Skin (Sarabeth) – English Lyrics

• By: Rascal Flatts

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the heartfelt narrative of "Skin (Sarabeth)" by Rascal Flatts, a powerful country-pop song that beautifully tells a story of love and resilience. Through its clear storytelling and emotional lyrics, this song offers an accessible way to engage with English, making it perfect for learners to grasp vocabulary related to emotions, relationships, and overcoming adversity, all while experiencing a truly moving musical piece.

[English]

♪ Sarabeth is scared to death ♪

♪ To hear what the doctor will say ♪

♪ She hasn't been well ♪

♪ Since the day that she fell ♪

♪ And the bruise, it just won't go away ♪

♪ So she sits and she waits with her mother and dad ♪

♪ And flips through an old magazine ♪

♪ 'Till the nurse with the smile stands at the door ♪

♪ And says will you please come with me ♪

♪ Sarabeth is scared to death ♪

♪ 'Cause the doctor just told her the news ♪

♪ Between the red cells and white, something's not right ♪

♪ But we're gonna take care of you ♪

♪ Six chances in ten it won't come back again ♪

♪ With the therapy we're gonna try ♪

♪ It's just been approved, it's the strongest there is ♪

♪ I think we caught it in time ♪

♪ And Sarabeth closes her eyes ♪

♪ And she dreams she's dancin' ♪

♪ Around and around without any cares ♪

♪ And her very first love is holding her close ♪

♪ And a soft wind is blowing her hair ♪

♪ Sarabeth is scared to death ♪

♪ As she sits holding her mom ♪

♪ 'Cause it would be a mistake for someone to take ♪

♪ A girl with no hair to the prom ♪

♪ For just this morning, right there on her pillow ♪

♪ Was the cruelest of any surprise ♪

♪ And she cried when she gathered it all in her hands ♪

♪ The proof that she couldn't deny ♪

♪ And Sarabeth closes her eyes ♪

♪ And she dreams she's dancin'♪

♪ Around and around without any cares ♪

♪ And her very first love was holding her close ♪

♪ And a soft wind is blowing her hair ♪

♪ It's quarter to seven, that boy's at the door ♪

♪ And her daddy ushers him in ♪

♪ And when he takes off his cap, they all start to cry ♪

♪ 'Cause this morning where his hair had been ♪

♪ Softly, she touches just skin ♪

♪ And they go dancin' ♪

♪ Around and around without any cares ♪

♪ And her very first true love was holding her close ♪

♪ And for a moment, she isn't scared ♪

(gentle music continues)

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
scared /skɛərd/ A1	adjective - afraid or frightened
doctor /ˈdɒktər/ A1	noun - a medical practitioner
bruise /bruːz/ A2	noun - an injury appearing as a purple mark on the skin
therapy /ˈθɛrəpi/ B1	noun - treatment intended to relieve or heal a disorder
approved /əˈpruːvd/ B1	adjective - officially agreed or accepted
dancin' /ˈdænsɪŋ/ A1	verb - to move rhythmically to music
cares /kɛərz/ A1	noun - worry or concern
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - deep affection
blowing /ˈbləʊɪŋ/ A2	verb - moving air with force
cruelest /ˈkruːəlɪst/ B2	adjective - extremely unkind or harsh
proof /pruːf/ A2	noun - evidence or argument establishing a fact
deny /dɪˈnaɪ/ A2	verb - refuse to accept or believe
ushers /ˈʌʃərz/ B1	noun - a person who shows people to their seats verb - to show or guide someone
softly /ˈsɒftli/ A2	adverb - in a gentle or quiet manner
skin /skɪn/ A1	noun - the outer covering of the body
moment /ˈmoʊmənt/ A2	noun - a very short period of time

Key Grammar Structures

• Sarabeth is scared to death

  ➔ Present continuous for emotional state, idiomatic expression

  ➔ The phrase 'scared to death' is an idiom meaning extremely frightened. The present continuous ('is scared') emphasizes the ongoing nature of her fear.

• Six chances in ten it won't come back again

  ➔ Probability expressed with a fraction, conditional sentence (implied 'if')

  ➔ The phrase 'six chances in ten' is a colloquial way of saying 60% probability. The 'it' refers to the illness, and the sentence implies 'If the therapy is successful, it won't come back'.

• It would be a mistake for someone to take a girl with no hair to the prom

  ➔ Conditional sentence (second conditional - hypothetical situation), infinitive of purpose

  ➔ This is a hypothetical situation. 'It would be' indicates what *would* happen if someone did this. 'To take' is an infinitive of purpose, explaining *why* it would be a mistake.

• And her very first love was holding her close

  ➔ Past continuous for background action, emphasis with 'very first'

  ➔ The past continuous ('was holding') describes an action in progress at a specific time. 'Very first' emphasizes the significance of this love.