Just Enough – English Lyrics

• By: Lily Allen
• Album: West End Girl

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a powerful tool, and Lily Allen's 'Just Enough' offers a unique opportunity to delve into the nuances of modern English expression. The song's conversational and emotionally charged lyrics provide a window into how native speakers articulate complex feelings of doubt, hurt, and introspection. What makes this song special for learners is its storytelling nature and the raw honesty of the language used, which can help you understand more colloquial and emotionally resonant vocabulary.

[English]

I think you're in love, 

With somebody else, Felt you pull away, 

And now, I'm blaming myself. You keep me in the dark, 

Tell yourself it's kind, Protect me from the pain, 

Meanwhile, I'm losing my mind. Look at my reflection, 

I feel so drawn, so old, I booked myself a facelift, 

Wondering how long it might hold. I gave you all my power, 

How I'm seen through your eyes, Through your eyes, 

But you, You give me just enough, 

Hope to hold on to nothing. Yeah you, 

You give me just enough, Hope to hold on to nothing. 

Did you fall in love, With someone who isn't me? 

Why are we here talking about vasectomies? Did you get someone pregnant, someone 

who isn't me? Did you take her to the clinic? 

Did you hold her hand? Is she having your baby? 

But you, You give me just enough, 

Hope to hold on to nothing. Yeah you, 

You give me just enough, Hope to hold on to don't you.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
love /lʌv/ A2	noun - a deep feeling of affection verb - to like or be fond of someone or something
blame /bleɪm/ B1	verb - to say or think that someone is responsible for something bad
reflection /rɪˈflekʃən/ B2	noun - an image seen in a mirror or shiny surface
power /ˈpaʊər/ B2	noun - the ability or capacity to do something or act in a particular way
hope /hoʊp/ A2	noun - the feeling that what you want can happen verb - to want something to happen or to be true
fall /fɔːl/ A2	verb - to move downward freely without control
manage /ˈmænɪdʒ/ B1	verb - to succeed in doing or dealing with something
hold /hoʊld/ A2	verb - to keep something in a particular position
get /ɡɛt/ A1	verb - to come to have or hold something
fall /fɔːl/ A2	noun - the act of dropping from a higher to a lower position
show /ʃoʊ/ A2	verb - to make something clear or visible
hold on /hoʊld ɒn/ B1	phrase - to wait or to keep something steady

Key Grammar Structures

• I think you're in love,

  ➔ Present Simple (think) + Present Continuous (you are)

  ➔ In this sentence the verb ""think"" is in the present simple to state a current belief, and ""you’re"" (you are) is the present continuous describing a current state.

• Felt you pull away,

  ➔ Simple Past (felt)

  ➔ The verb ""felt"" is the simple past of "feel", showing an action completed in the past.

• And now, I'm blaming myself.

  ➔ Present Continuous (am blaming)

  ➔ ""am blaming"" is the present continuous, used for an ongoing action or feeling at the moment of speaking.

• Tell yourself it's kind,

  ➔ Imperative Mood

  ➔ ""Tell"" is an imperative command, giving advice or instruction to the listener.

• I booked myself a facelift,

  ➔ Simple Past with Reflexive Pronoun

  ➔ ""booked"" is the simple past; "myself" is a reflexive pronoun referring back to the subject "I".

• Did you fall in love, with someone who isn't me?

  ➔ Simple Past Question (Did + base verb)

  ➔ ""Did"" is the auxiliary used to form a past‑tense question; the main verb stays in its base form "fall".

• Why are we here talking about vasectomies?

  ➔ Present Continuous (are … talking)

  ➔ ""are … talking"" is the present continuous, used here to describe an ongoing activity that is happening now.

• But you, you give me just enough, hope to hold on to nothing.

  ➔ Simple Present (give) + Indefinite Article + Noun Phrase

  ➔ ""give"" is in the simple present for a habitual action; the phrase "just enough" uses the indefinite article "a" (omitted in lyrics) to form a noun phrase.