Madeline – English Lyrics

• By: Lily Allen
• Album: West End Girl

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the raw honesty of Lily Allen's "Madeline" – a song that lays bare the complexities of modern relationships and the pain of betrayal. Through its direct and conversational lyrics, you can explore everyday English expressions related to emotions, arguments, and relationship dynamics. The song's narrative style, reminiscent of a Western standoff, makes it special for understanding how powerful storytelling can be through music, even without traditional metaphors. It offers a unique opportunity to grasp nuanced language used in personal confrontations.

[English]

I know none of this is your fault, Messaging you feels kind of assault-ive, 

Saw your texts that's how I found out, Tell me the truth, 

And his motives, I can't trust anything that comes out 

of his mouth. No, I can't trust anything that comes out 

of his mouth. How long has it been going on? 

Is it just sex or is there emotion? He told me it would stay in hotel rooms, 

Never be out in the open, Why would I trust anything that comes out 

of his mouth? Oh, why would I trust anything that comes out 

of his mouth? We had an arrangement, 

Be discreet, and don't be blatant, There had to be payment, 

It had to be with strangers, But you're not a stranger, Madeline. 

Hey, he is telling you the truth, Our relationship has only ever been 

about sex, I promise you that this is not an emotional connection. 

We don't speak outside the time we spend together and whenever he talks 

about you, it's with the utmost respect. You tell me he's telling the truth, 

Is that the case, Or a line that he fed you? 

Want to believe you, but is it a ruse, Lie to me babe and I'll end you, 

I can't trust anything that comes out of your mouth, 

I'm not convinced that he didn't fuck you in our house. 

Do you two ever talk about me? Has he told you that he doesn't love me? 

I bet he tells you, tells you he loves you, I've gotten old, gotten ugly, 

I wouldn't trust anything that comes out of his mouth, 

Why would I trust anything that comes out of his mouth? 

We had an arrangement, Be discreet and don't be blatant, 

There had to be payment, It had to be with strangers, 

But you're not a stranger, Madeline, 

Madeline, Madeline, 

Madeline, But you're not a stranger, Madeline. 

I hate that you're in so much pain right now, I really don't want to be the cause of any 

upset, he told me you were aware this was going on, and that he had your full consent. If 

he's lying about that then please let me know because I have my own feelings about 

dishonesty. Lies are not something that I want to get caught up in. You can reach out to me 

any time by the way, if you need any more details or you just need to vent or anything. 

Love and light, Madeline.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
trust /trʌst/ A2	verb - to have confidence in someone or something noun - confidence in someone or something
tell /tel/ A2	verb - to inform someone about something verb - to distinguish or recognize
truth /truːθ/ A2	noun - the quality or state of being true
motives /ˈmoʊtɪvz/ B1	noun - reasons for doing something
mouth /maʊθ/ A1	noun - the opening in the face used for eating and speaking
sex /sɛks/ B1	noun - sexual activity noun - either of the two main categories (male and female)
emotion /ɪˈmoʊʃən/ B1	noun - a strong feeling
arrangement /əˈreɪndʒmənt/ B1	noun - a plan or preparation
discreet /dɪˈskriːt/ B2	adjective - careful and prudent in one's speech or actions
blatant /ˈbleɪtənt/ C1	adjective - obvious, especially in an offensive way
payment /ˈpeɪmənt/ B1	noun - the act of paying or the amount paid
strangers /ˈstreɪndʒərz/ A2	noun - people you do not know
relationship /rɪˈleɪʃənʃɪp/ A2	noun - the way in which two or more people are connected
respect /rɪˈspɛkt/ A2	noun - admiration felt or shown for someone verb - to admire someone for their qualities
lies /laɪz/ A2	noun - false statements made with intent to deceive noun - the way something is situated
convinced /kənˈvɪnst/ B1	adjective - completely certain about something
aware /əˈwɛr/ B1	adjective - having knowledge or realization
consent /kənˈsɛnt/ B2	noun - permission for something to happen
dishonesty /dɪsˈɑnɪsti/ B2	noun - lack of honesty; deceitfulness
details /ˈdiːteɪlz/ B1	noun - small pieces of information

Key Grammar Structures

• I know none of this is your fault,

  ➔ Present tense with modal verb 'is'

  ➔ The phrase 'is your fault' uses the present tense with 'is' to state a current condition or fact.

• Messaging you feels kind of assault-ive,

  ➔ Present continuous with 'feels'

  ➔ The phrase 'feels kind of assault-ive' uses the present continuous to describe an action happening now or a temporary feeling.

• Tell me the truth, and his motives,

  ➔ Imperative mood with 'tell'

  ➔ The phrase 'Tell me the truth' uses the imperative mood to give a direct command or request.

• We had an arrangement, be discreet, and don't be blatant,

  ➔ Past tense with 'had' and imperative with 'be'

  ➔ The phrase 'We had an arrangement' uses the past tense, while 'be discreet' and 'don't be blatant' use the imperative mood for instructions.

• But you're not a stranger, Madeline.

  ➔ Present contraction with 'you're'

  ➔ The phrase 'you're not a stranger' uses the contraction 'you're' to combine 'you are' in the present tense.

• I can't trust anything that comes out of his mouth.

  ➔ Modal verb 'can't' with present tense

  ➔ The phrase 'I can't trust' uses the modal verb 'can't' to express inability in the present tense.

• If he's lying about that then please let me know,

  ➔ Conditional clause with 'if'

  ➔ The phrase 'If he's lying' introduces a conditional clause, indicating a possible situation and its consequence.

• Love and light, Madeline.

  ➔ Vocative case with 'Madeline'

  ➔ The phrase 'Madeline' is used in the vocative case to directly address the person being spoken to.