Song To Say Goodbye – English Lyrics

• By: Placebo

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music offers a unique window into culture and emotion, and Placebo's "Song To Say Goodbye" is a compelling place to start. The song's raw, direct English lyrics provide a powerful lesson in expressing complex feelings like frustration, desperation, and the resolve to change. Exploring its vocabulary will introduce you to the poignant and sometimes harsh language used to confront personal demons, making it a special and unforgettable way to deepen your understanding of English.

[English]

You are one of God's mistakes

You crying, tragic waste of skin

I'm well aware of how it aches

And you still won't let me in

Now I'm breaking down your door

To try and save your swollen face

Though I don't like you anymore

You lying, trying waste of space

Before our innocence was lost

You were always one of those

Blessed with lucky sevens

And the voice that made me cry

My, oh my

You were mother nature's son

Someone to whom I could relate

Your needle and your damage done

Remains a sordid twist of fate

Now I'm trying to wake you up

To pull you from the liquid sky

'Cause if I don't we'll both end up

With just your song to say goodbye

My, oh my

A song to say goodbye

A song to say goodbye

A song to say

Before our innocence was lost

You were always one of those

Blessed with lucky sevens

And the voice that made me cry

It's a song to say goodbye

It's a song to say goodbye

It's a song to say goodbye

It's a song to say goodbye

It's a song to say goodbye

It's a song to say goodbye

It's a song to say goodbye

It's a song to say goodbye

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
mistake /mɪsˈteɪk/ B1	noun - an action or judgment that is misguided or wrong
crying /ˈkraɪɪŋ/ B2	verb (gerund) - to shed tears as an expression of emotion
waste /weɪst/ B1	noun - something that is not useful or wanted verb - to use inefficiently or unnecessary
ache /eɪk/ B2	verb - to feel persistent pain
break /breɪk/ B1	verb - to separate into parts or pieces
door /dɔːr/ A2	noun - a barrier used to close an entrance
face /feɪs/ A1	noun - the front part of the head that includes the eyes, nose, and mouth
face /feɪs/ A2	noun - to confront or deal with
relate /rɪˈleɪt/ B2	verb - to connect or associate
damage /ˈdæmɪdʒ/ B2	noun - harm or injury that reduces value or usefulness verb - to cause harm or injury
twist /twɪst/ C1	noun - a sudden change or unexpected development verb - to turn or bend
wake /weɪk/ B2	verb - to stop sleeping
sky /skaɪ/ A2	noun - the region of the atmosphere seen from the earth
song /sɔːŋ/ A2	noun - a musical composition with words

Key Grammar Structures

• You are one of God's mistakes

  ➔ Subject + be + noun phrase

  ➔ Using 'are' emphasizes the present tense and a state of being.

• You crying, tragic waste of skin

  ➔ Present participle used as an adjective

  ➔ The verb 'crying' acts as an adjective describing the subject.

• And you still won't let me in

  ➔ Modal verb + base verb (won't + let)

  ➔ Using 'won't' (will not) indicates refusal or inability in the present.

• You're lying, trying waste of space

  ➔ Present participle phrase (trying)

  ➔ The phrase 'trying waste of space' describes ongoing action or behavior.

• Before our innocence was lost

  ➔ Passive voice in past simple tense

  ➔ The phrase 'was lost' indicates an action done to the subject in the past.

• And the voice that made me cry

  ➔ Past simple tense with relative clause

  ➔ The phrase 'that made me cry' is a relative clause describing the voice.

• It's a song to say goodbye

  ➔ Infinitive phrase indicating purpose

  ➔ The phrase 'to say goodbye' expresses the purpose of the song.