My Life – English Lyrics

• By: Billy Joel
• Album: 52nd Street

Lyrics & Translation

Want to express your independence in English? Billy Joel's iconic "My Life" is an ideal song for language learners, offering a clear and relatable narrative about self-determination. Its conversational lyrics and catchy, piano-driven pop-rock style make it easy to follow and sing along to, helping you grasp everyday English phrases related to personal choice and setting boundaries. Dive into this anthem to explore powerful expressions of individuality and enrich your English vocabulary with a classic that continues to inspire.

[English]

(traffic rumbling)

(gentle music)

(upbeat music)

(upbeat music intensifies)

(train rumbling)

(lively music)

♪ Got a call from an old friend ♪

♪ We used to be real close ♪

♪ Said he couldn't go on the American way ♪

♪ Closed the shop, sold a house ♪

♪ Bought a ticket to the west coast ♪

♪ Now he gives them a stand-up routine in LA ♪

(lively music continues)

♪ I don't need you to worry for me 'cause I'm alright ♪

♪ I don't want you to tell me it's time to come home ♪

♪ I don't care what you say anymore, this is my life ♪

♪ Go ahead with your own life, leave me alone ♪

♪ I never said you had to offer me a second chance ♪

♪ I never said you had to ♪

♪ I never said I was a victim of circumstance ♪

♪ I never said ♪

♪ I still belong ♪

♪ Still belong ♪

♪ Don't get me wrong ♪ ♪ Don't get me wrong ♪

♪ You can speak your mind ♪

♪ But not on my time ♪

♪ They will tell you you can't sleep alone ♪

♪ In a strange place ♪

♪ Then they'll tell you you can't sleep with somebody else ♪

♪ Oh, but sooner or later you sleep in your own space ♪

♪ Either way it's okay, you wake up with yourself ♪

(lively music continues)

♪ I don't need you to worry for me 'cause I'm alright ♪

♪ I don't want you to tell me it's time to come home ♪

♪ I don't care what you say anymore, this is my life ♪

♪ Go ahead with your own life, leave me alone ♪

♪ I never said you had to offer me a second chance ♪

♪ I never said you had to ♪

♪ I never said I was a victim of circumstance ♪

♪ Of circumstance ♪

♪ I still belong ♪ ♪ I still belong ♪

♪ Don't get me wrong ♪ ♪ Don't get me wrong ♪

♪ You can speak your mind, but not on my time ♪

(lively music continues)

♪ I don't care what you say anymore, this is my life ♪

♪ Go ahead with your own life, leave me alone ♪

♪ Keep it to yourself, it's my life ♪

(lively music continues)

♪ Keep it to yourself, it's my life ♪

♪ Ooh ♪

♪ Keep it to yourself, it's my life ♪

♪ Keep it to yourself, it's my life ♪

(lively music continues)

♪ Keep it to yourself, it's my life ♪

Key Grammar Structures

• We used to be real close

  ➔ used to + infinitive (past habit)

  ➔ The phrase "used to" expresses a habit or state that was true in the past but no longer is.

• I don't need you to worry for me 'cause I'm alright

  ➔ need + object + to‑infinitive

  ➔ "need" is followed by an object ("you") and the "to‑infinitive" ("to worry").

• I don't want you to tell me it's time to come home

  ➔ want + object + to‑infinitive

  ➔ "want" takes an object ("you") and a "to‑infinitive" clause ("to tell me").

• I don't care what you say anymore, this is my life

  ➔ don't care + wh‑clause

  ➔ "don't care" is followed by a "wh‑clause" ("what you say").

• Go ahead with your own life, leave me alone

  ➔ imperative sentence

  ➔ Both "Go ahead" and "leave me alone" are commands; the verb appears in its base form.

• I never said you had to offer me a second chance

  ➔ past simple + had to + infinitive (reported necessity)

  ➔ "had to" is the past form of "have to" expressing obligation; it follows the reporting verb "said".

• They will tell you you can't sleep alone

  ➔ future simple + modal verb (will + tell) and negative modal (can't)

  ➔ "will" forms the simple future "will tell"; "can't" is the negative form of "can" expressing inability.

• I still belong

  ➔ present simple (stative verb)

  ➔ "belong" is a stative verb used in the present simple to express a lasting condition.

• Keep it to yourself, it's my life

  ➔ imperative + pronoun object

  ➔ "Keep" is an imperative verb; "it" functions as the pronoun object of the verb.