Powerful – English Lyrics

• By: Major Lazer, Ellie Goulding, Tarrus Riley
• Album: Peace Is The Mission (Extended)

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the electrifying blend of EDM and dancehall with Major Lazer's "Powerful," featuring the unique voices of Ellie Goulding and Tarrus Riley. This track offers a rich linguistic experience through its emotive lyrics, allowing you to explore expressions of intense love and connection. The collaboration between a global electronic act and a reggae crooner makes this song a special and accessible entry point to understanding how English can convey deep feelings across diverse musical styles.

[English]

Oh, my, my, my, what you do to me?

Like lightning when I'm swimming in the sea

From the very first time we loved

From the very first time we touched

Walking on wires and power lines

You put your body on top of mine

Every time that you lift me up

To the heaven and stars above

Oh lord have mercy, I'm begging you, please

I'm feeling drained, I need love

You charge me up like electricity

Jumpstart my heart with your love

There's an energy when you hold me

When you touch me, it's so powerful

I can feel it when you hold me

When you touch me, it's so powerful

There's an energy when you hold me

When you touch me, it's so powerful

I can feel it when you hold me

When you touch me, it's so powerful

...

I couldn't leave even if I wanted to

'Cause something keeps pulling me back to you

From the very first time we loved

From the very first time we touched

The stroke of your fingers, the scent of you lingers

My mind running wild, the thoughts of your smile

Oh, you gotta give me some

And you could give it all, but it's never enough, no

...

There's an energy when you hold me

When you touch me, it's so powerful

I can feel it when you hold me

When you touch me, it's so powerful

...

I can feel it when you hold me

When you touch me, it's so powerful

There's an energy when you hold me

When you touch me, it's so powerful

I can feel it when you hold me

When you touch me, it's so powerful

I can feel it when you hold me

When you touch me, it's so powerful

Hold me in your arms

Burns like a fire, electricity

When you're close I feel the sparks

Takes me higher to infinity

...

Key Grammar Structures

• what you do to me?

  ➔ Wh‑question (subject‑verb‑object order)

  ➔ The clause uses the wh‑word “what” followed by the subject “you” and the verb “do”. The object is highlighted: "what **you do** to me?"

• I'm swimming in the sea

  ➔ Present continuous (be + V‑ing)

  ➔ The auxiliary "am" + "swimming" shows an ongoing action: "I **am swimming** in the sea".

• From the very first time we loved

  ➔ Simple past (regular verb)

  ➔ The verb “loved” is in the simple past to refer to a completed action: "we **loved**".

• Every time that you lift me up

  ➔ Adverbial clause of frequency with “every time that” + simple present

  ➔ The phrase “Every time that” introduces a regular condition; the verb “lift” stays in the simple present: "you **lift** me up".

• I'm begging you, please

  ➔ Present continuous for a polite request

  ➔ The verb “am begging” (be + ‑ing) softens the request: "I **am begging** you".

• There's an energy when you hold me

  ➔ Existential there + be + noun + when‑clause

  ➔ The dummy subject “there” introduces existence: "**There** is an energy" followed by a time clause "when you **hold** me".

• I couldn't leave even if I wanted to

  ➔ Past modal + conditional clause (second conditional)

  ➔ The modal “couldn’t” expresses inability in the past; the clause “even if I **wanted** to” is a past‑tense conditional.

• 'Cause something keeps pulling me back to you

  ➔ Present continuous with verb + object + gerund (keep + V‑ing)

  ➔ The verb “keeps” is followed by the gerund “pulling”, showing a repeated or ongoing action: "keeps **pulling** me".

• Oh, you gotta give me some

  ➔ Informal contraction “gotta” = have to (modal necessity)

  ➔ “gotta” is a colloquial reduction of “have to”: "you **gotta** give me some".

• When you're close I feel the sparks

  ➔ Simple present with subordinate time clause (when) + contraction

  ➔ The main clause is in the simple present “I **feel** the sparks”; the time clause uses the contraction “you're”: "When **you’re** close".