JOYFUL – English Lyrics

• By: X Ambassadors

Lyrics & Translation

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
decide /dɪˈsaɪd/ B1	verb - to make a choice or come to a conclusion
passion /ˈpæʃən/ B2	noun - a very strong feeling of enthusiasm or love
crime /kraɪm/ B1	noun - an illegal act
joyful /ˈdʒɔɪfəl/ A2	adjective - feeling, expressing, or causing great happiness
happy /ˈhæpi/ A1	adjective - feeling or showing pleasure or contentment
bright /braɪt/ B2	adjective - giving off a lot of light, vivid
alive /əˈlaɪv/ A2	adjective - living; not dead
demons /ˈdiːmənz/ B2	noun - supernatural beings often representing evil or temptation
fate /feɪt/ B2	noun - the development of events beyond a person's control; destiny
smile /smaɪl/ A1	noun / verb - a facial expression showing happiness / to make a happy facial expression
find /faɪnd/ A2	verb - to discover or come upon by searching or effort
silly /ˈsɪli/ B2	adjective - lacking in good sense or judgment; foolish

Key Grammar Structures

• IF I STAY HERE MUCH LONGER I SURELY WILL DIE

  ➔ First Conditional

  ➔ Uses "if" + simple present, then "will" + base form. Expresses a likely future outcome if the condition is met. Here, "If I stay here" (condition) "I surely will die" (likely outcome).

• LIVED A LIFE FULL OF VICE

  ➔ Past Simple (Ellipsis)

  ➔ Subject "I" is omitted. The full sentence would be "I lived a life..." The use of past simple implies the action is finished.

• CAN'T SAY I'M PERFECT BUT I CERTAINLY TRIED

  ➔ Contrast with "but" and Simple Past

  ➔ Uses "but" to contrast two ideas. "Can't say I'm perfect" contrasts with "I certainly tried". "Tried" is in simple past tense.

• THERE'S NO ONE LEFT NO ONE EXCEPT MY DEMONS AND I

  ➔ Existential "There is/are" with exception

  ➔ "There's no one left" indicates nothing remains. "Except" introduces an exception to this, specifying what does remain.

• NO ONE TO FORGIVE ME AND I'M RUNNING OUTTA TIME

  ➔ Infinitive of Purpose & Present Continuous for Near Future

  ➔ "To forgive me" is an infinitive phrase explaining the purpose of needing someone. "I'm running outta time" uses present continuous to express a near future event (impending death) that is certain.

• AND IT'S UP TO ME TO TRY AND MEET MY FATE WITH A SMILE

  ➔ "It's up to someone to do something" and Infinitive of Purpose

  ➔ "It's up to me" means it is my responsibility. "To try and meet" expresses the purpose of that responsibility – what I need to do.

• AND IT MIGHT SOUND SILLY BUT I STILL WILL TRY

  ➔ Modal Verb "might" and future "will"

  ➔ "Might" expresses possibility or uncertainty. "Will try" indicates a future intention.