Symphony – English Lyrics

• By: Imagine Dragons
• Album: Mercury - Acts 1 & 2

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the harmonious world of Imagine Dragons' "Symphony," a song that beautifully illustrates life as a grand musical piece. Through its vibrant lyrics and catchy melody, explore how different instruments symbolize the unique roles we play in creating a symphony of love and connection, perfect for learning about musical metaphors and emotional expression in language.

[English]

♪♪♪

♪ EVER SINCE I WAS YOUNG (COMING UP, COMING UP) ♪

♪ ALWAYS MARCHING TO A DRUM (BRA DA DUM, BRA DA DUM) ♪

♪ ALWAYS FOCUSED ON ME (ONE, ONE, ONE, ONE) ♪

♪ NOW I WISH THAT I COULD HOLD SOMEONE (SOMEONE) ♪

♪ SO TELL MY MOM I LOVE HER, CALL MY BABY SISTER ♪

♪ SHOULD’VE HUGGED AND KISSED HER ♪

♪ CAUSE LIFE IS JUST A MYSTERY ♪

♪ AND IT’S GONE BEFORE YOU KNOW IT ♪

♪ SO IF YOU LOVE ME, WON’T YOU SHOW IT? ♪

♪ AHH ('CAUSE THIS LIFE IS ONE BIG SYMPHONY) ♪

♪ (THIS NIGHT IS ONE FOR YOU AND ME) ♪

♪ (I’M THE STRINGS AND YOU’RE THE TIMPANI) ♪

♪ (YOU’RE MY CONSTANT TAMBOURINE) ♪

♪ (THIS LIFE IS ONE BIG SYMPHONY) ♪

♪ (SO GLAD I’VE GOT YOU NEXT TO ME) ♪

♪ (I’M THE CHORDS AND YOU’RE THE MELODY) ♪

♪ (THIS LIFE’S ONE BIG SYMPHONY) ♪

♪ SHE WAS THE PIANO I’M THE XYLOPHONE ♪

♪ YOU CAN HAVE THE TRUMPET, I’M THE SAXOPHONE ♪

♪♪♪

♪ LIFE IS SKIPPING ROPE (KEEP GOING, KEEP GOING) ♪

♪ FINDING SOLACE IN A NOTE (DOTE, DOTE, DOTE, DOTE) ♪

♪ HAD TO STRUGGLE WHEN I WAS BROKE (SO LOW, SO LOW) ♪

♪ WRITING MUSIC JUST TO COPE (NO HOPE, NO HOPE) ♪

♪ YEA, LIFE IS JUST PERSPECTIVE ♪

♪ LAUGHING WHEN YOU’VE WRECKED IT ♪

♪ SMILING WHEN YOU KEPT IT TOGETHER ♪

♪ YOU WEATHERED THE STORM ♪

♪ AT THE END OF THE PLAY, YOU SANG ALL THE WAY ♪

♪ DOESN’T MATTER HOW OFF KEY ♪

♪ IF YOU DID IT, YOUR WAY ♪

♪ THIS LIFE IS ONE BIG SYMPHONY ♪

♪ THIS NIGHT IS ONE FOR YOU AND ME [VOCALIZING) ♪

♪ I’M THE STRINGS AND YOU’RE THE TIMPANI ♪

♪ YOU’RE MY CONSTANT TAMBOURINE ♪

♪ THIS LIFE IS ONE BIG SYMPHONY [VOCALIZING) ♪

♪ SO GLAD I’VE GOT YOU NEXT TO ME ♪

♪ I’M THE CHORDS AND YOU’RE THE MELODY ♪

♪ THIS LIFE’S ONE BIG SYMPHONY ♪

♪ WOULD YOU CARE IF I PLAYED YOU THE FLUTE? ♪

♪ SEE IT’S MY FAVORITE ONE BECAUSE IT’S SO DELICATE AND BEAUTIFUL ♪

♪ I PULL OUT THE TROMBONE IF ITS MORE SUITABLE ♪

♪ WANNA MAKE YOU SMILE, IT’S BEEN A LITTLE WHILE SINCE ♪

♪ I’VE SEEN THE WHITE OF YOUR TEETH BEEN A HARD YEAR ♪

♪ LUCKY THE GUITAR IS HERE ♪

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪ (LIFE IS JUST ONE BIG SYMPHONY) ♪

