Mrs. Robinson – English Lyrics

• By: Simon & Garfunkel

Lyrics & Translation

Immerse yourself in the timeless folk-rock classic "Mrs. Robinson" by Simon & Garfunkel! This iconic song, deeply woven into pop culture through its connection to "The Graduate" film, offers a rich linguistic experience with its poetic lyrics and evocative imagery. From its memorable chorus to its thought-provoking references to American heroes, the song provides a unique window into 1960s American society and language. Understanding its context and meaning can significantly enhance your grasp of idiomatic expressions and cultural nuances in English, making it a perfect piece for language learners to explore.

[English]

De, de, de-de, de-de, de-de, de-de, de, de-de

Do, do, do-do, do-do, do-do, do

De-de, de-de, de, de, de-de, de, de, de-de, de

...

And here's to you, Mrs. Robinson

Jesus loves you more than you will know

Woah, woah, woah

God bless you, please, Mrs. Robinson

Heaven holds a place for those who pray

Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey

...

We'd like to know a little bit about you for our files

We'd like to help you learn to help yourself

Look around you, all you see are sympathetic eyes

Stroll around the grounds until you feel at home

And here's to you, Mrs. Robinson

Jesus loves you more than you will know

Woah, woah, woah

God bless you, please, Mrs. Robinson

Heaven holds a place for those who pray

Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey

...

Hide it in a hiding place where no one ever goes

Put it in your pantry with your cupcakes

It's a little secret, just the Robinson's affair

Most of all, you've got to hide it from the kids

Coo-coo ca-choo, Mrs. Robinson

Jesus loves you more than you will know

Woah, woah, woah

God bless you, please, Mrs. Robinson

Heaven holds a place for those who pray

Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey

...

Sitting on a sofa on a Sunday afternoon

...

Going to the candidates' debate

Laugh about it, shout about it

When you've got to choose

Every way you look at it, you lose

Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?

A nation turns its lonely eyes to you

Wooh, wooh, wooh

What's that you say, Mrs. Robinson?

Jolting Joe has left and gone away

Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
know /noʊ/ A2	verb - to be aware of something
love /lʌv/ A2	verb/noun - to feel deep affection; a strong feeling of affection
bless /blɛs/ B1	verb - to invoke divine favor upon
hold /hoʊld/ A2	verb - to have or keep in one's hand
pray /preɪ/ B2	verb - to speak to a deity with devotion
hide /haɪd/ A2	verb - to put or keep out of sight
go /ɡoʊ/ A1	verb - to move from one place to another
see /siː/ A1	verb - to perceive with the eyes
lose /luːz/ B1	verb - to be unable to find something or someone
come /kʌm/ A1	verb - to move toward or arrive at a place
want /wɑːnt/ A2	verb - to desire something
say /seɪ/ A1	verb - to utter words

Key Grammar Structures

• And here's to you, Mrs. Robinson

  ➔ Inversion (emphasis)

  ➔ The typical sentence structure would be 'Here is to you,' but the inversion 'here's to you' puts emphasis on the toast. This is a common idiom used when offering a toast or tribute.

• Jesus loves you more than you will know

  ➔ Comparison (Adverbial Clause)

  ➔ The phrase "more than you will know" is an adverbial clause of comparison, modifying the verb "loves." It indicates the extent to which Jesus loves the person addressed.

• We'd like to know a little bit about you for our files

  ➔ Conditional tense ('would' + infinitive) used politely

  ➔ 'We'd like' (We would like) is a polite form of expressing a wish or desire. It makes the request less direct and more courteous.

• Hide it in a hiding place where no one ever goes

  ➔ Relative Clause (defining)

  ➔ "where no one ever goes" is a defining relative clause modifying "a hiding place." It provides essential information to identify which specific hiding place is being referred to.

• Most of all, you've got to hide it from the kids

  ➔ Modal Verb "got to" (informal "have to")

  ➔ "Got to" is an informal way of saying "have to," expressing obligation or necessity. It's more common in spoken English.

• When you've got to choose

  ➔ Time Clause with Present Perfect ("have got to")

  ➔ "When you've got to choose" indicates a time clause using the present perfect construction of "have got to," emphasizing the obligation at the time of choosing.

• Every way you look at it, you lose

  ➔ Conditional clause using "every way"

  ➔ This sentence implies a conditional situation. "Every way you look at it" functions as the 'if' part of a conditional, suggesting that no matter the perspective, the outcome is negative.