Not Strong Enough – English Lyrics

• By: Apocalyptica, Doug Robb
• Album: 7th Symphony

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the poignant lyrics and powerful music of "Not Strong Enough" by Apocalyptica. This song offers a unique blend of classical instrumentation and rock emotion, ideal for ESL learners interested in exploring themes of love, inner conflict, and the challenges of difficult relationships through music.

[English]

I'm not strong enough to stay away

I can't run from you

I just run back to you

Like a moth, I'm drawn into your flame

You say my name

But it's not the same

You look in my eyes

I'm stripped of my pride

And my soul surrenders

And you bring my heart to its knees

And it's killing me when you're away

And I wanna leave, and I wanna stay

And I'm so confused, so hard to choose

Between the pleasure and the pain

And I know it's wrong, and I know it's right

Even if I try to win the fight

My heart would overrule my mind

And I'm not strong enough to stay away

...

I'm not strong enough to stay away

What can I do?

I would die without you

In your presence my heart knows no shame

I'm not to blame (I'm not to blame)

'Cause you bring my heart to its knees

And it's killing me when you're away

And I wanna leave, and I wanna stay

And I'm so confused, so hard to choose

Between the pleasure and the pain

And I know it's wrong, and I know it's right

Even if I try to win the fight

My heart would overrule my mind

And I'm not strong enough to stay away

...

There's nothing I can do

My heart is chained to you

And I can't get free

Look what this love's done to me

And it's killing me when you're away

And I wanna leave, and I wanna stay

And I'm so confused, so hard to choose

Between the pleasure and the pain

And I know it's wrong, and I know it's right

Even if I try to win the fight

My heart would overrule my mind

And I'm not strong enough to stay away (not strong enough, strong enough)

...

(Not strong enough, strong enough)

I'm not strong enough stay away (not strong enough, strong enough)

(Not strong enough, strong enough)

I'm not strong enough to stay away

...

Key Grammar Structures

• I'm not strong enough to stay away

  ➔ Adjective + "enough" + to-infinitive

  ➔ The adjective "strong" is modified by "enough", and the infinitive "to stay" indicates purpose or result. This structure indicates a capability or lack thereof.

• I can't run from you

  ➔ Modal verb "can't" + base form of the verb

  ➔ The modal verb "can't" (cannot) indicates inability. The base form of the verb "run" is used following the modal verb.

• Like a moth, I'm drawn into your flame

  ➔ Simile (using "like")

  ➔ The sentence uses "like" to draw a comparison between the speaker and a moth, indicating attraction and inevitability.

• And it's killing me when you're away

  ➔ Present continuous tense + conjunction "when"

  ➔ The present continuous "is killing" describes an ongoing action. The conjunction "when" introduces a time clause, indicating the condition under which the action occurs.

• And I wanna leave, and I wanna stay

  ➔ Contraction ("wanna") + parallel structure

  ➔ Uses the contraction "wanna" (want to) and employs parallel structure (leave and stay) to emphasize conflicting desires.

• And I'm so confused, so hard to choose

  ➔ Intensifier "so" + Adjective + "to-infinitive"

  ➔ The intensifier "so" emphasizes the degree of confusion. "So hard" describes the difficulty. The infinitive "to choose" indicates the action.

• My heart would overrule my mind

  ➔ Modal verb "would" + conditional clause

  ➔ "Would" is used to express a hypothetical or conditional situation, emphasizing the expected outcome, the heart dominating the mind.

• There's nothing I can do

  ➔ Existential "There is/are" + Pronoun + Modal Verb + Base Form

  ➔ This sentence uses the existential "there is" to introduce a statement about the lack of any action. The modal verb "can" and its base form "do" further emphasize inability.

• My heart is chained to you

  ➔ Passive Voice + Prepositional Phrase

  ➔ The passive voice "is chained" indicates that the subject (heart) is receiving the action, and the prepositional phrase "to you" indicates the relationship.