small – English Lyrics

• By: Lauren Spencer Smith

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the raw honesty of Lauren Spencer Smith's "small," a powerful ballad that bravely confronts body image struggles and societal pressures. This song offers an excellent opportunity to learn English by exploring themes of vulnerability, self-acceptance, and emotional resilience through its poignant lyrics. Its minimalist piano-driven melody allows Smith's heartfelt vocals to shine, making the song's intimate message universally relatable and particularly impactful for those seeking to understand expressions of inner turmoil and empowerment.

[English]

I've been holdin' my stomach in for so long

Don't even notice I'm doin' it anymore

I work out hard, seven days a week

But I don't feel any differently

I wonder if I'll ever change

I don't think I can live this way

I wake up hatin' my body

Scared that there's nothing that'll make it better

If I'm not happy and skinny, quiet and pretty

Do I even matter?

Hate being hungry when I go to sleep

Bitin' my tongue so much it's gonna bleed

I'm killin' myself, but I don't think it's helpin' at all

Tryin' to be small

Oh, oh, oh

Walk over me and I take it so politely

'Cause I still care what they think and if they like me

I used to smile and show my teeth

Now I don't smile at anything

I wonder if I'll ever change

I, I don't wanna be this way

I wake up hatin' my body

Scared that there's nothing that'll make it better

If I'm not happy and skinny, quiet and pretty

Do I even matter?

Hate being hungry when I go to sleep

Bitin' my tongue so much it's gonna bleed

I'm killin' myself, but I don't think it's helpin' at all

Tryin' to be

Everything that makes me sad, a therapist, a punchin' bag

Wish I could eat and not feel bad, swear I'm gonna scream

No one's ever listenin', and they don't care it's killin' me

As long as I can fuckin' sing, then life is a dream

But I wake up hatin' my body

Scared that there's nothing that'll make it better

If I'm not happy and skinny, quiet and pretty

Do I even matter?

Hate being hungry when I go to sleep

Bitin' my tongue so much it's gonna bleed

I'm killin' myself, but I don't think it's helpin' at all

I'm killin' myself, and I don't think it's healthy at all

Tryin' to be small

...

Key Grammar Structures

• I've been holdin' my stomach in for so long

  ➔ Present Perfect Continuous

  ➔ Used to describe an action that started in the past and continues up to the present, often emphasizing the duration. Here, "I've been holdin'" (short for "I have been holding") indicates a continuous action over a period of time, specified by "for so long".

• Don't even notice I'm doin' it anymore

  ➔ Present Continuous + "anymore"

  ➔ The "Present Continuous" ("I'm doin'") describes an action that is currently happening or is a continuous habit. "Anymore" indicates that something that was previously true or occurring is no longer the case.

• I wonder if I'll ever change

  ➔ Noun Clause with "if" (Indirect Question)

  ➔ "If" is used here to introduce a "noun clause", which functions as the object of the verb "wonder". It transforms a direct question ("Will I ever change?") into an indirect one.

• I don't think I can live this way

  ➔ Modal Verb "can" for ability/possibility

  ➔ The modal verb "can" expresses capability or possibility. In this negative sentence ("can live this way" with "don't think"), it indicates that the speaker feels unable to continue living in a particular manner.

• Hate being hungry when I go to sleep

  ➔ Verb + Gerund ("hate + -ing")

  ➔ Many verbs in English are followed by a "gerund" (the -ing form of a verb used as a noun) when they refer to an activity or state. "Hate" is one such verb.

• Used to smile and show my teeth

  ➔ "Used to" for past habits

  ➔ "Used to" indicates actions or states that were regular or true in the past but are no longer happening or true in the present.

• If I'm not happy and skinny, quiet and pretty, Do I even matter?

  ➔ Conditional Sentence (Type 1 or general truth)

  ➔ This is a "conditional sentence" (often type 1, but here expressing a general consequence of a state) using "if" to present a condition ("If I'm not...") and then a question about the consequence ("Do I even matter?").

• Wish I could eat and not feel bad

  ➔ "Wish" + Past Modal ("could") for unrealizable desires

  ➔ "Wish" followed by a past modal verb like "could" expresses a desire for something that is currently impossible, contrary to reality, or unlikely to happen.

• As long as I can fuckin' sing, then life is a dream

  ➔ Conditional Conjunction "As long as"

  ➔ "As long as" introduces a condition, meaning "provided that" or "only if." The main clause's truth depends entirely on the condition introduced by "as long as" being met.