or wrong
illusion /ɪˈluːʒən/ C1	noun - a false idea or belief; a deceptive appearance
betrayal /bɪˈtreɪəl/ C1	noun - the action of betraying someone or something
trust /trʌst/ B1	noun - firm belief in the reliability, truth, or ability of someone or something verb - to believe in the reliability, truth, or ability of someone
scars /skɑːrz/ B2	noun - a mark left on the skin after a wound has healed; a lasting emotional effect
faith /feɪθ/ B2	noun - complete trust or confidence in someone or something
effortless /ˈɛfətləs/ C1	adjective - requiring no physical or mental exertion

Key Grammar Structures

• I remember years ago

  ➔ Present Perfect for past actions with present relevance

  ➔ The phrase 'I remember' uses the present perfect to show that the memory is still relevant or important now.

• Someone told me I should take

  ➔ Indirect speech (reported speech)

  ➔ The sentence uses indirect speech to report what someone said without quoting them directly. 'Told' is the reporting verb.

• You have gone and so effortlessly

  ➔ Present Perfect for recent actions

  ➔ 'You have gone' uses the present perfect to emphasize that the action of leaving happened recently and has a current impact.

• Tell them, tell them all I know now

  ➔ Imperative mood with object pronoun

  ➔ The imperative mood is used to give commands. 'Them' is an object pronoun, indicating who the command is directed to.

• All we had is gone now

  ➔ Present Perfect Simple vs. Present Simple

  ➔ 'Is gone' uses the present perfect simple to indicate a past action with a result that is still true now, contrasting with the present simple in 'is'.

• I was happy and my heart is broken

  ➔ Past Simple vs. Present Simple

  ➔ 'Was happy' uses the past simple to describe a completed action, while 'is broken' uses the present simple to describe a current state.

• What I hoped would be

  ➔ Subjunctive mood

  ➔ The subjunctive mood is used to express wishes, desires, or hypothetical situations. 'Would be' indicates a hoped-for outcome.

• Falling out of love is hard

  ➔ Gerund as subject

  ➔ The gerund 'Falling' functions as the subject of the sentence, showing an action that is the focus of the statement.