Summertime Sadness – English Lyrics

• By: Lana Del Rey

Lyrics & Translation

This song is a perfect entry point for learning American English idioms related to emotions and seasonal descriptions. Its slow, melodic delivery helps learners focus on pronunciation, while the poetic, evocative lyrics provide insight into contemporary North American songwriting culture.

[English]

Kiss me hard before you go

summertime sadness

I just wanted you to know

that baby you the best

I got my red dress on tonight

dancin' in the dark in the pale moonlight

done my hair up real big, beauty queen style

high heels off, I'm feelin alive

oh my god, i feel it in the air

telephone wires above <br>

are sizzlin' like a snare

honey I'm on fire, I feel it everywhere

nothin' scares me anymore

(two three four)

kiss me hard before you go

summertime sadness

I just wanted you to know

that baby, you the best

I got that summertime, summertime sadness

su-su summertime, summertime sadness

got that summertime, summertime sadness oh oh

I'm feelin' electric tonight

cruisin' down the coast, goin' about 99

got my bad baby by my heavenly side

I know if I go, I'll die happy tonight

oh my god, I feel it in the air

telephone wires above

are sizzlin' like a snare

honey I'm on fire, I feel it everywhere

nothin' scares me anymore

(two three four)

kiss me hard before you go

summertime sadness

I just wanted you to know

that baby, you the best

I got that summertime, summertime sadness

su-su summertime, summertime sadness

got that summertime, summertime sadness oh oh

Think I'll miss you forever

Like the stars miss the sun in the morning sky

Later's better than never

Even if you're gone I'm gonna drive (drive, drive)

​

(drive, drive)

I got that summertime summertime sadness

su su summertime, summertime sadness

got that summertime, summertime sadness oh oh

kiss me hard before you go

summertime sadness

I just wanted you to know

that baby, you the best

I got that summertime summertime sadness

su su summertime, summertime sadness

got that summertime, summertime sadness oh oh

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
summertime /ˈsʌmərtaɪm/ A2	noun - The summer season
sadness /ˈsædnəs/ A2	noun - The state of being unhappy or sorrowful
beauty /ˈbjuːti/ A2	noun - A combination of qualities that pleases the senses
moonlight /ˈmuːnlaɪt/ B1	noun - The light from the moon
sizzlin' /ˈsɪzəlɪn/ B2	verb - To make a hissing sound when frying or burning
electric /ɪˈlɛktrɪk/ B1	adjective - Exciting or charged with emotion
cruisin' /ˈkruːzɪn/ B2	verb - To drive slowly or at a steady speed
heavenly /ˈhɛvənli/ B2	adjective - Beautiful or divine
forever /fəˈrɛvər/ A2	adjective - For all future time
snare /snɛər/ C1	noun - A type of drum or a trap
pale /peɪl/ B1	adjective - Light in color or having little color
telephone /ˈtɛlɪfoʊn/ A1	noun - A device for voice communication
alive /əˈlaɪv/ A2	adjective - Living, not dead
drive /draɪv/ A1	verb - To operate a vehicle
kiss /kɪs/ A1	verb - To touch with the lips

Key Grammar Structures

• Kiss me hard before you go

  ➔ Imperative Mood

  ➔ The verb 'kiss' is in the imperative mood, used to give a direct command or request.

• I just wanted you to know

  ➔ Past Tense with Modal Verb

  ➔ The phrase uses 'wanted' (past tense of 'want') with the modal verb 'to know', expressing a past desire.

• I'm feelin' electric tonight

  ➔ Present Continuous Tense

  ➔ The verb 'feelin'' (non-standard form of 'feeling') is in the present continuous tense, indicating an action happening now.

• nothin' scares me anymore

  ➔ Contraction and Negative Structure

  ➔ The contraction 'nothin'' (nothing) and the negative structure 'scares...anymore' emphasize the absence of fear.

• Later's better than never

  ➔ Comparative Adjective

  ➔ The phrase uses the comparative adjective 'better' to compare two situations.

• Even if you're gone I'm gonna drive

  ➔ Conditional Clause with 'Even if'

  ➔ The clause 'Even if you're gone' introduces a conditional situation, followed by the future intention 'I'm gonna drive'.

• Like the stars miss the sun in the morning sky

  ➔ Simile

  ➔ The phrase uses a simile with 'like' to compare missing someone to stars missing the sun.

• I know if I go, I'll die happy tonight

  ➔ Future Tense in Conditional Clause

  ➔ The future tense 'I'll die happy' is used in a conditional clause to express a future outcome based on a condition.