Iris – English Lyrics

• By: Goo Goo Dolls

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the universal language of love and vulnerability through the Goo Goo Dolls' iconic song "Iris." The lyrics offer a poignant look at the desire for deep connection, making it a great song to learn English by examining themes of sacrifice and emotional honesty. Its powerful and clear vocals make it easy to follow along and appreciate the raw emotion that has made this song a timeless classic.

[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
touch /tʌtʃ/ A1	verb - to put your hand or another part of your body lightly on something or someone
feel /fiːl/ A1	verb - to be aware of someone or something through physical sensation
heaven /ˈhɛvən/ A1	noun - the place where God and the gods live, and where good people go when they die
moment /ˈmoʊmənt/ A1	noun - a very short period of time
breathe /briːð/ A1	verb - to take air into your lungs and then send it out again
over /ˈoʊvər/ A1	adjective - finished or completed
miss /mɪs/ A1	verb - to feel sad because you are not with someone or something
understand /ˌʌndərˈstænd/ A2	verb - to know the meaning of something
broken /ˈbroʊkən/ A2	adjective - damaged and not able to work or be used
fight /faɪt/ A2	verb - to try to defeat an opponent in a physical conflict
tears /tɪrz/ A2	noun - drops of liquid that come from your eyes when you are sad, upset, or in pain
truth /truːθ/ A2	noun - the quality of being true or real
bleed /bliːd/ B1	verb - to lose blood from your body
closest /ˈkloʊsɪst/ B1	adjective - nearest in space, time, or relationship
alive /əˈlaɪv/ A1	adjective - not dead or unconscious

Key Grammar Structures

• And I'd give up forever to touch you

  ➔ Conditional Perfect

  ➔ The use of 'I'd give up' (short for 'I would have given up') indicates a hypothetical action in the past or a past action that was not completed due to a condition.

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

  ➔ Future Simple in 'I'll ever be'

  ➔ The phrase 'I'll ever be' uses the future simple tense to express a future action or state that is certain or promised.

• And all I can taste is this moment

  ➔ Present Simple in 'all I can taste'

  ➔ The present simple tense in 'all I can taste' is used to describe a current state or a habitual action.

• When everything's made to be broken

  ➔ Present Perfect Passive

  ➔ The phrase 'everything's made to be broken' uses the present perfect passive to indicate an action that has been completed and has a result relevant to the present.

• I just don't wanna miss you tonight

  ➔ Emphatic Structure with 'do'

  ➔ The use of 'don't wanna' (contraction of 'do not want to') with 'do' emphasizes the negative sentiment in the sentence.