Learn My Lesson – English Lyrics

• By: Daughtry

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the emotional depth of Daughtry's "Learn My Lesson," a powerful rock ballad about the universal struggle of repeating past mistakes in love. This song offers a great opportunity to explore nuanced English vocabulary related to emotions and introspection, all set to a compelling melody. It's a special track for learners as it combines clear, relatable storytelling with the passionate vocal delivery of Chris Daughtry.

[English]

Tonight the sunset means so much

The one thing that you know you'll never touch

Like the feeling, the real thing

I reach out for that sweet dream

But somehow the darkness wakes me up

And I've felt this emptiness before

But all the times that I've been broken

I still run right back for more

You'd think that I'd learn my lesson by now

You'd think that I'd somehow figure out

That if you strike the match

You're bound to feel the flame

You think that I'd learn the cost of love

Paid that price long enough

But still I drive myself right through the pain

Yeah, well it turns out I haven't learned a thing

...

Sometimes I think I'm better off

To turn out the lights and close up shop

...

And give up the longing, believing in belonging

Just hold down my head and take the loss

You'd think that I'd learn my lesson by now

You'd think that I'd somehow figure out

That if you strike the match

You're bound to feel the flame

You'd think that I'd learn the cost of love

Paid that price long enough

But still I drive myself right through the pain

Yeah, well it turns out I haven't learned a thing

...

You'd think that I'd learn my lesson by now

...

You'd think that I'd somehow figure out

That if you strike that match

You're bound to feel the flame

You'd think that I'd learn the cost of love

Paid that price long enough

But still I drive myself right through the pain

Yeah, well it turns out I haven't learned a thing

You'd think that I'd learn my lesson by now

You'd think that I'd somehow figure out

I haven't learned a thing

I haven't learned, I haven't learned

I haven't learned a thing

...

Key Grammar Structures

• You'd think that I'd learn my lesson by now

  ➔ Conditional modal 'would' + infinitive (hypothetical past assumption)

  ➔ "You'd" think expresses what others would assume, and "by now" indicates that the expectation should have been met up to the present.

• If you strike the match, you're bound to feel the flame

  ➔ First conditional (present simple + be + bound to) – expressing certainty about a future result

  ➔ "If you strike" introduces a condition, and "you're bound to" means "you will certainly" feel the flame.

• I haven't learned a thing

  ➔ Present perfect negative (have/has + not + past participle)

  ➔ "haven't learned" shows that up to now the speaker has not acquired any knowledge.

• I'm better off to turn out the lights and close up shop

  ➔ "be better off + infinitive" – idiomatic expression meaning it is more advantageous to do something

  ➔ "I'm better off to turn out" means "it is more advantageous for me to turn out" the lights.

• I drive myself right through the pain

  ➔ Reflexive pronoun with verb (drive oneself) – indicating that the subject performs the action on itself

  ➔ "myself" shows that the speaker is the one who is pushing himself through the pain.

• Give up the longing, believing in belonging

  ➔ Gerund after verb (give up + gerund) and present participle clause (believing…) – both function as noun/verb modifiers

  ➔ "Give up" is followed by the gerund "the longing"; "believing" is a present participle describing the manner of giving up.

• You think that I'd somehow figure out

  ➔ Adverb "somehow" + verb phrase – expresses uncertainty about the manner of achieving something

  ➔ "somehow" modifies "figure out" to mean "in some way, even if unclear".

• It turns out I haven't learned a thing

  ➔ "turn out" + clause – idiomatic phrase meaning "it appears that"

  ➔ "turns out" introduces a result; the speaker discovers that "I haven't learned a thing".