Sympathy is a knife – English Lyrics

• By: Charli xcx, ariana grande
• Album: BRAT

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the raw honesty and relatable emotions of Charli XCX and Ariana Grande's "Sympathy Is a Knife." This powerful synth-pop track offers a unique insight into the anxieties of self-perception and the pressures of public life, making it a compelling song to explore cultural nuances and contemporary language within pop music.

[English]

I-i-i-it's a knife when you know they're waitin' for you to choke

It's a knife when a journalist does a misquote

It's a knife when a friend is suddenly steppin' on your throat

It's a knife when they say that you've been doin' things you don't

It's a knife when your old friends hate your new friends

When somebody says, "Charli, I think you've totally changed"

It's a knife when somebody says they like the old me, and not the new me

And I'm like, "Who the fuck is she?"

'Cause it's a knife when you're finally on top

'Cause logically, the next step is they wanna see you fall to the bottom

It's a knife when you're finally on top (on top)

'Cause logically, the next step is they wanna see you fall, fall, fall

I-i-i-it's a knife when, it's a knife when, it's a knife when (when, when)

All this sympathy is just a knife when (when)

It's a knife when, it's a knife when (when, when)

All this sympathy is just a-

It's a knife when you know they're counting on your mistakes

It's a knife when you're so pretty, they think you must be fake (mm)

It's a knife when they dissect your body on the front page (ooh-ooh, ooh)

It's a knife when they won't believe you, why should you explain? (Yeah)

It's a knife when the mean fans hate the nice fans

When somebody says, "Ari, I think you've totally changed" (no shit)

(It's a knife) when somebody says they like the old me and not the new me

And I'm like, "Who the fuck is she?"

'Cause it's a knife when you're finally on top (on top)

'Cause logically, the next step is they wanna see you fall to the bottom

It's a knife when you're finally on top (on top)

'Cause logically, the next step is they wanna see you fall, fall, fall

I-i-i-it's a knife when (it's a knife when)

It's a knife when (it's a knife when)

It's a knife when (when, when)

All this sympathy is just a knife when (it's a knife when)

It's a knife when (it's a knife when), it's a knife when (ah)

All this sympathy is just a kn- (all this sympathy is just a knife)

All this expectation is a knife (all this sympathy is just a knife)

All the things I've said are just a knife (all this sympathy is just a knife)

All this expectation is a knife (all this sympathy is just a knife, mm-mm, mm)

Yeah (ah)

All this expectation is a knife (ah)

All the things I've said are just a knife (ah)

All this expectation is a knife (ah)

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
knife /naɪf/ A1	noun - an instrument with a sharp blade used for cutting
wait /weɪt/ A1	verb - to remain inactive or in a state of expectancy
choke /tʃoʊk/ B2	verb - to have severe difficulty in breathing because something is blocking your throat
friend /frɛnd/ A1	noun - a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection
hate /heɪt/ A2	verb - to dislike intensely; feel aversion to
old /oʊld/ A1	adjective - having existed for a long time; no longer young
new /nuː/ A1	adjective - recently made, invented, or developed
top /tɒp/ A1	noun - the highest point or part of something
fall /fɔːl/ A1	verb - to drop down from a higher level
bottom /ˈbɒtəm/ A2	noun - the lowest point or part of something
sympathy /ˈsɪmpəθi/ B2	noun - feelings of pity and sorrow for someone else's misfortune
mistake /mɪˈsteɪk/ A2	noun - an action or judgment that is misguided or wrong
pretty /ˈprɪti/ A1	adjective - attractive in a delicate way without being truly beautiful
fake /feɪk/ B1	adjective - not genuine; counterfeit
body /ˈbɒdi/ A1	noun - the physical structure of a person or animal
fans /fænz/ A1	noun - a person who admires and supports a performer, sports team, etc.
expectation /ˌekspekˈteɪʃən/ B2	noun - a strong belief that something will happen or be the case in the future.

Key Grammar Structures

• It's a knife when you know they're waiting for you to choke.

  ➔ Present continuous tense.

  ➔ The phrase "you know they're waiting" uses the present continuous to indicate an ongoing action.

• It's a knife when a journalist does a misquote.

  ➔ Simple present tense.

  ➔ The phrase "a journalist does a misquote" uses the simple present to express a general truth.

• It's a knife when they say that you've been doing things you don't.

  ➔ Present perfect continuous tense.

  ➔ The phrase "you've been doing things" indicates an action that started in the past and continues to the present.

• It's a knife when your old friends hate your new friends.

  ➔ Simple present tense.

  ➔ The phrase "your old friends hate your new friends" uses the simple present to describe a current situation.

• It's a knife when they say that you've totally changed.

  ➔ Present perfect tense.

  ➔ The phrase "you've totally changed" indicates a change that has occurred at some point in the past and is relevant to the present.

• It's a knife when you're finally on top.

  ➔ Present continuous tense.

  ➔ The phrase "you're finally on top" uses the present continuous to express a current state of being.

• All this sympathy is just a knife when.

  ➔ Simple present tense.

  ➔ The phrase "all this sympathy is just a knife" uses the simple present to express a general observation.