Shiver – English Lyrics

• By: Natalie Imbruglia
• Album: Glorious - The Singles 1997 - 2007

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the emotive power of English through Natalie Imbruglia's hit "Shiver." The song's clear and heartfelt lyrics about the universal feelings of uncertainty in love make it a perfect piece for language learners to connect with complex emotions while appreciating its melodic pop-rock structure. It's a special song because it so vividly captures a feeling that is often hard to put into words.

[English]

I walk a mile with a smile

I don't know I don't care where I am

But I know it's all right

Jump the tracks, can't get back

I don't know anyone round here

But I'm safe this time

'Cause when you tell me, tell me, tell me

Stupid things like you do

Yes I have to, have to, have to

Change the rules, I can't lose

'Cause I shiver, I just break up

When I'm near you it all gets out of hand

Yes I shiver, I get bent up

There's no way back

I know you'll understand

We talk and talk, round it all

Who'd have thought we'd end up here

But I'm feeling fine

In a rush never trust, you'll be there

If I'd only stop and take my time

'Cause with you I'm running, running, running

Somewhere I can't get to

Yes I have to, have to, have to

Change the rules, I'm with you

'Cause I shiver, I just break up

When I'm near you it all gets out of hand

Yes I shiver, I get bent up

There's no way back

I know you'll understand

What if you get off at the next stop?

Would you just wave as I'm drifting off?

And if I never saw you again

Could I (could I) keep all (all of) of this (of this) inside?

'Cause I shiver, I just break up

When I'm near you it all gets out of hand

Yes I shiver (I'm running but my heart won't keep up)

I get bent up (This feeling that I'm feeling is too much)

There's no way back (There's nothing that can slow me down now)

I know you'll understand (I'm running but I'll catch you somehow)

I shiver (I'm running but my heart won't keep up)

(This feeling that I'm feeling is too much)

I shiver (There's nothing that can slow me down now)

(I'm running but I'll catch you somehow)

Yes I shiver, I just break up

When I'm near you it all gets out of hand

Yes I shiver, I get bent up

There's no way back

I know you'll understand

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
shiver /ˈʃɪvər/ A2	verb - to tremble or shake, often from cold, fear, or emotion
run /rʌn/ A1	verb - to move quickly on foot
break /breɪk/ A2	verb - to separate into pieces suddenly or forcibly
near /nɪr/ A1	adjective - close in distance
rush /rʌʃ/ A2	verb - to move or act with great haste
trust /trʌst/ A2	verb - to believe in the reliability or goodness of someone or something
change /tʃeɪndʒ/ A1	verb - to make or become different
understand /ˌʌndərˈstænd/ A2	verb - to comprehend or grasp the meaning of something
drift /drɪft/ B1	verb - to move slowly, especially in a current of air or water
wave /weɪv/ A1	verb - to move one's hand to say hello or goodbye
bent /bɛnt/ B1	adjective - curved or inclined
feeling /ˈfiːlɪŋ/ A2	noun - an emotional state or reaction
slow /sloʊ/ A1	adjective - not fast or quick
catch /kætʃ/ A1	verb - to grasp or capture something
somehow /ˈsʌmhaʊ/ A2	adverb - in an unspecified way

Key Grammar Structures

• I walk a mile with a smile

  ➔ Present Simple for habitual actions

  ➔ Uses "walk" in present simple tense to describe recurring actions or states

• I don't know I don't care where I am

  ➔ Negative contractions + embedded question

  ➔ "don't" (do not) shows negation; "where I am" functions as noun clause without question word order

• When I'm near you it all gets out of hand

  ➔ Time clause + phrasal verb

  ➔ "When" introduces time clause; phrasal verb "gets out of hand" means becomes uncontrollable

• There's no way back

  ➔ Existential 'there' + negative quantifier

  ➔ "There's" indicates existence; "no way" expresses complete negation of possibility

• Who'd have thought we'd end up here

  ➔ Modal contraction in rhetorical question

  ➔ "Who'd" (who would) and "we'd" (we would) show hypothetical past; rhetorical question implies surprise

• If I'd only stop and take my time

  ➔ Unreal conditional + phrasal verb

  ➔ "If I'd" (if I would) introduces unreal condition; "take my time" means proceed slowly

• Could I keep all of this inside?

  ➔ Modal verb for possibility + prepositional phrase

  ➔ "Could" expresses hypothetical ability; "inside" functions as adverb with implied emotional meaning

• I'm running but my heart won't keep up

  ➔ Present continuous + negative volition

  ➔ "I'm running" shows ongoing action; "won't" (will not) indicates refusal or inability