In This Life – English Lyrics

• By: Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
• Album: N Dis Life

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the heartwarming message of 'In This Life' by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, a beautiful song that teaches the value of love, unity, and human relationships. Explore the Hawaiian musical style and enrich your understanding of a language that celebrates connection and kindness.

[English]

For all I've been blessed with in my life

There was an emptiness in me

I was imprisoned by the power of gold

With one kind touch you set me free

Let the world stop turning

Let the sun stop burning

Let them tell me love's not worth going through

If it all falls apart

I will know deep in my heart

The only dream that mattered had come true

In this life, I was loved by you

For every mountain I have climbed

Every raging river crossed

You were the treasure that I longed to find

Without your love I would be lost

Let the world stop turning

Let the sun stop burning

Let them tell me love's not worth going through

If it all falls apart

I will know deep in my heart

The only dream that mattered had come true

In this life, I was loved by you

I know that I will live forever

But forever I'll be loving you

Let the world stop turning

Let the sun stop burning

Let them tell me love's not worth going through

If it all falls apart

I will know deep in my heart

The only dream that mattered had come true

In this life, I was loved by you

In this life, I was loved by you

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the existence of an individual; living
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - deep affection or strong feeling of attachment verb - to feel deep affection for someone
heart /hɑːrt/ A1	noun - the organ that pumps blood; the centre of emotions
sun /sʌn/ A1	noun - the star at the centre of the solar system
world /wɜːrld/ A1	noun - the earth together with all its countries and peoples
gold /ɡoʊld/ A2	noun - a precious yellow metal
dream /driːm/ B1	noun - a series of thoughts, images, or emotions occurring during sleep; a cherished aspiration
mountain /ˈmaʊntən/ A2	noun - a large natural elevation of the earth's surface
river /ˈrɪvər/ A2	noun - a large natural stream of water flowing towards an ocean, lake, or another river
treasure /ˈtrɛʒər/ B1	noun - a collection of valuable objects; something greatly valued verb - to regard as precious
emptiness /ˈɛmptɪnəs/ B2	noun - the state of containing nothing; a feeling of void
blessed /blɛst/ B2	adjective - made holy or endowed with divine favor
imprisoned /ɪmˈprɪzənd/ C1	verb - to keep someone in prison; confined
forever /fɔːrˈɛvər/ B2	adverb - for all future time; eternally
burning /ˈbɜːrnɪŋ/ B1	verb - to be on fire; to emit heat and light
turning /ˈtɜːrnɪŋ/ B2	verb - to rotate or cause to rotate
lost /lɒst/ A2	adjective - unable to find one's way; missing
free /friː/ A2	adjective - not under the control or in the power of another; able to act or move without restriction

Key Grammar Structures

• For all I've been blessed with in my life

  ➔ Present perfect passive

  ➔ The verb "'ve been blessed" shows a completed action that still matters now.

• I was imprisoned by the power of gold

  ➔ Passive voice (past simple)

  ➔ "was imprisoned" is the passive form of the simple past, focusing on the subject being acted upon.

• Let the world stop turning

  ➔ Imperative with bare infinitive

  ➔ "Let" + object + bare infinitive ("stop") expresses a request or wish.

• If it all falls apart

  ➔ Zero conditional (present simple in if‑clause)

  ➔ "If" + present simple ("falls") is used for general truths or likely future results.

• I will know deep in my heart

  ➔ Future simple (will + base verb)

  ➔ "will know" expresses a definite future action or certainty.

• The only dream that mattered had come true

  ➔ Past perfect

  ➔ "had come" shows an action completed before another past moment.

• For every mountain I have climbed

  ➔ Present perfect

  ➔ "have climbed" links a past experience to the present moment.

• Without your love I would be lost

  ➔ Second conditional (would + base verb)

  ➔ "would be" expresses an unreal or hypothetical situation in the present.

• But forever I'll be loving you

  ➔ Future continuous (will be + -ing)

  ➔ "will be loving" emphasizes an ongoing action that will continue into the future.