SUBSTANCE – English Lyrics

• By: Demi Lovato
• Album: HOLY FVCK

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a powerful tool, and Demi Lovato's "Substance" offers a dynamic entry point into modern English with its raw and honest lyrics. The song's pop-punk energy makes it catchy and memorable, while its exploration of themes like the search for authenticity and connection provides a deeper level of engagement. Through its clever wordplay and direct emotional expression, you can learn contemporary slang and gain insight into the cultural conversation around mental health and the digital age.

[English]

[CAR HONKING]

♪ IS ANYBODY HAPPY WITH LIFE IN THE BACK SEAT ♪

♪ TRYING TO MASTER THE ART OF DETACHING ♪

♪ IS ANYBODY DRIVING IS ANYONE ASKING ♪

♪ IS ANYONE GRASPING THAT NOTHING LASTS ♪

♪ WHOA ♪

♪ I KNOW WE’RE ALL FUCKING EXHAUSTED ♪

♪ WHOA ♪

♪ AM I IN MY HEAD OR HAVE WE ALL LOST IT ♪

♪ SO I ASK MYSELF AM I ♪

♪ THE ONLY ONE LOOKING FOR SUBSTANCE ♪

♪ GOT HIGH ♪

♪ IT ONLY LEFT ME LONELY AND LOVELESS ♪

♪ DON’T WANNA END UP IN A CASKET, HEAD FULL OF MAGGOTS ♪

♪ BODY FULL OF JACK SHIT I GET IN ABUNDANCE ♪

♪ AM I ♪

♪ THE ONLY ONE LOOKING FOR SUBSTANCE ♪

♪ I DON’T REMEMBER LAST WEEK GOT MY HEAD SCRATCHING ♪

♪ BUT EVERYONE’S ACTING LIKE NOTHING IS LACKING ♪

♪ THINK WE MIGHT BE CRASHING EVERYONE’S LAUGHING ♪

♪ TIME IS JUST PASSING YET NOTHING LASTS ♪

♪ WHOA ♪

♪ I KNOW WE’RE ALL FUCKING EXHAUSTED ♪

♪ WHOA ♪

♪ AM I IN MY HEAD OR HAVE WE ALL LOST IT ♪

♪ SO I ASK MYSELF AM I ♪

♪ THE ONLY ONE LOOKING FOR SUBSTANCE ♪

♪ GOT HIGH ♪

♪ IT ONLY LEFT ME LONELY AND LOVELESS ♪

♪ DON’T WANNA END UP IN A CASKET, HEAD FULL OF MAGGOTS ♪

♪ BODY FULL OF JACK SHIT I GET IN ABUNDANCE ♪

♪ AM I ♪

♪ THE ONLY ONE LOOKING FOR SUBSTANCE ♪

♪♪♪

♪ AM I TALKING TO MYSELF ♪

♪ IS ANYONE OUT THERE ♪

♪ SCREAMING AT THE WALLS ♪

♪ I CAN’T RELATE AT ALL RELATE AT ALL ♪

♪ FUCK THE THEATRICS, WHAT HAPPENED TO CLASSIC ♪

♪ GIVE ME THE REAL SHIT, GIVE ME THE MAGIC ♪

♪ SO I ASK MYSELF AM I ♪

♪ THE ONLY ONE LOOKING FOR SUBSTANCE ♪

♪ GOT HIGH ♪

♪ IT ONLY LEFT ME LONELY AND LOVELESS ♪

♪ (DON’T WANNA END UP IN A) CASKET ♪

♪ (HEAD FULL OF) MAGGOTS ♪

♪ (BODY FULL OF) JACK SHIT (I GET IN) ABUNDANCE ♪

♪ AM I ♪

♪ THE ONLY ONE LOOKING FOR SUBSTANCE ♪

♪ YEAH, YEAH ♪

♪ YEAH, YEAH, YEAH ♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
master /ˈmɑːstər/ B2	verb - to control or have power over something
detaching /dɪˈtætʃɪŋ/ B2	verb - to separate or disconnect from something
grasping /ˈɡræspɪŋ/ B2	verb - to seize and hold firmly
exhausted /ɪɡˈzɔːstɪd/ B2	adjective - very tired or worn out
losing /ˈluːzɪŋ/ B1	verb - to cease to have or retain something
head /hɛd/ A1	noun - the upper part of the body where the brain is located verb - to be in charge or lead
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - a strong feeling of affection and care verb - to feel deep affection for someone or something
end /ɛnd/ A1	noun - the final point of something verb - to bring to a close
full /fʊl/ A2	adjective - containing as much as possible

Key Grammar Structures

• IS ANYBODY HAPPY

  ➔ Interrogative sentence using inversion with 'is' to form a question.

  ➔ This is a question formed by inverting the subject and the auxiliary verb 'is'.

• I KNOW WE’RE ALL FUCKING EXHAUSTED

  ➔ Use of present tense with the auxiliary 'we’re' (we are) to describe current state.

  ➔ The contraction 'we’re' is a short form of 'we are', used for present tense statements.

• GOT HIGH

  ➔ Past tense verb phrase indicating a completed action or state, especially with the verb 'got'.

  ➔ Here, 'got' is used as the past tense of 'get', meaning to experience or reach a certain state, in this case 'high'.

• DON’T WANNA END UP IN A CASKET

  ➔ Use of 'don’t wanna' (do not want to) with an infinitive to express desire not to perform an action.

  ➔ It combines the auxiliary 'do not' with 'want to' in a contracted form, indicating a negative desire to perform an action.

• RELATE AT ALL

  ➔ Phrase using 'at all' to emphasize extent in negative contexts, meaning 'completely' or 'absolutely not'.

  ➔ It emphasizes the total lack or absence of something, especially in negative statements.

• SCREAMING AT THE WALLS

  ➔ Present participle phrase describing the act of yelling loudly, often metaphorical.

  ➔ The phrase depicts intense emotional expression, often metaphorical for feeling unheard or desperate.