Promises – English Lyrics

• By: Take That

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a musical journey with Take That's "Promises," a vibrant dance-pop track that marked their breakthrough into the Top 40. By exploring the song's themes of empty promises and catchy synth-pop style, you can improve your English comprehension and learn how music reflects the struggles of interpersonal relationships.

[English]

作词 : Gary Barlow/Graham Stack

作曲 : Gary Barlow/Graham Stack

Standing back I can't believe how you've led me on

And judging by the things you say

There's gotta be something wrong

...

What you telling me that for you don't mean it

What you telling me that for I don't believe it

Your promises have never been anything you made them seem

So what you gonna promise me this time

You're telling lies so plain to see,

you're trying to make a fool of me

So what you gonna promise me this time

I wanna know

...

Seems that I've been playing your game

And how you think you've won

But when you count up what you've gained you're the lonely one

...

[01:29.33]What you telling me that for you don't mean it

[01:33.45]What you telling me that for I don't believe it

[01:54.30][01:37.42]Your promises have never been anything you made them seem

[01:58.52][01:41.62]So what you gonna promise me this time

[02:03.00][01:45.92]You're telling lies so plain to see,

[02:04.93][01:48.08]you're trying to make a fool of me

[02:06.80][01:49.99]So what you gonna promise me this time

I'll never know

[02:11.88]

Promises promises promises

...

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
promise /prəˈmɪs/ B1	noun - a commitment or assurance that something will happen or be done verb - to make a promise
believe /bɪˈliːv/ A2	verb - to have faith or trust in someone or something
wrong /rʌŋ/ A1	adjective - not correct or proper
mean /miːn/ A2	verb - to intend or express a particular meaning adjective - not genuine or sincere
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - a period or moment in which something happens
lying /laɪɪŋ/ A2	verb - to make a false statement
plain /pleɪn/ A1	adjective - simple and easy to understand
try /traɪ/ A2	verb - to make an effort to do something
fool /fuːl/ A1	noun - a person who is easily deceived or manipulated
count /kaʊnt/ A2	verb - to add up the number of items or amounts
gain /geɪn/ A2	noun - an advantage or benefit verb - to obtain or acquire
lonely /ˈlʌnli/ A2	adjective - feeling or showing sadness because you are alone
game /geɪm/ A1	noun - an activity or sport played for enjoyment
won /wɒn/ A1	verb - to have gained or achieved something
seems /siːms/ A2	verb - to appear or seem to be true
playing /pleɪɪŋ/ A2	verb - to take part in an activity for enjoyment
think /θɪŋk/ A2	verb - to have an opinion or belief about something
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - a period or moment in which something happens

Key Grammar Structures

• Standing back I can't believe how you've led me on

  ➔ Present Perfect Tense

  ➔ The phrase 'you've led me on' uses the Present Perfect Tense ('have' + past participle) to describe an action that started in the past and has a result in the present.

• What you telling me that for you don't mean it

  ➔ Ellipsis (Omission of 'are')

  ➔ The phrase 'What you telling me...' omits the auxiliary verb 'are' in informal or colloquial speech, which is common in lyrics for rhythmic purposes.

• Your promises have never been anything you made them seem

  ➔ Present Perfect with 'never'

  ➔ The use of 'have never been' emphasizes that the promises were never genuine at any point in the past up to the present.

• So what you gonna promise me this time

  ➔ Going to Future (Colloquial)

  ➔ The phrase 'what you gonna promise' uses the colloquial form of 'going to' to express future intentions in a casual, conversational tone.

• You're telling lies so plain to see

  ➔ Present Continuous for Habit

  ➔ The phrase 'You're telling lies' uses the Present Continuous to indicate a habitual action, suggesting that lying is a recurring behavior.