Slip Slidin' Away – English Lyrics

• By: Simon & Garfunkel
• Album: The Concert in Central Park

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the lyrical depth of Paul Simon's "Slip Slidin' Away," a song that masterfully uses everyday stories to explore profound human emotions. Its clear, evocative English lyrics make it an excellent choice for language learners, offering insights into idiomatic expressions and narrative songwriting. Discover how simple language can convey complex themes of time, change, and the pursuit of meaning, making this song not just a hit, but a timeless lesson in both language and life.

[English]

Slip slidin' away

Slip slidin' away

You know the nearer your destination

The more you're slip slidin' away

I know a man

He came from my hometown

He wore his passion for his woman like a thorny crown

He said, "Dolores

I live in fear

My love for you's so overpowering

I'm afraid that I will disappear"

Slip slidin' away

Slip slidin' away

You know the nearer your destination

The more you're slip slidin' away

I know a woman

Became a wife

These are the very words she uses to describe her life

She said, "A good day ain't got no rain"

She said, "A bad day's when I lie in bed

And think of things that might have been"

Slip slidin' away

Slip slidin' away

You know the nearer your destination

The more you're slip slidin' away

And I know a father who had a son

He longed to tell him all the reasons for the things he'd done

He came a long way just to explain

He kissed his boy as he lay sleeping

Then he turned around and he headed home again

Slip slidin' away

Slip slidin' away

You know the nearer your destination

The more you're slip slidin' away

God only knows

God makes His plan

The information's unavailable to the mortal man

We're workin' our jobs

Collect our pay

Believe we're glidin' down the highway

When in fact we're slip slidin' away

Slip slidin' away

Slip slidin' away

You know the nearer your destination

The more you're slip slidin' away

Slip slidin' away

Slip slidin' away

You know the nearer your destination

The more you're slip slidin' away

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
slip /slɪp/ A2	verb - to slide a short distance accidentally noun - an instance of sliding unintentionally
away /əˈweɪ/ A1	adverb - to or at a distance from a person or place
destination /ˌdestɪˈneɪʃn/ B1	noun - the place to which someone or something is going or being sent
man /mæn/ A1	noun - an adult male human
hometown /ˈhəʊmtaʊn/ B1	noun - the town or city where someone was born or grew up
passion /ˈpæʃn/ B2	noun - a strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement for something or about doing something
woman /ˈwʊmən/ A1	noun - an adult female human
wife /waɪf/ A2	noun - a married woman
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death.
day /deɪ/ A1	noun - a period of 24 hours as a unit of time
rain /reɪn/ A1	noun - water falling from the sky in drops
father /ˈfɑːðər/ A1	noun - a male parent
son /sʌn/ A1	noun - a male child
boy /bɔɪ/ A1	noun - a male child or young man
God /ɡɒd/ B1	noun - the creator and ruler of the universe and everything in it.
job /dʒɒb/ A1	noun - a task or piece of work, especially one that is paid
pay /peɪ/ A1	noun - money earned for work
highway /ˈhaɪweɪ/ B1	noun - a major road for public use, especially one connecting cities or towns

Key Grammar Structures

• You know the nearer your destination, the more you're slip slidin' away

  ➔ Comparative Correlative Structure

  ➔ The use of 'the... the...' construction emphasizes a proportional relationship between two clauses, here between proximity to a destination and the act of slipping away.

• He wore his passion for his woman like a thorny crown

  ➔ Simile

  ➔ The phrase 'like a thorny crown' compares the man's passion to a crown, highlighting its painful yet regal nature.

• I live in fear

  ➔ Present Simple for Permanent State

  ➔ The present simple tense is used to describe a permanent emotional state, in this case, fear.

• A good day ain't got no rain

  ➔ Double Negative (Informal)

  ➔ The use of 'ain't got no' is an informal double negative, emphasizing the absence of rain on a good day.

• God only knows

  ➔ Emphatic Structure

  ➔ The phrase 'God only knows' emphasizes the uncertainty and mystery of the situation, highlighting that only a higher power has the answer.