Lyrics & Translation
Discover a different side of love and relationships through Depeche Mode's 'Stories of Old.' This song is a fantastic opportunity to explore English vocabulary related to love, ideals, and self-identity, all set to a classic 80s synth-pop beat. The lyrics challenge traditional romantic notions, offering a more complex and modern perspective that makes for a great discussion and learning topic. Its unique sound from their Berlin-era makes it a special piece in the Depeche Mode catalog.
[English]
Take a look at unselected casesYou'll find love has been wrecked
By both sides compromising
Amounting to a disastrous effect
You hear stories of old
Of princes bold
With riches untold
Happy souls
Casting it all aside
To take some bride
To have the girl of their dreams
At their side
But not me
I couldn't do that
Not me
I'm not like that
I couldn't sacrifice
Anything at all
To love
I really like you
I'm attracted to you
The way you move
The things you do
I'll probably burn in hell
For saying this
But I'm really in heaven
Whenever we kiss
But oh no!
You won't change me
You can try
For an eternity
I wouldn't sacrifice
Anything at all
To love
Take a look at unselected cases
You'll find love has been wrecked
By both sides compromising
Amounting to a disastrous effect
Now I've got things to do
You have too
And I've got to be me
You've got to be you
So take my hand
And feel these lips
And let's savor a kiss
Like we'd savor a sip
Of vintage wine
One more time
Let's surrender
To this love divine
But we won't sacrifice
Anything at all
To love
Key Vocabulary
| Vocabulary | Meanings |
|---|---|
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stories /ˈstɔːriːz/ A2 |
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princes /ˈprɪnsɪz/ B1 |
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bold /bəʊld/ B1 |
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riches /ˈrɪtʃɪz/ B2 |
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sacrifice /ˈsækrɪfɪs/ B2 |
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attracted /əˈtræktɪd/ B1 |
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burn /bɜːrn/ A2 |
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heaven /ˈhɛvən/ B1 |
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savor /ˈseɪvər/ B2 |
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surrender /səˈrɛndər/ B2 |
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divine /dɪˈvaɪn/ C1 |
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wrecked /rɛkt/ B2 |
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compromising /ˌkɒmprəˈmaɪzɪŋ/ B2 |
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eternity /ɪˈtɜːrnɪti/ C1 |
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vintage /ˈvɪntɪdʒ/ B2 |
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Key Grammar Structures
-
You'll find love has been wrecked
➔ Future with 'will' contraction ('ll'), Present Perfect Passive
➔ The contraction 'You'll' is a common feature of spoken and informal written English. 'Love has been wrecked' uses the present perfect passive to indicate that love has suffered damage in the past, with continuing relevance. The structure is **has/have + been + past participle**.
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Amounting to a disastrous effect
➔ Gerund as a subject complement, Adjectival phrase
➔ The gerund 'amounting' functions as a subject complement, describing what the compromising *results in*. 'Disastrous effect' is an adjectival phrase modifying 'amounting'. It shows the consequence of the compromise. The word **amounting** is key here.
-
I wouldn't sacrifice anything at all to love
➔ Conditional sentence (second conditional - implied 'if'), emphatic negation
➔ The structure 'wouldn't + verb' implies an 'if' clause (e.g., 'If I were asked...'). The phrase 'anything at all' provides emphatic negation, stressing the complete unwillingness to sacrifice. The word **wouldn't** is the key indicator of the conditional.
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Let's savor a kiss like we'd savor a sip of vintage wine
➔ Imperative mood, Comparative simile, Conditional mood ('d')
➔ 'Let's' is an imperative, suggesting shared action. The simile compares the kiss to savoring vintage wine, emphasizing the enjoyment and appreciation. 'We'd' is a contraction of 'we would', indicating a conditional mood – how they *would* enjoy it. The word **savor** is central to the imagery.
