Shelter – English Lyrics

• By: Birdy
• Album: Birdy

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the emotive power of Birdy's "Shelter," a song that beautifully illustrates the universal desire for comfort and safety in another's presence. Its clear, heartfelt lyrics and simple, elegant melody make it an excellent choice for those learning English through music. You can learn vocabulary related to feelings of vulnerability and protection, all while being moved by a truly captivating vocal performance.

[English]

I find shelter in this way

Undercover, hide-away

And can you hear?

When I say, "I have never felt this way"

Maybe I have said something that was wrong

Can I make it better?

With the lights turned down?

Maybe I have said something that was wrong

Can I make it better?

With the lights turned down?

Oh-oh-oh-oh-ooh

Oh-oh-oh-oh-ooh

Oh-oh-oh-oh-ooh

Ooh...

Can I be?

Well, was I there?

Felt so crystal in the air

I still want to drown, whenever you leave

Please teach me gently, how to breathe

And I'll cross oceans like never before

So you can feel, the way I feel it too

And I'll send images back at you

So you can see, the way I feel it too

Maybe I have said something that was wrong

Can I make it better?

With the lights turned down?

Maybe I have said something that was wrong

Can I make it better?

With the lights turned down?

Oh-oh-oh-oh-ooh

Oh-oh-oh-oh-ooh

Oh-oh-oh-oh-ooh

Ooh...

Oh-oh-oh-oh-ooh

Oh-oh-oh-oh-ooh

Oh-oh-oh-oh-ooh

Ooh...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
shelter /ˈʃɛltər/ B1	noun - a place giving protection from bad weather or danger verb - protect or shield from something harmful
hide-away /ˈhaɪdəˌweɪ/ B2	noun - a place where someone can hide or be private
hear /hɪər/ A1	verb - perceive with the ear the sound made by (someone or something)
feel /fiːl/ A1	verb - experience an emotion or sensation noun - an act of touching or sensing something; a sensation
wrong /rɒŋ/ (UK), /rɔːŋ/ (US) A1	adjective - not correct or true; incorrect noun - an unjust, dishonest, or immoral act
better /ˈbɛtər/ A1	adjective - more excellent or effective verb - to improve on or surpass
lights /laɪts/ A1	noun - a device producing illumination; illumination itself
turn /tɜːrn/ A1	verb - move in a circular direction wholly or partly around an axis or point; adjust a control noun - an act of turning or rotating; a change of direction
crystal /ˈkrɪstl/ B2	adjective - clear and transparent like crystal noun - a transparent mineral, especially quartz; a piece of this
air /ɛər/ A1	noun - the invisible gaseous substance surrounding the earth, a mixture mainly of oxygen and nitrogen
drown /draʊn/ B1	verb - die through submersion in and inhalation of water; be overwhelmed by something
leave /liːv/ A1	verb - go away from noun - authorized absence from duty or employment; permission to do something
teach /tiːtʃ/ A1	verb - impart knowledge to or instruct (someone) as to how to do something
breathe /briːð/ A2	verb - take air into the lungs and then expel it
cross /krɒs/ (UK), /krɔːs/ (US) A2	verb - go or extend across or to the other side of (an area, road, etc.) noun - a mark, object, or figure formed by two intersecting lines or pieces
oceans /ˈəʊʃənz/ A2	noun - a very large expanse of sea, in particular, each of the main areas into which the sea is divided geographically
images /ˈɪmɪdʒɪz/ B1	noun - a representation of the external form of a person or thing in art; a mental representation
see /siː/ A1	verb - perceive with the eyes; discern visually

Key Grammar Structures

• I find shelter in this way

  ➔ Adverbial Phrase of Manner

  ➔ The phrase "in this way" explains *how* the action of finding shelter is performed.

• When I say, "I have never felt this way"

  ➔ Present Perfect with 'never'

  ➔ The phrase "have never felt" is used to describe an experience that has not happened at any point up to the present.

• Maybe I have said something that was wrong

  ➔ Present Perfect + Relative Clause

  ➔ "Have said" indicates a past action with relevance to the present. "that was wrong" is a relative clause defining "something".

• With the lights turned down?

  ➔ Participial Phrase (Past Participle as Adjective/Adverbial Modifier)

  ➔ "turned down" is a past participle acting as an adjective modifying "lights" within a prepositional phrase, describing the condition.

• Felt so crystal in the air

  ➔ Predicative Adjective (used poetically/idiomatically)

  ➔ "crystal" is used as a predicative adjective after the linking verb "felt", describing the quality of the feeling, implying "crystal clear" or pure.

• I still want to drown, whenever you leave

  ➔ Temporal Clause with 'whenever'

  ➔ "whenever you leave" introduces a temporal clause, meaning "every time" or "at any time that" you leave.

• Please teach me gently, how to breathe

  ➔ Noun Clause (using 'how to + infinitive')

  ➔ "how to breathe" is a noun clause functioning as the object complement of "teach", indicating the skill or method.

• And I'll cross oceans like never before

  ➔ Future Simple (Intention/Promise) + Comparative Phrase

  ➔ "I'll cross" uses the future simple for a determined action or promise. "like never before" is a comparative phrase emphasizing the intensity.

• So you can feel, the way I feel it too

  ➔ Clause of Purpose (implied 'that') + Relative Clause of Manner

  ➔ "So (that) you can feel" expresses purpose. "the way I feel it too" is a relative clause specifying the manner, with "the way" acting like "how".