Kissing A Fool – English Lyrics

• By: George Michael
• Album: Listen without Prejudice

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 far

When 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	verb - to touch or press one's lips against someone or something as a sign of affection
fool /fuːl/ A2	noun - a person who acts foolishly
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - a deep feeling of affection verb - to have a deep affection for someone
heart /hɑːt/ A1	noun - the organ that pumps blood around the body, often used symbolically for emotions
peace /piːs/ A2	noun - a state of tranquility or quiet
star /stɑːr/ A1	noun - a massive luminous ball of plasma held together by its own gravity, or a famous person
strong /strɒŋ/ A2	adjective - having power or vigor
listen /ˈlɪsən/ A1	verb - to pay attention to sound or action
people /ˈpiːpəl/ A1	noun - plural of person, human beings in general
feel /fiːl/ A1	verb - to perceive by touch or emotion
show /ʃəʊ/ A1	verb - to allow something to be seen or to present something
tear /tɪər/ A2	noun - a drop of clear salty liquid secreted by the eyes, often as a result of emotion
lie /laɪ/ A2	verb - to say something that is not true
surrender /səˈrɛndər/ B1	verb - to stop resisting and accept defeat or submit to another's control
compare /kəmˈpɛər/ B1	verb - to estimate, measure, or note the similarity or difference between

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.