Last Christmas – English Lyrics

• By: Wham!

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into Wham!'s "Last Christmas," a holiday classic that proves Christmas music can be deeply emotional. While the lyrics explore the pain of unrequited love and betrayal, the shimmering synth-pop production provides an upbeat contrast, teaching listeners about the complex, bittersweet emotions that often accompany reflection during the holiday season.

[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

you gave it away

This year

to save me from tears

I'll give it to someone special, 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

(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

you gave it away

This year

to save me from tears

I'll give it to someone special, special

Last christmas

I gave you my heart

But the very next day you gave it away

you gave it away

This year

to save me from tears

I'll give it to someone special, 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 him 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

you gave it away

This year

to save me from tears

I'll give it to someone special, 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, special

a face on a lover with a fire in his heart

a man under cover but you tore me apart

Maybe next year

I'll give it to someone

I'll give it to someone special

special

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
heart /hɑrt/ A1	noun - the organ that pumps blood; also the emotional core
give /ɡɪv/ A1	verb - to transfer something to someone
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - deep affection or strong feeling of attachment verb - to feel deep affection for someone
special /ˈspɛʃəl/ A2	adjective - different from what is usual; distinctive
tear /tɪər/ A2	noun - a drop of clear saline fluid from the eye verb - to pull something apart or make a hole in it
year /jɪr/ A1	noun - a period of 12 months
surprise /sərˈpraɪz/ B1	noun - an unexpected event or feeling verb - to cause someone to feel astonishment
recognize /ˈrɛkəɡˌnaɪz/ B2	verb - to identify someone or something seen before
fool /fuːl/ B1	noun - a person who lacks sense or judgment verb - to deceive or trick someone
kiss /kɪs/ A1	noun - a touch of the lips to someone or something as a sign of affection verb - to press one's lips against someone or something
soul /soʊl/ B2	noun - the immaterial essence of a person
ice /aɪs/ A1	noun - frozen water
cry /kraɪ/ A1	verb - to produce tears from the eyes, typically from pain or sorrow
fire /ˈfaɪər/ A1	noun - combustion that produces heat and light
cover /ˈkʌvər/ A2	verb - to place something over or upon another noun - a protective layer or outer part
real /ˈriəl/ A2	adjective - actually existing; not imagined or simulated
distance /ˈdɪstəns/ B1	noun - the amount of space between two points
catch /kætʃ/ A2	verb - to seize or capture something in motion noun - an act of capturing or a device that catches

Key Grammar Structures

• I gave you my heart

  ➔ Simple Past Tense

  ➔ The phrase uses the **simple past tense** to indicate an action that was completed in the past.

• But the very next day you gave it away

  ➔ Simple Past Tense

  ➔ The phrase again demonstrates the **simple past tense** to recount a specific event that happened after the previous action.

• I'll give it to someone special

  ➔ Future Simple Tense

  ➔ Here, the phrase uses the **future simple tense**, indicating a promise or intention to perform an action in the future.

• Once bitten and twice shy

  ➔ Conditionals

  ➔ This expression implies a conditional situation, where past experience (being bitten) affects current behavior (being shy).

• Do you recognize me?

  ➔ Present Simple Tense

  ➔ This line uses the **present simple tense** to ask about a current state or knowledge.

• A man under cover but you tore him apart

  ➔ Past Continuous Tense

  ➔ This phrase uses the **past continuous tense** to describe an action in progress during a specific time in the past.

• Maybe next year I'll give it to someone

  ➔ Future Simple Tense

  ➔ The phrase employs the **future simple tense** to express an uncertain intention about an action in the future.