Life Wasted – English Lyrics

• By: Pearl Jam

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the potent themes of life and loss in Pearl Jam's 'Life Wasted.' This song, born from personal grief, offers a powerful lesson in appreciating every moment and confronting negativity. Dive into the lyrics and discover how music can transform personal experiences into universal insights about living a full, purposeful life.

[English]

You're always saying that there's something wrong

I'm starting to believe it's you're playing along

Death came around, forced to hear it's song

And know tomorrow can't be depended on

Seen the home inside your head

Unlocked doors and unmade beds

Open sores unattended

Let me say just once that

I have faced it, a life wasted

I'm never going back again

I escaped it, a life wasted

I'm never going back again

Having tasted, a life wasted

I'm never going back again

The world awaits just up the stairs

Leave the pain for someone else

Nothing back there for you to find

Or was it you you left behind

You're always saying you're too weak to be strong

You're harder on yourself than just about anyone

Why swim the channel just to get this far?

Halfway there, why would you turn around?

Darkness comes in waves

Tell me, why invite it to stay?

You're one with negativity

Yes, comfort is an energy

But why let the sad song play?

I have faced it, a life wasted

I'm never going back again

Oh, I escaped it, a life wasted

I'm never going back again

Having tasted, a life wasted

I'm never going back again

Oh, I erased it, a life wasted

I'm never going back again

Key Grammar Structures

• You're always saying that there's something wrong

  ➔ Present continuous tense

  ➔ The phrase 'You're always saying' uses the present continuous tense to indicate an ongoing habit or repeated action.

• I'm starting to believe it's you're playing along

  ➔ Present continuous with 'start to'

  ➔ The phrase 'I'm starting to believe' uses the present continuous with 'start to' to indicate the beginning of a new action or change in state.

• And know tomorrow can't be depended on

  ➔ Modal verb 'can't' for ability/possibility

  ➔ The use of 'can't' in 'tomorrow can't be depended on' expresses the lack of ability or possibility to rely on the future.

• Let me say just once that

  ➔ Permission with 'let'

  ➔ The phrase 'Let me say' uses 'let' to politely ask for permission to speak.

• I'm never going back again

  ➔ Emphatic structure with 'never'

  ➔ The phrase 'I'm never going back again' uses 'never' to strongly emphasize the speaker's determination not to return.

• Why swim the channel just to get this far?

  ➔ Rhetorical question

  ➔ The sentence 'Why swim the channel just to get this far?' is a rhetorical question used to express frustration or disbelief.

• Darkness comes in waves

  ➔ Metaphorical expression

  ➔ The phrase 'Darkness comes in waves' uses a metaphor to describe the overwhelming and recurring nature of negativity.

• Yes, comfort is an energy

  ➔ Subject-verb agreement with 'is'

  ➔ The sentence 'Yes, comfort is an energy' demonstrates subject-verb agreement where 'is' matches the singular subject 'comfort'.