Iris – English Lyrics

• By: Goo Goo Dolls

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the powerful, emotional language of "Iris" by the Goo Goo Dolls, one of the most enduring power ballads of the 90s. The lyrics offer a deep exploration of vulnerability, sacrifice, and the ultimate desire for true understanding, making it perfect for learning English vocabulary related to intense emotion and abstract concepts like immortality and acceptance. By studying its lines and the story behind the angel's sacrifice, you'll uncover a rich, metaphorical language that transcends a simple love song.

[English]

And I'd give up forever to touch you

'Cause I know that you feel me somehow

You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be

And I don't wanna go home right now

And all I can taste is this moment

And all I can breathe is your life

And sooner or later, it's over

I just don't wanna miss you tonight

And I don't want the world to see me

'Cause I don't think that they'd understand

When everything's made to be broken

I just want you to know who I am

...

And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming

Or the moment of truth in your lies

When everything feels like the movies

Yeah, you bleed just to know, you're alive

And I don't want the world to see me

'Cause I don't think that they'd understand

When everything's made to be broken

I just want you to know who I am

...

And I don't want the world to see me

'Cause I don't think that they'd understand

When everything's made to be broken

I just want you to know who I am

And I don't want the world to see me

'Cause I don't think that they'd understand

When everything's made to be broken

I just want you to know who I am

I just want you to know who I am

I just want you to know who I am

I just want you to know who I am

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
want /wɒnt/ A1	verb - to desire something
know /noʊ/ A2	verb - to be aware of something
understand /ˌʌndərˈstænd/ B1	verb - to comprehend something
feel /fiːl/ A2	verb - to perceive by touch or emotion
go /ɡoʊ/ A1	verb - to move from one place to another
see /siː/ A1	verb - to perceive with the eyes
world /wɜːrld/ A1	noun - the planet Earth or society
moment /ˈmoʊmənt/ A2	noun - a very short period of time
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the state of being alive
miss /mɪs/ A2	verb - to fail to attend or hit something
think /θɪŋk/ A1	verb - to form an opinion or idea
broken /ˈbroʊkən/ A2	adjective - damaged or not working
heaven /ˈhɛvən/ A2	noun - a place or state of bliss
fight /faɪt/ A2	verb - to struggle or combat
tears /tɪrz/ A2	noun - drops of liquid from eyes
truth /truːθ/ B1	noun - the quality of being true
lies /laɪz/ B1	noun - false statements
bleed /bliːd/ B2	verb - to lose blood
alive /əˈlaɪv/ A2	adjective - living or full of energy

Key Grammar Structures

• And I'd give up forever to touch you

  ➔ First conditional with 'would' + base verb

  ➔ 'Would' indicates a hypothetical situation or a desire in the future.

• You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be

  ➔ Superlative adjective + relative clause

  ➔ The phrase uses the superlative 'closest' to emphasize the highest degree of proximity.

• And all I can taste is this moment

  ➔ Modal verb + base verb

  ➔ The modal 'can' expresses ability or possibility in the present.

• And I don't wanna go home right now

  ➔ Negative form of 'want to' + base verb in infinitive

  ➔ 'Don't wanna' is a contraction of 'do not want to', expressing refusal or desire not to do something.

• When everything's made to be broken

  ➔ Passive voice with 'to be' + past participle

  ➔ This structure indicates that 'everything' is subjected to the action of being broken.

• I just want you to know who I am

  ➔ Infinitive phrase as the object of 'want' + clause as the complement

  ➔ The infinitive 'to know' functions as the object of the verb 'want', with the clause 'who I am' clarifying what he wants.