Ivy – English Lyrics

• By: Frank Ocean
• Album: Boys Don't Cry

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the raw and tender world of Frank Ocean's "Ivy," a masterclass in emotional storytelling. This song offers a profound journey through the complexities of first love and heartbreak, making it an excellent piece for language learners. Its poetic lyrics, rich with nuanced expressions of nostalgia and acceptance, provide authentic insights into human emotions. The delicate yet powerful vocal delivery, set against a hauntingly beautiful backdrop, creates an immersive experience that will not only enhance your listening comprehension but also deepen your appreciation for English as an expressive language. Discover the artistry that makes "Ivy" a timeless reflection on love and loss.

[English]

I thought that I was dreamin' when you said you love me

The start of nothin'

I had no chance to prepare, I couldn't see you comin'

The start of nothin'

Ooh, I could hate you now

It's quite alright to hate me now

When we both know that deep down

The feeling still deep down is good

...

If I could see through walls

I could see you're faking

If you could see my thoughts

You would see our faces

Safe in my rental like an armored truck back then

We didn't give a fuck back then

I ain't a kid no more

We'll never be those kids again

We'd drive to Syd's, had the back then

Back then

No matter what I did

My waves wouldn't dip back then

Everything sucked back then

We were friends

I thought that I was dreamin' when you said you loved me

The start of nothin'

I had no chance to prepare, I couldn't see you comin'

The start of nothin'

Ooh, I could hate you now

It's quite alright to hate me now

But we both know that deep down

The feeling still deep down is good

...

In the halls of your hotel

Arm around my shoulder so I could tell

How much I meant to you, meant it sincere back then

We had time to kill back then

You ain't a kid no more

We'll never be those kids again

It's not the same, ivory's illegal

Don't you remember?

I broke your heart last week

You'll probably feel better by the weekend

Still remember, had you going crazy

Screamin' my name

The feeling deep down is good

...

I thought that I was dreamin' when you said you loved me

The start of nothin'

I had no chance to prepare, couldn't see you comin'

And we started from nothin'

Ooh, I could hate you now

It's alright to hate me now

We both know that deep down

The feeling still deep down is good

All the things I didn't mean to say

I didn't mean to do

There were things you didn't need to say

Did you mean to? Mean to?

I've been dreamin' of you, dreamin' of you

...

I've been dreamin' of you, dreamin' of you

I've been dreamin', dreamin'

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
dreamin' /ˈdriːmɪn/ A2	verb - to have a series of thoughts, images, or emotions occurring during sleep
hate /heɪt/ A1	verb - to dislike someone or something intensely
feeling /ˈfiːlɪŋ/ A1	noun - an emotional state or reaction
deep /diːp/ A1	adjective - extending far down from the top or surface
prepare /prɪˈpɛər/ A2	verb - to make ready for a specific purpose
faking /ˈfeɪkɪŋ/ B1	verb - to pretend or deceive
thoughts /θɔːts/ A1	noun - an idea or opinion produced by thinking
rental /ˈrɛntl/ B1	noun - something borrowed or hired for temporary use
armored /ˈɑːrmərd/ B2	adjective - protected by armor or a hard outer layer
suck /sʌk/ A2	verb - to be very bad or unpleasant
ivory /ˈaɪvəri/ B1	noun - a hard creamy-white material from the tusks and teeth of animals like elephants
illegal /ɪˈliɡəl/ A2	adjective - forbidden by law
screamin' /ˈskriːmɪn/ A2	verb - to shout or cry out loudly
meant /mɛnt/ A2	verb - past tense of 'mean': to intend or signify
sincere /sɪnˈsɪər/ B1	adjective - genuine and honest in feelings or actions

Key Grammar Structures

• I thought that I was dreamin' when you said you love me

  ➔ Past Perfect Continuous

  ➔ The phrase 'I thought that I was dreamin'' uses the past perfect continuous to indicate a past action that was ongoing before another past action ('when you said you love me'). It highlights the duration of the thought before the realization.

• If I could see through walls, I could see you're faking

  ➔ Conditional Sentence Type 1

  ➔ The sentence uses a conditional structure ('If I could see through walls...') to express a possible situation and its result ('I could see you're faking'). It implies a realistic condition and outcome.

• We didn't give a fuck back then

  ➔ Simple Past Tense

  ➔ The phrase 'We didn't give a fuck back then' uses the simple past tense to describe a completed action in the past. It emphasizes the finality of the action during that time.

• We'll never be those kids again

  ➔ Future Simple

  ➔ The phrase 'We'll never be those kids again' uses the future simple to express a future action or state. It conveys certainty about the future situation.

• It's not the same, ivory's illegal

  ➔ Present Simple with Contrast

  ➔ The sentence 'It's not the same, ivory's illegal' uses the present simple to state a fact ('ivory's illegal') and contrasts it with a current situation ('It's not the same'). It highlights the difference between now and then.