lacy – English Lyrics

• By: Olivia Rodrigo
• Album: GUTS

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into Olivia Rodrigo's haunting ballad "lacy," a song that masterfully captures the intricacies of admiration, envy, and self-doubt. Its poetic lyrics and raw emotional depth offer a compelling opportunity to explore English vocabulary related to complex feelings and introspection. Through its vivid imagery and relatable themes, listeners can gain a deeper understanding of nuanced expressions in English, making it a perfect track for language learning and emotional resonance.

[English]

Lacy, oh, Lacy, skin like puff pastry

Aren't you the sweetest thing on this side of hell?

Dear angel Lacy, eyes white as daisies

Did I ever tell you that I'm not doin' well?

Ooh, I care, I care, I care, like perfume that you wear

I linger all the time, watchin', hidden in plain sight

Ooh, I try, I try, I try, but it takes over my life

I see you everywhere, the sweetest torture one could bear

Smart, sexy Lacy, I'm losing it lately

I feel your compliments like bullets on skin

Dazzling starlet, Bardot reincarnate

Well, aren't you the greatest thing to ever exist?

Ooh, I care, I care, I care, like ribbons in your hair

My stomach's all in knots, you got the one thing that I want

Ooh, I try, I try, I try, try to rationalize

People are people, but it's like you're made of angel dust

Ah-ah, ah

Ah-ah, oh

Ooh (oh, ooh, whoa)

Ah-oh, ah-ah, ah

Lacy, oh, Lacy, it's like you're out to get me

You poison every little thing that I do

Lacy, oh, Lacy, I just loathe you lately

And I despise my jealous eyes and how hard they fell for you

Yeah, I despise my rotten mind and how much it worships you

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
pastry /ˈpeɪstri/ A2	noun - a dough of flour, water, and shortening, and may be savoury or sweetened. Also, a baked food made from this dough.
hell /hɛl/ A2	noun - (in some religions) the place where evil people are believed to go after they die; a very unpleasant situation or experience.
angel /ˈeɪnʤəl/ A2	noun - a spiritual being believed to be a messenger of God; a very kind or beautiful person.
perfume /ˈpɜːrfjuːm/ B1	noun - a fragrant liquid typically made from essential oils extracted from flowers and spices, used to give a pleasant smell to one's body.
linger /ˈlɪŋɡər/ B2	verb - to stay in a place longer than necessary because of a reluctance to leave; to continue to exist or be felt for a long time.
hidden /ˈhɪdən/ B1	adjective - kept out of sight; concealed.
torture /ˈtɔːrʧər/ B2	noun - the action or practice of inflicting severe pain on someone as a punishment or to force them to do or say something; severe physical or mental suffering. verb - to inflict severe pain on (someone); to cause great mental suffering to.
bear /bɛər/ B1	verb - to tolerate or endure (an ordeal or difficulty).
compliments /ˈkɑːmplɪmənts/ B1	noun - polite expressions of praise or admiration.
bullets /ˈbʊlɪts/ B1	noun - a projectile for firing from a rifle, pistol, or other small arm.
dazzling /ˈdæzlɪŋ/ B2	adjective - (of a light or object) shining intensely; (of a person or thing) extremely impressive, beautiful, or skilful.
starlet /ˈstɑːrlɪt/ C1	noun - a young actress promoted as a future film star.
reincarnate /ˌriːɪnˈkɑːrneɪt/ C1	verb - to cause (a soul) to be reborn in another body; to give a new or different form to. adjective - reborn in another body.
knots /nɑːts/ B1	noun - a fastening made by tying a piece of string, rope, or something similar; a feeling of tightness or tension, especially in the stomach or throat.
rationalize /ˈræʃənəlaɪz/ B2	verb - to attempt to explain or justify (one's own or another's behavior or attitude) with logical, plausible reasons, even if these are not true or appropriate.
loathe /loʊð/ C1	verb - to feel intense dislike or disgust for.
despise /dɪˈspaɪz/ B2	verb - to feel contempt or a deep repugnance for.
jealous /ˈʤɛləs/ B1	adjective - feeling or showing envy of someone or their achievements and advantages; feeling or showing resentment of someone successful or admired.
rotten /ˈrɑːtən/ B2	adjective - suffering from decay; (of a person or thing) morally corrupt or unpleasant.
worship /ˈwɜːrʃɪp/ B2	verb - to show reverence and adoration for (a deity); to treat (someone or something) with adoration and devotion.
poison /ˈpɔɪzən/ B1	verb - to administer poison to (a person or animal); to harm or corrupt. noun - a substance that is capable of causing the illness or death of a living organism when introduced or absorbed.

Key Grammar Structures

• Lacy, oh, Lacy, skin like puff pastry

  ➔ Simile

  ➔ The phrase 'skin like puff pastry' uses a simile to compare Lacy's skin to puff pastry, highlighting its smoothness or delicacy.

• Did I ever tell you that I'm not doin' well?

  ➔ Tag Question

  ➔ The phrase 'Did I ever tell you...' is a tag question, a grammatical structure used to confirm information or seek agreement in a conversational tone.

• I linger all the time, watchin', hidden in plain sight

  ➔ Present Continuous Tense

  ➔ The phrase 'I linger all the time' uses the present continuous tense to describe an ongoing action happening now or over a period of time.

• I see you everywhere, the sweetest torture one could bear

  ➔ Hyperbole

  ➔ The phrase 'the sweetest torture one could bear' uses hyperbole to exaggerate the intensity of the emotional pain, making it seem unbearable yet sweet.

• Well, aren't you the greatest thing to ever exist?

  ➔ Rhetorical Question

  ➔ The phrase 'aren't you the greatest thing to ever exist?' is a rhetorical question, used to make a statement rather than to seek an answer.

• Ooh, I try, I try, I try, try to rationalize

  ➔ Repetition

  ➔ The repetition of 'I try' emphasizes the speaker's effort and struggle to rationalize their feelings, adding intensity to the emotion.

• You poison every little thing that I do

  ➔ Metaphor

  ➔ The phrase 'You poison every little thing that I do' uses a metaphor to compare Lacy's influence to poison, suggesting it negatively affects everything the speaker does.

• And I despise my jealous eyes and how hard they fell for you

  ➔ Personification

  ➔ The phrase 'my jealous eyes' uses personification to give human qualities to the eyes, emphasizing their role in the speaker's jealousy and attraction to Lacy.