La La La – English Lyrics

• By: Naughty Boy, Sam Smith

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the English language through the emotive and globally successful song 'La La La'. Its clear and repetitive chorus offers a simple entry point for learners, while the verses provide richer vocabulary related to emotions and conflict. The song's universal theme of avoiding painful truths makes it relatable and memorable, aiding in language retention.

[English]

NA-NA, LA-LA-LA-LA-LA, TU MERI MAUJA HAIN

NA-NA, LA-LA-LA-LA-LA, NA-NA-NA-NA-NA, LA-LA

NA-NA, LA-LA-LA-LA-LA, NA-NA-NA-NA-NA, LA-LA

NA-NA, LA-LA-LA-LA-LA, NA-NA-NA-NA-NA, LA-LA

I'LL FIND A WAY TO BLOCK IT, I GO

'CAUSE IF MY HEART CAN'T STOP IT

I'M TURNING UP THE VOLUME WHEN YOU SPEAK

WHEN YOUR WORDS MEAN NOTHING, I GO, "LA, LA, LA"

I'M COVERING MY EARS LIKE A KID

I'LL FIND A WAY TO BLOCK IT, I GO

'CAUSE IF MY HEART CAN'T STOP IT

I'M TURNING UP THE VOLUME WHEN YOU SPEAK

WHEN YOUR WORDS MEAN NOTHING, I GO, "LA, LA, LA"

I'M COVERING MY EARS LIKE A KID

NA-NA, LA-LA-LA-LA-LA, TU MERI MAUJA HAIN

NA-NA, LA-LA-LA-LA-LA, NA-NA-NA-NA-NA, LA-LA

NA-NA, LA-LA-LA-LA-LA, NA-NA-NA-NA-NA, LA-LA

NA-NA, LA-LA-LA-LA-LA, NA-NA-NA-NA-NA, LA-LA

NA-NA, LA-LA-LA-LA-LA, TU MERI MAUJA HAIN

NA-NA, LA-LA-LA-LA-LA, NA-NA-NA-NA-NA, LA-LA

NA-NA, LA-LA-LA-LA-LA, NA-NA-NA-NA-NA, LA-LA

NA-NA, LA-LA-LA-LA-LA, NA-NA-NA-NA-NA, LA-LA

I'LL FIND A WAY TO BLOCK IT, I GO

'CAUSE IF MY HEART CAN'T STOP IT

I'M TURNING UP THE VOLUME WHEN YOU SPEAK

WHEN YOUR WORDS MEAN NOTHING, I GO, "LA, LA, LA"

I'M COVERING MY EARS LIKE A KID

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

BUT WHEN YOU READ YOUR SPEECH, IT'S TIRING

I DON'T MEAN TO JUDGE

I CAN'T FIND YOUR SILVER LINING

I'M GONNA DROWN YOU OUT BEFORE I LOSE MY MIND

WHEN OUR WORLDS COLLIDE

I WON'T COUNT THE HOURS, RATHER BE A COWARD

IF OUR LOVE IS RUNNING OUT OF TIME

NA-NA, LA-LA-LA-LA-LA, NA-NA-NA-NA, NA-NA

NA-NA, LA-LA-LA-LA-LA, NA-NA-NA-NA-NA, LA-LA

NA-NA, LA-LA-LA-LA-LA, NA-NA-NA-NA-NA, LA-LA

NA-NA, LA-LA-LA-LA-LA, NA-NA-NA-NA-NA, LA-LA

I'LL FIND A WAY TO BLOCK IT, I GO

'CAUSE IF MY HEART CAN'T STOP IT

I'M TURNING UP THE VOLUME WHEN YOU SPEAK

WHEN YOUR WORDS MEAN NOTHING, I GO, "LA, LA, LA"

