Slipping Away – English Lyrics

• By: Moby, Mylene Farmer

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a linguistic journey with "Slipping Away (Crier la vie)," a captivating duet by Moby and Mylène Farmer. This song offers a unique opportunity to explore both English and French lyrics intertwined within a compelling electro-pop melody. Its poignant message about the fleeting nature of life and the importance of human connections provides a rich cultural and emotional context, making it an ideal piece for language learners to delve into bilingual expression and philosophical depth.

[English]

All that we needed was right

...

The threshold is breaking tonight

...

Open to everything happy and sad

Seeing the good when it's all going bad

Seeing the sun when I can't really see

Hoping the sun will at least look at me

Focus on everything better today

All that I need and I never could say

Hold on to people they're slipping away

Hold on to this while it's slipping away

All that we needed tonight

...

Are people who love us and light

...

I know how it feels to mean it

Oh and we leave here, you'll see

...

Open to everything happy and sad

Seeing the good when it's all going bad

Seeing the sun when I can't really see

Hoping the sun will at least look at me

Focus on everything better today

All that I need and I never could say

Hold on to people they're slipping away

Hold on to this while it's slipping away

...

So long

So long

...

Open to everything happy and sad

Seeing the good when it's all going bad

Seeing the sun when I can't really see

Hoping the sun will at least look at me

Focus on everything better today

All that I need and I never could say

Hold on to people they're slipping away

...

Hold on to people they're slipping away

Hold on to people they're slipping away

Hold on to people they're slipping away

Hold on to people they're slipping away

Hold on to people they're slipping away

Hold on to people they're slipping away

Hold on to people they're slipping away

Hold on to people they're slipping away

Hold on to people they're slipping away

Hold on to people they're slipping away

Hold on to people they're slipping away

Hold on to people they're slipping away

Hold on to people they're slipping away

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
need /niːd/ A2	verb - to require something because it is essential or very important
see /siː/ A1	verb - to perceive with the eyes
hold /hoʊld/ A2	verb - to grasp or carry with one's hands
slip /slɪp/ B1	verb - to slide unintentionally
focus /ˈfoʊ.kəs/ B2	verb - to concentrate attention or effort
light /laɪt/ A2	noun - the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible
feel /fiːl/ A1	verb - to experience an emotion or a physical sensation
good /ɡʊd/ A1	adjective - to be desired or approved of
bad /bæd/ A1	adjective - not good in any manner or degree
everything /ˈɛv.ri.θɪŋ/ A2	pronoun - all things; all the things of a particular group
tonight /təˈnaɪt/ A2	noun - the period of time from evening until dawn
sad /sæd/ A1	adjective - feeling or showing sorrow
love /lʌv/ A1	verb - to feel deep affection for someone
better /ˈbɛtər/ B1	adjective - of a more excellent or effective type or quality
mean /miːn/ B2	verb - to signify or indicate

Key Grammar Structures

• All that we needed was right

  ➔ Relative clause with "that" and past tense "was"

  ➔ The sentence uses a relative clause to describe what "we" needed. "All that we needed" acts as the subject, and "was right" is the verb phrase. The past tense "was" indicates that the need existed in the past.

• The threshold is breaking tonight

  ➔ Present continuous tense for a future event.

  ➔ While present continuous typically describes actions happening now, it can also describe planned future events. Here, "is breaking" suggests an imminent or anticipated breaking of the threshold.

• Seeing the good when it's all going bad

  ➔ Gerund phrases as subject complements, contrasting with "when" clause

  ➔ "Seeing the good" is a gerund phrase acting as a noun. It's juxtaposed against the "when" clause, "when it's all going bad", creating a contrast between optimism and a negative situation. Gerunds function as nouns here.

• All that I need and I never could say

  ➔ Relative clause with omitted relative pronoun (that/which) and modal verb 'could'

  ➔ The relative pronoun "that" or "which" is omitted after "All". "I need" functions as the relative clause, modifying "all." "Could say" is a modal verb construction, indicating past inability or regret.

• Hold on to people they're slipping away

  ➔ Imperative mood ("Hold on") and present continuous ("they're slipping")

  ➔ "Hold on" is an imperative, a direct command. "They're slipping away" uses the present continuous to describe an ongoing action, emphasizing that people are currently in the process of disappearing or becoming distant.

• I know how it feels to mean it

  ➔ Noun clause after 'know' with infinitive phrase 'to mean it'

  ➔ "How it feels to mean it" is a noun clause, functioning as the object of the verb "know". The infinitive phrase "to mean it" describes what the 'it' feels like, adding detail to the emotion.

• Oh and we leave here, you'll see

  ➔ Future simple with contraction ('ll) and implied time reference.

  ➔ "You'll see" is a contraction of "you will see", indicating a future action that the speaker is confident will happen. The timing isn't explicit, but it's implied to be after the event of leaving. 'Oh' is interjection.