Lyrics & Translation
Embark on a linguistic journey with George Michael's "Kissing a Fool," a masterclass in emotional storytelling through song. This jazz-infused ballad offers a rich vocabulary for expressing vulnerability, regret, and the complexities of relationships. Its clear, deliberate phrasing and heartfelt delivery make it an excellent choice for English learners to grasp nuanced emotions and idiomatic expressions related to love and heartbreak, all while appreciating George Michael's exceptional vocal artistry.
[English]
You are farWhen I could have been your star
You listened to people
Who scared you to death and from my heart
Strange that you were strong enough
To even make a start
But you'll never find peace of mind
'Til you listen to your heart
People
You can never change the way they feel
Better let them do just what they will
For they will
If you let them steal your heart from you
People
Will always make a lover feel a fool
But you knew I loved you
We could have shown them all
We should have seen love through
Fooled me with the tears in your eyes
Covered me with kisses and lies
So goodbye
But please don't take my heart
You are far
I'm never gonna be your star
I'll pick up the pieces and mend my heart
Maybe I'll be strong enough
I don't know where to start
But I'll never find peace of mind
While I listen to my heart
People
You can never change the way they feel
Better let them do just what they will
For they will
If you let them steal your heart
And people
Will always make a lover feel a fool
But you knew I loved you
We could have shown them all
Ba da da ah ah ah
But remember this
Every other kiss
That you ever give
Long as we both live
When you need the hand of another man
One you really can surrender with
I will wait for you like I always do
There's something there
That can't compare with any other
You are far
When I could have been your star
You listened to people
Who scared you to death and from my heart
Strange that I was wrong enough
To think you'd love me too
Guess you were kissing a fool
You must have been kissing a fool
Key Vocabulary
Vocabulary | Meanings |
---|---|
kiss /kɪs/ A1 |
|
fool /fuːl/ A2 |
|
love /lʌv/ A1 |
|
heart /hɑːt/ A1 |
|
peace /piːs/ A2 |
|
star /stɑːr/ A1 |
|
strong /strɒŋ/ A2 |
|
listen /ˈlɪsən/ A1 |
|
people /ˈpiːpəl/ A1 |
|
feel /fiːl/ A1 |
|
show /ʃəʊ/ A1 |
|
tear /tɪər/ A2 |
|
lie /laɪ/ A2 |
|
surrender /səˈrɛndər/ B1 |
|
compare /kəmˈpɛər/ B1 |
|
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Key Grammar Structures
-
You are far
➔ Present simple tense
➔ The phrase uses the present simple tense to describe a current state or condition, emphasizing the distance between the subject and the listener.
-
We could have shown them all
➔ Past perfect modal (could have)
➔ The use of 'could have' indicates a past ability or opportunity that was not realized, expressing regret or a missed chance.
-
But you knew I loved you
➔ Past simple tense with 'knew'
➔ The past simple tense with 'knew' is used to describe a past fact or certainty, emphasizing the speaker's past knowledge of the listener's love.
-
If you let them steal your heart
➔ Second conditional
➔ The second conditional is used to talk about hypothetical situations and their imaginary results, here suggesting a possible consequence if the condition is met.
-
One you really can surrender with
➔ Relative clause with 'that'
➔ The relative clause 'that you really can surrender with' provides additional information about 'the hand of another man', specifying the type of person being referred to.
-
I will wait for you like I always do
➔ Future simple tense
➔ The future simple tense with 'will' is used to express a promise or a decision made at the moment of speaking, indicating the speaker's intention to wait.
-
There's something there
➔ Present simple tense with 'there is'
➔ The present simple tense with 'there is' is used to state the existence of something, emphasizing its presence in a general or timeless sense.
-
Guess you were kissing a fool
➔ Past continuous tense
➔ The past continuous tense with 'were kissing' describes an action that was ongoing in the past, emphasizing the duration or continuity of the action.