New Person, Same Old Mistakes – English Lyrics

• By: Tame Impala
• Album: The Slow Rush

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the dreamy soundscapes of Tame Impala to explore the English language through the lens of introspection and psychology. This song is perfect for learners wanting to understand how to express complex emotional contradictions and the nuances of personal change in English.

[English]

I can just hear them now

"How could you let us down?"

But they don't know what I found

Or see it from this way 'round

Feeling it overtake

All that I used to hate

One by one, every trait

I tried but it's way too late

All the signs I don't read

Two sides of me can't agree

Will I be in too deep?

Going with what I always longed for

Feel like a brand-new person

(But you'll make the same old mistakes)

Well, I don't care, I'm in love

(Stop before it's too late)

I know

Feel like a brand-new person

(But you'll make the same old mistakes)

I finally know what it's like (you don't have what it takes)

(Stop before it's too late)

(I know there's too much at stake)

(Making the same mistakes) and I still don't know why it's happening

(Stop while it's not too late) and I still don't know

Finally taking flight

I know you don't think it's right

I know that you think it's fake

Maybe fake's what I like

The point is, I have the right

Not thinking in black and white

Thinking it's worth the fight

Soon I'll be out of sight

Knowing it all this time

Going with what I always longed for

Feel like a brand-new person

(But you'll make the same old mistakes)

Well, I don't care, I'm in love

(Stop before it's too late)

Feel like a brand-new person

(But you'll make the same old mistakes)

So how do I know if it's right? (You don't have what it takes)

(Stop before it's too late)

Man, I know that it's hard to digest

But maybe your story ain't so different from the rest

And I know it seems wrong to accept

But you've got your demons, and she's got her regrets

Man, I know that it's hard to digest

A realization is as good as a guess

And I know it seems wrong to accept

But you've got your demons, and she's got her regrets

But you've got your demons, and she's got her regrets

Feel like a brand-new person

So, how will I know that it's right?

In a new direction

So, how will I know I've gone too far?

(Stop thinking that the only option was)

Feel like a brand-new person

I finally know what it's like

(Stop thinking that the only option was)

In a new direction

So how will I know I've gone too far?

(Stop thinking that the only option was)

And I know it's hard to describe

(Stop thinking that the only option was)

So how will I know that it's right?

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
mistake /mɪˈsteɪk/ A2	noun - an action or judgment that is misguided or wrong
overtake /ˌəʊvəˈteɪk/ B2	verb - to become greater in number or amount than; to catch up with and pass
trait /treɪt/ C1	noun - a distinguishing quality or characteristic
long /lɒŋ/ B2	verb - to have a strong wish or desire for something
stake /steɪk/ C1	noun - a sum of money or something of value that is risked in a situation
flight /flaɪt/ B1	noun - the action or process of flying
fake /feɪk/ B1	adjective - not genuine; counterfeit
digest /daɪˈdʒest/ B2	verb - to break down food in the stomach; to absorb and understand information
demon /ˈdiːmən/ B2	noun - an evil spirit; a person's inner struggles or flaws
regret /rɪˈɡret/ B1	noun - a feeling of sadness or repentance over something done or failed to be done
realization /ˌriːəlaɪˈzeɪʃən/ B2	noun - the achievement of something desired; an act of becoming aware of something
direction /daɪˈrekʃən/ A2	noun - the course along which someone or something moves
option /ˈɒpʃən/ B1	noun - a thing that is or may be chosen
describe /dɪˈskraɪb/ B1	verb - to give an account in words of someone or something

Key Grammar Structures

• But they don't know what I found

  ➔ Noun Clause as Object

  ➔ "what I found" functions as the object of the verb "know".

• I tried but it's way too late

  ➔ Intensifier with Adjective

  ➔ "way" is used informally as an intensifier for "too late".

• Going with what I always longed for

  ➔ Preposition Stranding in Relative Clause

  ➔ The preposition "for" is left stranded at the end because the object "what" is moved to the front.

• I finally know what it's like

  ➔ The Structure 'What it is like'

  ➔ This is a common idiomatic structure used to ask or state the nature or experience of something.

• Maybe fake's what I like

  ➔ Subject Complement with Noun Clause

  ➔ "what I like" acts as a subject complement following the linking verb "is" (shortened to 's).

• Thinking it's worth the fight

  ➔ Participle Clause

  ➔ "Thinking..." is a participle clause expressing a state or concurrent action.

• Maybe your story ain't so different from the rest

  ➔ Comparative Adjective Structure

  ➔ "different from" is the standard comparative structure used to show contrast.

• Stop thinking that the only option was

  ➔ Gerund as Object

  ➔ "thinking" is a gerund acting as the object of the imperative verb "Stop".