Skyscraper – English Lyrics

• By: Demi Lovato
• Album: Dancing With The Devil... The Art Of Starting Over

Lyrics & Translation

“Skyscraper” offers an incredibly raw and inspiring journey through vulnerability and strength. Delve into its poignant lyrics and powerful vocals to not only appreciate Demi Lovato's artistry but also to grasp the emotional depth of the English language. This song is a testament to overcoming hardship, making it a truly special and relatable piece for anyone looking to connect with English through music.

[English]

(wind blowing)

(piano plays gentle melody)

♪ ♪

♪ Skies are crying ♪

♪ I am watching ♪

♪ Catching teardrops in my hands ♪

♪ Only silence ♪

♪ As it's ending ♪

♪ Like we never had a chance ♪

♪ Do you have to make me feel like ♪

♪ There's nothing left of me? ♪

♪ You can take everything I have ♪

♪ You can break everything I am ♪

♪ Like I'm made of glass ♪

♪ Like I'm made of paper ♪

♪ Go on and try to tear me down ♪

♪ I will be rising from the ground ♪

♪ Like a skyscraper ♪

♪ Like a skyscraper ♪

♪ As the smoke clears ♪

♪ I awaken ♪

♪ And untangle you from me ♪

♪ Would it make you feel better ♪

♪ To watch me while I bleed? ♪

♪ All my windows still are broken ♪

♪ But I'm standing on my feet ♪

♪ You can take everything I have ♪

♪ You can break everything I am ♪

♪ Like I'm made of glass ♪

♪ Like I'm made of paper ♪

♪ And go on and try to tear me down ♪

♪ I will be rising from the ground ♪

♪ Like a skyscraper ♪

♪ Like a skyscraper ♪

♪ Go run, run, run ♪

♪ I'm gonna stay right here ♪

♪ Watch you disappear, yeah ♪

♪ Go run, run, run ♪

♪ Yeah, it's a long way down ♪

♪ Oh, oh ♪

♪ But I am closer to the clouds up here ♪

♪ You can take everything I have ♪

♪ Hah, hah ♪

♪ Hah, hah ♪

♪ You can break ♪

♪ Everything I am ♪

♪ Hah, hah, hah, hah ♪

♪ Like I'm made of glass ♪

♪ Hah, hah, hah, hah ♪

♪ Like I'm made of paper, oh, oh ♪

♪ Go on and try to tear me down ♪

♪ I will be rising from the ground ♪

♪ Like a skyscraper ♪

♪ Like a skyscraper... ♪

♪ Like a skyscraper ♪

♪ Like a skyscraper ♪

♪ Like a skyscraper. ♪

(piano playing)

(wind blowing)

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
skyscraper /ˈskaɪskreɪpər/ B2	noun - a very tall building
cry /kraɪ/ A1	verb - to shed tears, typically as an expression of distress, pain, or sorrow
teardrop /ˈtɪərdrɒp/ B1	noun - a single drop of liquid that comes from the eye, especially when crying
silence /ˈsaɪləns/ A2	noun - complete absence of sound
chance /tʃɑːns/ A2	noun - a possibility of something happening; an opportunity
left /left/ A1	adjective - remaining; not used or taken away
break /breɪk/ A1	verb - to separate into pieces as a result of a blow, shock, or strain
glass /ɡlɑːs/ A1	noun - a hard, brittle substance, typically transparent, used for windows, bottles, etc.
paper /ˈpeɪpər/ A1	noun - material manufactured in thin sheets from the pulp of wood or other fibrous substances, used for writing, drawing, or printing on
tear /teər/ B1	verb - to pull or rip something apart or into pieces (often used in the phrasal verb 'tear down' meaning to dismantle or destroy)
rise /raɪz/ A2	verb - to move from a lower position to a higher one; go up
ground /ɡraʊnd/ A1	noun - the solid surface of the earth
awaken /əˈweɪkən/ B2	verb - to wake up from sleep; to become aware of something
untangle /ʌnˈtæŋɡl/ B2	verb - to free from tangles or complications; to separate things that are twisted together
bleed /bliːd/ B1	verb - to lose blood from the body, typically from an injury
broken /ˈbrəʊkən/ A1	adjective - (of an object) separated into pieces or parts as a result of a blow, shock, or strain; no longer in working order
stand /stænd/ A1	verb - to be in an upright position on one's feet
run /rʌn/ A1	verb - to move quickly on foot, typically at a speed faster than walking
disappear /ˌdɪsəˈpɪər/ A2	verb - to cease to be visible; vanish
cloud /klaʊd/ A1	noun - a visible mass of condensed water vapor floating in the atmosphere, typically high above the general level of the ground

Key Grammar Structures

• ♪ Like we never had a chance ♪

  ➔ "Like" as a Conjunction (meaning "as if")

  ➔ Here, "like" functions as a conjunction, introducing a clause that describes a hypothetical or unreal situation, similar to "as if". The speaker feels as if they never had an opportunity.

• ♪ Do you have to make me feel like ♪

  ➔ Causative Verb: "make" + object + base form of verb

  ➔ The causative verb "make" is used to express that someone causes another person to do or feel something. The structure is "make" + object + base form of the verb (without "to"). Here, someone is causing the speaker to "feel" a certain way.

• ♪ Like I'm made of glass ♪

  ➔ Passive Voice: "be made of"

  ➔ This is an example of the passive voice, specifically using "be made of" to describe the material or composition of something. The speaker metaphorically states they feel as fragile as if their body or being were "made of glass."

• ♪ You can take everything I have ♪

  ➔ Reduced Relative Clause (omitted "that")

  ➔ This line contains a reduced relative clause. The word "that" (or "which") is implicitly understood after "everything" (i.e., "everything that I have"). This omission is common in informal English when the relative pronoun is the object of the clause.

• ♪ Go on and try to tear me down ♪

  ➔ Phrasal Verbs (separable): "go on" and "tear down"

  ➔ "Go on" means to continue or proceed. "Tear down" is a separable phrasal verb meaning to destroy or dismantle, often used metaphorically for emotional destruction. The object ("me") is placed between "tear" and "down".

• ♪ I will be rising from the ground ♪

  ➔ Future Continuous Tense

  ➔ The future continuous tense (will be + -ing verb) is used to describe an action that will be ongoing at a specific time in the future. Here, it emphasizes the continuous and determined nature of the speaker's recovery and ascent.

• ♪ As the smoke clears ♪

  ➔ "As" as a Time Conjunction (meaning "when" or "while")

  ➔ Here, "as" functions as a time conjunction, indicating that two actions happen simultaneously or one after the other in close succession. It means "when the smoke clears" or "while the smoke is clearing."

• ♪ Catching teardrops in my hands ♪

  ➔ Present Participle Phrase (Adverbial)

  ➔ This is a present participle phrase acting as an adverbial, describing an action that happens concurrently with the main verb (implied from "I am watching"). It adds detail to what the speaker is doing or experiencing.

• ♪ There's nothing left of me? ♪

  ➔ "There is/are" construction with "nothing left of"

  ➔ The "there is/are" construction is used to indicate the existence of something. "Nothing left of" is an idiomatic phrase meaning that something has been completely used up, destroyed, or taken away, leaving no part remaining. It expresses a feeling of utter depletion.