I'M COVERING MY EARS LIKE A KID

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

BUT WHEN YOU READ YOUR SPEECH, IT'S TIRING

I DON'T MEAN TO JUDGE

I CAN'T FIND YOUR SILVER LINING

ABOUT YOUR NEW MESSIAH, CAUSE YOUR THEORIES CATCH FIRE

I HATE IT WHEN YOU HISS AND PREACH

WHEN YOU SPIT YOUR VENOM, KEEP IT SHUT

HUSH, DON'T SPEAK

NA-NA, LA-LA-LA-LA-LA, NA-NA-NA-NA, NA-NA

NA-NA, LA-LA-LA-LA-LA, NA-NA-NA-NA-NA, LA-LA

NA-NA, LA-LA-LA-LA-LA, NA-NA-NA-NA-NA, LA-LA

NA-NA, LA-LA-LA-LA-LA, NA-NA-NA-NA-NA, LA-LA

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
block /blɒk/ A2	verb - to stop something from passing through or being seen/heard
volume /ˈvɒl.juːm/ A2	noun - the amount of space something occupies noun - the level of sound
cover /ˈkʌv.ər/ A1	verb - to place something over or on top of something
enough /ɪˈnʌf/ A1	adjective - as much as necessary
tiring /ˈtaɪ.ər.ɪŋ/ A2	adjective - causing one to feel in need of rest or sleep
judge /dʒʌdʒ/ A2	verb - to form an opinion about something
silver /ˈsɪl.vər/ A1	noun - a precious shiny grayish-white metal adjective - made of silver or having a silvery color
lining /ˈlaɪ.nɪŋ/ B1	noun - a layer of material inside a garment noun - a positive aspect of a situation
drown /draʊn/ A2	verb - to sink underneath the surface of a liquid and die verb - to overwhelm or be overwhelmed by a strong emotion or sound
collide /kəˈlaɪd/ B1	verb - to crash into each other
coward /ˈkaʊ.ərd/ A2	noun - a person who is too afraid to do something
messiah /məˈsaɪ.ə/ B2	noun - a savior or liberator
theory /ˈθɪə.ri/ B1	noun - a supposition or a system of ideas intended to explain something
hiss /hɪs/ A2	verb - to make a long, loud sound like the letter 's'
venom /ˈven.əm/ B1	noun - a poisonous substance secreted by animals
hush /hʌʃ/ A2	verb - to become or make someone silent

Key Grammar Structures

• WHEN YOUR WORDS MEAN NOTHING, I GO, "LA, LA, LA"

  ➔ Time clause with 'when' and present tense for future meaning

  ➔ In "WHEN YOUR WORDS MEAN NOTHING", the word "when" introduces a time clause where the present simple tense is used to indicate a future action, even though the action is referenced in the present.

• I'M COVERING MY EARS LIKE A KID

  ➔ Present continuous tense and simile with 'like'

  ➔ "I'M COVERING" uses the present continuous tense to describe an ongoing action in the present, while "LIKE A KID" employs a simile to compare the action to that of a child.

• ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

  ➔ Inversion for emphasis in fixed expressions

  ➔ This sentence uses subject-verb inversion, typical of formal or exclamatory fixed expressions like "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH", to convey strong emphasis that a limit has been reached.

• BUT WHEN YOU READ YOUR SPEECH, IT'S TIRING

  ➔ Conditional time clause and contraction in 'it's'

  ➔ "WHEN YOU READ YOUR SPEECH" is a conditional time clause describing a habitual action, and "IT'S" is a contraction of 'it is' for 'it is' followed by an adjective like "TIRING".

• I DON'T MEAN TO JUDGE

  ➔ Negative present tense and infinitive of purpose

  ➔ "I DON'T MEAN" uses the negative present simple to express a lack of intention, and "TO JUDGE" is the infinitive form indicating the purpose or aim of the action.

• I'M GONNA DROWN YOU OUT BEFORE I LOSE MY MIND

  ➔ Informal future with 'gonna' and 'before' clause for sequencing

  ➔ "I'M GONNA" uses the informal contraction of 'going to' for future plans, and "BEFORE I LOSE MY MIND" is a 'before' clause indicating that the action in the main clause happens prior to the one in the subordinate clause.

• IF OUR LOVE IS RUNNING OUT OF TIME

  ➔ First conditional with 'if' and present continuous

  ➔ "IF OUR LOVE IS RUNNING OUT OF TIME" uses the first conditional structure where the 'if' clause has a present continuous tense, implying a real possibility in the present or near future.

• WHEN YOU SPIT YOUR VENOM, KEEP IT SHUT

  ➔ Imperative mood and time clause with 'when'

  ➔ "KEEP IT SHUT" is in the imperative mood, giving a direct command, and "WHEN YOU SPIT YOUR VENOM" is a time clause specifying when the command applies, using present tense for habitual reference.

• I HATE IT WHEN YOU HISS AND PREACH

  ➔ Verbs followed by gerunds and 'it' as a dummy subject

  ➔ "HATE" is a verb that requires a following gerund, as in "WHEN YOU HISS AND PREACH", and "IT" acts as a dummy subject for the impersonal construction, allowing the clause to follow without a real subject.