Shake It Out – English Lyrics

• By: Florence + The Machine
• Album: Ceremonials

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a powerful tool, and "Shake It Out" by Florence + The Machine offers a rich lyrical landscape for English learners. The song uses vivid metaphors and poetic language to explore themes of regret and renewal, providing a great opportunity to understand figurative language. Its powerful, clear vocals and anthemic chorus make it both an emotional and educational listening experience.

[English]

Regrets collect like old friends

Here to relive your darkest moments

I can see no way, I can see no way

And all of the ghouls come out to play

Every demon wants his pound of flesh

I like to keep some things to myself

I like to keep my issues drawn

It's always darkest before the dawn

And I've been a fool, and I've been blind

I can never leave the past behind

I can see no way, I can see no way

I'm always dragging that horse around

All of his questions, such a mournful sound

Tonight, I'm gonna bury that horse in the ground

'Cause I like to keep my issues drawn

It's always darkest before the dawn

Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out (oh-woah)

Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out (oh-woah)

And it's hard to dance with a devil on your back

So shake it off, oh-woah

And I am done with my graceless heart

So, tonight I'm gonna cut it out and then restart

'Cause I like to keep my issues drawn

It's always darkest before the dawn

Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out (oh-woah)

Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out (oh-woah)

And it's hard to dance with a devil on your back

So shake it off, oh-woah

And it's hard to dance with a devil on your back

And given half the chance, would I take any of it back?

It's a fine romance, but it's left me so undone

It's always darkest before the dawn

...

And I'm damned if I do, and I'm damned if I don't

So, here's to drinks in the dark at the end of my road

And I'm ready to suffer, and I'm ready to hope

It's a shot in the dark, aimed right at my throat

'Cause looking for heaven, found a devil in me

Looking for heaven, found a devil in me

But what the hell?

I'm gonna let it happen to me, yeah

Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out (oh-woah)

Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out (oh, what the hell?)

And it's hard to dance with a devil on your back

So shake it off, oh-woah

Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out (oh-woah)

Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out (oh-woah)

And it's hard to dance with a devil on your back

So shake it off, oh-woah

Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out (oh-woah)

Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out (oh-woah)

And it's hard to dance with a devil on your back

So shake him off, oh-woah

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
regret /rɪˈɡrɛt/ B2	noun - a feeling of sadness or disappointment about something that has happened or been done verb - to feel sad or disappointed about something
dark /dɑrk/ A2	adjective - having little or no light
dance /dæns/ A1	verb - to move your body in a way that goes with the music
devil /ˈdɛvəl/ B1	noun - a supernatural being often associated with evil
hope /hoʊp/ A2	noun - a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen
ground /ɡraʊnd/ A1	noun - the solid surface of the earth
flesh /flɛʃ/ B2	noun - the soft substance consisting of muscle and fat that is found between the skin and bones
issue /ˈɪʃuː/ B1	noun - an important topic or problem for debate or discussion
shake /ʃeɪk/ A2	verb - to move something quickly up and down or from side to side
fool /fuːl/ B1	noun - a person who acts unwisely or imprudently
chance /tʃæns/ B1	noun - a possibility of something happening
road /roʊd/ A1	noun - a wide way leading from one place to another
heart /hɑrt/ A2	noun - the organ in your chest that sends the blood around your body

Key Grammar Structures

• Regrets collect like old friends

  ➔ Simile - 'like' is used to compare two things.

  ➔ 'like' indicates that one thing resembles or is similar to another.

• I can see no way, I can see no way

  ➔ Modal verb 'can' + base verb 'see' to express ability or possibility.

  ➔ 'can' expresses ability or potential to perform the action.

• It's always darkest before the dawn

  ➔ Superlative adjective 'darkest' with 'always' to emphasize an ongoing state.

  ➔ 'darkest' is the superlative form of 'dark', showing the highest degree.

• And all of the ghouls come out to play

  ➔ Phrasal verb 'come out' indicating emergence or appearing.

  ➔ 'come out' indicates that something appears or becomes visible.

• So shake it off, oh-woah

  ➔ Imperative verb phrase 'shake it off' meaning to dismiss or recover.

  ➔ 'shake it off' is a command to remove negative feelings or to recover.

• And it's hard to dance with a devil on your back

  ➔ Prepositional phrase 'with a devil on your back' indicating a burden or obstacle.

  ➔ This phrase signifies having a persistent problem or burden that makes activity difficult.

• And given half the chance, would I take any of it back?

  ➔ Conditional clause 'given half the chance' using 'given' to introduce a hypothetical situation.

  ➔ 'given' introduces a hypothetical situation or condition.