My Old Friend
Lyrics:
[English]
My old friend, I recall
The times we had hanging on my wall
I wouldn't trade them for gold
Cause they laugh and they cry me
Somehow sanctify me
They're woven in the stories I have told
And tell again
My old friend, I apologize
For the years that have passed
Since the last time you and I
Dusted off those memories
But the running and the races
The people and the places
There's always somewhere else I had to be
Time gets thin, my old friend
Don't know why, don't know why
Don't know why, don't know why
My old friend, this song's for you
Cause a few simple verses
Was the least that I could do
To tell the world that you were here
Cause the love and the laughter
Will live on long after
All of the sadness and the tears
We'll meet again, my old friend
Goodbye, goodbye
Goodbye, goodbye
My old friend, my old friend
Goodbye, goodbye
...
Vocabulary in this song:
Vocabulary | Meanings |
---|---|
friend /frɛnd/ A1 |
|
recall /rɪˈkɔːl/ B2 |
|
times /taɪmz/ A1 |
|
wall /wɔːl/ A1 |
|
gold /ɡoʊld/ A1 |
|
laugh /læf/ A1 |
|
cry /kraɪ/ A1 |
|
stories /ˈstɔːriz/ A1 |
|
apologize /əˈpɒlədʒaɪz/ B2 |
|
years /jɪərz/ A1 |
|
passed /pæst/ A2 |
|
memories /ˈmɛməriz/ B1 |
|
running /ˈrʌnɪŋ/ A2 |
|
races /ˈreɪsɪz/ A2 |
|
places /ˈpleɪsɪz/ A1 |
|
verses /ˈvɜːrsɪz/ B1 |
|
world /wɜːrld/ A1 |
|
love /lʌv/ A1 |
|
laughter /ˈlæftər/ B1 |
|
sadness /ˈsædnəs/ B1 |
|
tears /tɪərz/ A1 |
|
Grammar:
-
My old friend, I recall the times we had hanging on my wall
➔ Relative Clause (Reduced)
➔ The phrase "hanging on my wall" is a reduced relative clause modifying "the times." The full clause would be "the times *that were* hanging on my wall." Reducing the clause omits the relative pronoun and the auxiliary verb.
-
Cause they laugh and they cry me
➔ Unusual Word Order (Object + Verb + Subject)
➔ The standard word order would be "they laugh *at* me and they cry *for* me." The object pronoun "me" is placed between the verb and the subject, creating a more poetic and emphatic effect. This inversion emphasizes the impact of the memories on the speaker.
-
Somehow sanctify me
➔ Transitive Verb Usage
➔ The verb "sanctify" is used as a transitive verb, meaning it takes a direct object. Here, "me" is the direct object. "Sanctify" means to make something holy or pure. The memories are described as having a purifying or ennobling effect on the speaker.
-
There's always somewhere else I had to be
➔ Past Perfect Modal (had to be)
➔ "Had to be" expresses a past obligation or necessity. The use of the past perfect form emphasizes that this obligation existed in the past and is now being reflected upon. It suggests the speaker felt compelled to prioritize other things over spending time with their friend.
-
Cause a few simple verses was the least that I could do
➔ Inversion with "the least"
➔ The sentence is inverted for emphasis. The more typical order would be "A few simple verses was the least thing that I could do". By placing "the least that I could do" at the end of the sentence, it becomes more prominent and highlights the speaker's feeling that this song is a small gesture.