♪ 'CAUSE THIS LIFE IS ONE BIG SYMPHONY [VOCALIZING) ♪

♪ THIS NIGHT IS ONE FOR YOU AND ME [VOCALIZING) ♪

♪ I’M THE STINGS AND YOU’RE THE TIMPANI ♪

♪ YOU’RE MY CONSTANT TAMBOURINE ♪

♪ THIS LIFE IS ONE BIG SYMPHONY [VOCALIZING) ♪

♪ SO GLAD I’VE GOT YOU NEXT TO ME [VOCALIZING) ♪

♪ I’M THE CHORDS AND YOU’RE THE MELODY ♪

♪ THIS LIFE’S ONE BIG SYMPHONY ♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
march /mɑːrtʃ/ B1	verb - to walk steadily with regular steps, usually as part of a group or in a procession
focus /ˈfoʊ.kəs/ B2	verb - to concentrate attention or effort noun - the center of interest or activity
mystery /ˈmɪs.tɚ.i/ B2	noun - something that is difficult to understand or explain
sympathy /ˈsɪm.pə.θi/ C1	noun - feelings of pity and compassion for someone else's misfortune
offer /ˈɔː.fər/ B1	verb - to present or proffer something for someone to accept
delicate /ˈdɛl.ɪ.kət/ B2	adjective - very fine and fragile, easily damaged
suit /suːt/ B2	adjective - appropriate or fitting for a particular situation noun - a set of clothing, typically consisting of a jacket and trousers or skirt
melody /ˈmɛl.ə.di/ B1	noun - a sequence of musical notes that are perceived as a single, memorable Tune
piano /piˈænoʊ/ A2	noun - a large keyboard musical instrument with a wooden case enclosing a sounds or strings

Key Grammar Structures

• Ever since I was young

  ➔ Past Simple with "ever since"

  ➔ "Ever since" indicates a time period starting in the past and continuing until now. Here, it establishes the beginning point of a continuous state or action. The past simple "was" describes the state of being young at that past time.

• Now I wish that I could hold someone

  ➔ Second Conditional (wish + past simple/past continuous)

  ➔ Expressing a wish about the present that is contrary to fact. "I wish" is followed by "that + subject + past simple (could hold)". It implies that the speaker currently cannot hold someone.

• Should’ve hugged and kissed her

  ➔ Modal verb of regret: should have + past participle

  ➔ "Should've" (should have) + past participle expresses regret about something that did not happen in the past. Here, it signifies the speaker regrets not hugging and kissing his baby sister.

• Cause life is just a mystery

  ➔ Simple Present Tense (general truth)

  ➔ The simple present tense "is" expresses a general truth or a statement that is always, or generally, true. It describes a permanent state or fact about life.

• And it’s gone before you know it

  ➔ Present Perfect Simple (implied connection to the present)

  ➔ "It’s gone" (It has gone) uses the present perfect simple to indicate an action completed in the past but with relevance or connection to the present. The implied meaning is that life's fleeting nature is something that affects the speaker now.

• So if you love me, won’t you show it?

  ➔ First Conditional (implied), Tag Question (won't you?)

  ➔ The sentence implies a first conditional structure: "If you love me, (then) show it." The tag question "won’t you?" is used to seek confirmation or encouragement from the listener. The structure implies the speaker hopes the listener does love them and is asking for a demonstration of that love.

• Life is skipping rope

  ➔ Present Simple as a metaphor (using "is")

  ➔ While using the simple present "is", this sentence presents life as a metaphor, equating it to the action of skipping rope. This is not a literal statement but rather an imaginative comparison, implying life has ups and downs and requires effort and rhythm.

• Laughing when you’ve wrecked it

  ➔ Present Perfect (experience) with "when"

  ➔ The use of the present perfect "you’ve wrecked it" (you have wrecked it) emphasizes the experience of having wrecked something in the past and how that experience relates to the present action of laughing. "When" indicates the time at which the laughing occurs—after the wrecking has happened.