Shiny New Things – English Lyrics

• By: Em Beihold
• Album: Tales of a Failed Shapeshifter

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into Em Beihold's 'Shiny New Things' to explore contemporary English expressions of frustration and social critique. This catchy pop song offers relatable insights into modern societal values, making it an engaging way to learn about nuanced emotional vocabulary and current cultural commentary in English.

[English]

Are your eyes broken? Cuz you [singing]

can't look at me when you're [music]

talking.

Are we staring over my shoulder? Did

someone [music] better just walk in? Do

you want to trade up this [singing]

conversation? You've been working the

[music] room like the United Nations.

And I hold back on my frustration cuz

that's [music] the way it is.

Don't want to be a cynic, but anyway you

spin it. [music]

Everybody wants shiny new things. Nobody

wants a connection. [music]

Everybody wants shiny new [singing]

things. And then they're on to the next

[music] one. Everybody wants shiny new

things. Go back up your intentions.

Everybody want shiny new things.

Shiny shiny new things.

>> [music]

>> I don't put myself above it, but don't

let it [music] control me. Cuz when

gold's your only [singing]

motive, it can get real lonely.

Don't want to be a cynic, but [music]

anyway, you spin it.

Everybody wants shiny new things. Nobody

wants a connection.

Everybody wants shiny [music] new

things. And then they're on to the next

one. Everybody want shiny new things. Go

back to your intentions.

Everybody want shiny new

[music and singing] things.

Shiny shiny new things.

[music] Heat.

[music]

Heat.

[singing]

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
broken ˈbroʊkən A2	adjective - not functioning properly; damaged
staring ˈstɛərɪŋ A1	verb - to look fixedly or vacantly
shoulder ˈʃoʊldər A1	noun - the part of the body between the neck and the arm
conversation ˌkɑːn.vərˈseɪ.ʃən A1	noun - a talk between two or more people
working ˈwɜːrkɪŋ A1	verb - to be engaged in physical or mental effort
frustration frʌˈstreɪʃən B1	noun - a feeling of dissatisfaction or annoyance
cynic ˈsɪnɪk B2	noun - a person who believes that people are motivated purely by self-interest
spin spɪn A2	verb - to rotate or cause to rotate
shiny ˈʃaɪni A1	adjective - bright or glossy in appearance
connection kəˈnɛkʃən A2	noun - a relationship or link between people or things
motive ˈmoʊtɪv B1	noun - a reason for doing something
lonely ˈloʊnli A2	adjective - sad because one has no friends or company
intend ɪnˈtɛnd B1	verb - to have a plan in one's mind to do something
heat hit A1	noun - the quality of being hot

Key Grammar Structures

• Are your eyes broken?

  ➔ Present simple passive interrogative

  ➔ The verb "broken" is the past participle used in the passive voice: "Are your eyes **broken**?"

• Can't look at me when you're talking.

  ➔ Present continuous with a time clause (when)

  ➔ "Can't" is a modal + "look" in the present continuous; the clause "when you're **talking**" shows simultaneity.

• Do you want to trade up this conversation?

  ➔ Infinitive of purpose after a verb (want to)

  ➔ "want **to trade**" uses the infinitive "to trade" to show the intended action.

• You've been working the room like the United Nations.

  ➔ Present perfect continuous

  ➔ "You've **been working**" combines "have/has" + "been" + present participle to stress ongoing activity up to now.

• I hold back on my frustration cuz that's the way it is.

  ➔ Causal clause with "cuz" (informal "because")

  ➔ "cuz" = informal **because**, introducing the reason: "cuz **that's** the way it is".

• Don't want to be a cynic, but anyway you spin it.

  ➔ Infinitive after a negative verb phrase (don't want to)

  ➔ "Don't **want to**" uses the negative auxiliary "don't" + base verb "want" + infinitive "to be".

• Everybody wants shiny new things.

  ➔ Third‑person singular present simple with -s ending

  ➔ The verb **wants** adds -s because the subject "Everybody" is treated as third‑person singular.

• Go back up your intentions.

  ➔ Imperative sentence with phrasal verb "go back up"

  ➔ "Go" is the imperative; "back up" functions as a particle meaning "return to" – "Go **back up** your intentions".

• Cuz when gold's your only motive, it can get real lonely.

  ➔ Contraction "gold's" (gold is) + modal verb "can" + adjective phrase

  ➔ "gold's" = **gold is**; the modal **can** expresses ability/possibility: "it **can get** real lonely".