Stateless – English Lyrics

• By: U2
• Album: All That You Can’t Leave Behind

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a powerful tool, and U2's 'Stateless' offers a rich lyrical landscape for English learners. The song's introspective and poetic lyrics provide an opportunity to explore themes of identity, belonging, and human connection. The relatively slow tempo and clear vocals make it easier to follow along, while the evocative imagery in phrases like 'no sunshine in your skies' and 'the mortal sand' can expand your vocabulary. What makes 'Stateless' special is its raw emotional honesty and its blend of blues and atmospheric rock, creating a unique and memorable listening experience that will stay with you as you continue your language journey.

Key Grammar Structures

• I've got no home in this world

  ➔ Present Perfect (have + past participle) used as a present state

  ➔ The phrase **"I've got"** uses the present perfect to express possession that exists now.

• And you are not mine

  ➔ Simple Present (to be) + negative

  ➔ The verb **"are"** is the simple present form of *to be* used here with the negative **"not"**.

• There are no colors in your eyes

  ➔ Existential there + be + plural noun

  ➔ The structure **"There are"** introduces existence of something, followed by the plural noun **"colors"**.

• There's no sunshine in your skies

  ➔ Contraction of there is + singular noun, negative

  ➔ The contraction **"There's"** stands for **"There is"**, followed by the singular noun **"sunshine"** with the negative **"no"**.

• There is no tomorrow, only tonight

  ➔ Existential there + be + singular noun + contrastive conjunction

  ➔ The clause **"There is no tomorrow"** states a lack, and the conjunction **"only"** introduces a contrast with **"tonight"**.

• You can cover the world with your thumb

  ➔ Modal verb *can* + base verb (ability/possibility)

  ➔ The modal **"can"** expresses ability: **"can cover"** means ‘is able to cover’.

• Be the weight, hard

  ➔ Imperative mood (bare verb) for a command or suggestion

  ➔ The verb **"Be"** is used in the imperative to tell someone to become **"the weight"**.

• Push down on me

  ➔ Phrasal verb *push down* + prepositional phrase (on me)

  ➔ The phrasal verb **"push down"** means to apply pressure, and **"on me"** tells who receives the pressure.