Last Christmas – English Lyrics

• By: First To Eleven

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the raw energy behind a holiday classic! First To Eleven's rock cover of 'Last Christmas' transforms the original's sad, melancholic tone into a powerful, guitar-driven anthem. By listening to this version, you can learn how familiar melodies can be completely recontextualized through heavy instrumentation, showcasing the emotional versatility of a song through the rock genre.

[English]

Last Christmas, I gave you my heart

But the very next day you gave it away

This year, to save me from tears

I'll give it to someone special

Last Christmas, I gave you my heart

But the very next day you gave it away

This year, to save me from tears

I'll give it to someone special

Once bitten and twice shy

I keep my distance

But you still catch my eye

Tell me, baby

Do you recognize me?

Well, it's been a year

It doesn't surprise me

(Merry Christmas!) I wrapped it up and sent it

With a note saying, "I love you, " I meant it

Now, I know what a fool I've been

But if you kissed me now

I know you'd fool me again

Last Christmas, I gave you my heart

But the very next day you gave it away

This year, to save me from tears

I'll give it to someone special

Last Christmas, I gave you my heart

But the very next day you gave it away

This year, to save me from tears

I'll give it to someone special

A crowded room, friends with tired eyes

I'm hiding from you, and your soul of ice

My god, I thought you were someone to rely on

Me? I guess I was a shoulder to cry on

A face on a lover with a fire in his heart

A man under cover but you tore me apart

Now, I've found a real love you'll never fool me again

Last Christmas, I gave you my heart

But the very next day you gave it away

This year, to save me from tears

I'll give it to someone special

Last Christmas, I gave you my heart

But the very next day you gave it away

This year, to save me from tears

I'll give it to someone special

A face on a lover with a fire in his heart

A man under cover but you tore him apart

Maybe next year I'll give it to someone

I'll give it to

Last Christmas, I gave you my heart

But the very next day you gave it away

This year, to save me from tears

I'll give it to someone special

Last Christmas, I gave you my heart

But the very next day you gave it away

This year, to save me from tears

I'll give it to someone special

Once bitten and twice shy

I keep my distance

But you still catch my eye

Tell me, baby

Do you recognize me?

Well, it's been a year

It doesn't surprise me

(Merry Christmas!) I wrapped it up and sent it

With a note saying, "I love you, " I meant it

Now, I know what a fool I've been

But if you kissed me now

I know you'd fool me again

Last Christmas, I gave you my heart

But the very next day you gave it away

This year, to save me from tears

I'll give it to someone special

Last Christmas, I gave you my heart

But the very next day you gave it away

This year, to save me from tears

I'll give it to someone special

A crowded room, friends with tired eyes

I'm hiding from you, and your soul of ice

My god, I thought you were someone to rely on

Me? I guess I was a shoulder to cry on

A face on a lover with a fire in his heart

A man under cover but you tore me apart

Now, I've found a real love you'll never fool me again

Last Christmas, I gave you my heart

But the very next day you gave it away

This year, to save me from tears

I'll give it to someone special

Last Christmas, I gave you my heart

But the very next day you gave it away

This year, to save me from tears

I'll give it to someone special

A face on a lover with a fire in his heart

A man under cover but you tore him apart

Maybe next year I'll give it to someone

I'll give it to someone

I'll give it to someone special

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
give /ɡɪv/ A1	verb - to offer or hand over something to someone
heart /hɑːrt/ A1	noun - the organ that pumps blood, often symbolizing love or emotion
special /ˈspɛʃəl/ A2	adjective - better or more important than others
away /əˈweɪ/ A1	adverb - at a distance from a place
save /seɪv/ A1	verb - to prevent harm or rescue
tears /tɪrz/ A1	noun - drops of liquid from the eyes, often from sadness
fool /fuːl/ A2	noun - a person who acts unwisely verb - to trick or deceive someone
kiss /kɪs/ A1	verb - to touch with the lips as a sign of love
crowded /ˈkraʊdɪd/ B1	adjective - filled with many people
rely /rɪˈlaɪ/ B1	verb - to depend on someone or something
shoulder /ˈʃoʊldər/ A2	noun - the part of the body between the neck and arm
fire /ˈfaɪər/ A1	noun - flames or intense heat
tear /tɛər/ A2	verb - to pull apart or damage
recognize /ˈrɛkəɡˌnaɪz/ B1	verb - to identify someone or something seen before
ice /aɪs/ A1	noun - frozen water
wrap /ræp/ A2	verb - to cover or enclose in paper
distance /ˈdɪstəns/ A2	noun - the amount of space between two places
surprise /səˈpraɪz/ A2	verb - to cause to feel amazement or shock
catch /kætʃ/ A1	verb - to grab or capture
bitten /ˈbɪtən/ B1	verb - past participle of bite, to be hurt by teeth

Key Grammar Structures

• Last Christmas, I gave you my heart

  ➔ Simple past tense

  ➔ The verb "gave" shows a completed action that happened in the past.

• But the very next day you gave it away

  ➔ Simple past with a phrasal verb

  ➔ The phrasal verb "gave ... away" uses "away" to add the meaning of discarding.

• This year, to save me from tears, I'll give it to someone special

  ➔ Future with "will" + infinitive of purpose

  ➔ "I'll give" is the future form (will + base verb). The infinitive phrase "to save" explains the purpose.

• Once bitten and twice shy, I keep my distance

  ➔ Past participle clause used as adjective

  ➔ "Once bitten" and "twice shy" are past‑participle phrases describing the speaker's state.

• Tell me, baby, do you recognize me?

  ➔ Imperative + present simple question

  ➔ "Tell" is an imperative verb giving a command. The following clause "do you recognize me?" uses present simple to ask for confirmation.

• I wrapped it up and sent it with a note saying, "I love you"

  ➔ Past simple + participial phrase (verb-ing) as post‑modifier

  ➔ "saying" is a present‑participle verb that introduces a clause modifying "note".

• Now, I know what a fool I've been

  ➔ Present simple + present perfect

  ➔ "know" is present simple (a fact). "I've been" is present perfect, showing a past state that continues to the present.

• If you kissed me now, I know you'd fool me again

  ➔ Second conditional (type 2) – past simple in if‑clause + would + base verb

  ➔ "If you kissed" uses the past simple to talk about an unreal present situation. "you'd" (= would) shows the imagined result.

• Now, I've found a real love you'll never fool me again

  ➔ Present perfect + relative clause

  ➔ "I've found" is present perfect, indicating a recent discovery. The relative clause "you'll never fool me again" modifies "love".