Manhattan Skyline – English Lyrics

• By: a-ha
• Album: Scoundrel Days

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the emotional depth and musical innovation of A-ha's 'Manhattan Skyline.' This song blends synth-pop with rock, offering a rich tapestry of sound while telling a story of change and new beginnings. Delve into the lyrics to uncover themes of departure, hope, and the allure of a new life in New York City.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
watch /wɒtʃ/ A1	verb - to look at or observe something
fly /flaɪ/ A1	verb - to move through the air
dry /draɪ/ A1	adjective - free from moisture
leave /liːv/ A1	verb - to go away from a place
cry /kraɪ/ A1	verb - to shed tears
pain /peɪn/ A1	noun - physical or emotional suffering
race /reɪs/ A2	verb - to compete in a contest of speed
depths /dɛpθs/ B1	noun - deep parts of something
horizons /həˈraɪzənz/ B1	noun - the limit of what can be seen
skyline /ˈskaɪlaɪn/ B1	noun - the outline of buildings or mountains against the sky
depend /dɪˈpɛnd/ B1	verb - to rely on someone or something
hurt /hɜːrt/ A2	verb - to cause physical or emotional pain
sweet /swiːt/ A1	adjective - having the taste of sugar
brings /brɪŋz/ A1	verb - to carry or cause to come
chance /tʃɑːns/ A2	noun - an opportunity
picture /ˈpɪktʃər/ A1	noun - an image or representation

Key Grammar Structures

• We sit and watch umbrellas fly

  ➔ Present Simple Tense

  ➔ The verb 'sit' and 'watch' are in the present simple tense, indicating habitual or general actions.

• I hear myself say, 'My boat's leaving now'

  ➔ Present Simple Tense with Reported Speech

  ➔ The verb 'hear' is in the present simple, and 'say' is part of reported speech, maintaining the original tense.

• Now I must wait goodbye

  ➔ Modal Verb (Must)

  ➔ The modal verb 'must' expresses necessity or obligation.

• I don't want to cry again

  ➔ Present Simple with 'do' for emphasis

  ➔ The auxiliary verb 'do' is used for emphasis in the negative sentence.

• How can you say that I didn't try?

  ➔ Question with Modal Verb (Can) and Past Tense

  ➔ The modal verb 'can' is used in a question, and 'didn't try' is in the past tense.

• I've come to depend on the look in their eyes

  ➔ Present Perfect Tense

  ➔ The present perfect 'have come' indicates an action that started in the past and continues to the present.

• The wind and the rain brings back words of a song

  ➔ Subject-Verb Agreement with Compound Subject

  ➔ The compound subject 'the wind and the rain' takes a singular verb 'brings' because it acts as a single unit.

• On the front page, a black and white picture

  ➔ Prepositional Phrase and Article Usage

  ➔ The prepositional phrase 'on the front page' indicates location, and 'a' is used before a noun starting with a consonant sound.