Little Lies – English Lyrics

• By: Fleetwood Mac
• Album: Tango In The Night

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the nuanced language of emotion in Fleetwood Mac's "Little Lies." This song offers a great opportunity to explore expressions of regret, longing, and denial in English. Its clear vocals and memorable chorus make it an excellent choice for language learners to practice their listening skills and delve into the complexities of lyrical storytelling. What makes "Little Lies" special is its universal theme of preferring a comforting lie over a harsh truth, a sentiment that transcends language barriers.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
rearrange /ˌriː.əˈrændʒ/ B1	verb - to organize or order something differently
settle /ˈsetl/ A2	verb - to accept or decide on something
disguise /dɪsˈɡaɪz/ B1	verb - to hide or conceal something
understand /ˌʌndərˈstænd/ A2	verb - to comprehend or grasp the meaning
reason /ˈriːzən/ A2	noun - a cause or explanation
broken /ˈbroʊkən/ A1	adjective - damaged or not functioning
apart /əˈpɑːrt/ A1	adverb - separated or divided
try /traɪ/ A1	verb - to attempt or make an effort
sweet /swit/ A1	adjective - pleasing to the taste
believe /bɪˈliːv/ A2	verb - to accept something as true
page /peɪdʒ/ A1	noun - one side of a sheet of paper in a book
close /kloʊz/ A1	verb - to shut or move together adjective - nearby or intimate
find /faɪnd/ A1	verb - to discover or locate
heart /hɑːrt/ A1	noun - the organ that pumps blood, often symbolic of emotion
better /ˈbetər/ A1	adjective - of a higher quality or more desirable
plan /plæn/ A1	noun - a detailed proposal for doing or achieving something verb - to make preparations for an event

Key Grammar Structures

• If I **could** turn the page

  ➔ Conditional Clause (Type 2)

  ➔ Uses the past simple tense (**could** turn) to describe an unreal or hypothetical situation in the present or future. It expresses something contrary to fact.

• If I could turn the page in time then I'd **rearrange** just a day or two

  ➔ Conditional Clause (Type 2) and Modal Verb 'would' (contraction 'd)

  ➔ This line reinforces the unreal condition. 'Would rearrange' expresses the unreal consequence of the hypothetical action in the conditional clause. 'D' is a contraction of 'would'.

• So I'll **settle** for one day to believe in you

  ➔ Present Simple tense with the future meaning

  ➔ The present simple is used here to talk about a decision made, or an action that will take place in the future. It's often used with words expressing plans or intentions.

• Tell me, tell me, tell me **lies**

  ➔ Noun, plural, Direct object.

  ➔ The noun "lies" is the direct object of the verb "tell".

• Oh no-no, you **can't** disguise

  ➔ Modal verb (can) + Negation

  ➔ The modal verb "can" is used to express ability or possibility. The contracted form "can't" (cannot) expresses the lack of ability.

• Although I'm not making plans, I hope that you'll understand **there's** a reason why

  ➔ Contraction (there is)

  ➔ The contraction 'there's' is a shortened form of 'there is'. This is a common construction to sound more natural in casual speech and song lyrics.

• No more broken hearts, **we're** better off apart

  ➔ Contraction (we are)

  ➔ Similar to the previous example, 'we're' is the contraction of 'we are'.

• We're better **off** apart, let's give it a try

  ➔ Phrasal verb

  ➔ 'Better off' is a phrasal verb that means 'in a better situation'. Phrasal verbs are very common in English.