Tennis Court – English Lyrics

• By: Lorde
• Album: Pure Heroine

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the world of modern English through 'Tennis Court.' This song is a perfect study in using metaphors and sarcastic tone to express social commentary, making it a great way to learn how to describe social dynamics and attitudes in English.

[English]

Don't you think that it's borin' how people talk?

...

Makin' smart with their words again, well, I'm bored

Because I'm doin' this for the thrill of it, killin' it

Never not chasin' the million things I want

...

And I am only as young as the minute is, full of it

Gettin' pumped up from the little bright things I bought

But I know they'll never own me (yeah)

Baby, be the class clown

I'll be the beauty queen in tears

It's a new art form, showin' people how little we care (yeah)

We're so happy, even when we're smilin' out of fear

Let's go down to the tennis court

And talk it up like yeah (yeah)

Pretty soon I'll be gettin' on my first plane

...

I'll see the veins of my city like they do in space

...

But my head's fillin' up fast with the wicked games, up in flames

How can I fuck with the fun again when I'm known?

...

And my boys trip me up with their heads again, lovin' them

Everything's cool when we're all in line for the throne

But I know it's not forever (yeah)

Baby, be the class clown

I'll be the beauty queen in tears

It's a new art form, showin' people how little we care (yeah)

We're so happy, even when we're smilin' out of fear

Let's go down to the tennis court

And talk it up like yeah (yeah)

It looked alright in the pictures (yeah)

Gettin' caught's half of the trip though, isn't it? (yeah)

I fall apart with all my heart (yeah)

And you can watch from your window (yeah)

And you can watch from your window

Baby, be the class clown

I'll be the beauty queen in tears

It's a new art form, showin' people how little we care (yeah)

We're so happy, even when we're smilin' out of fear

Let's go down to the tennis court

And talk it up like yeah (yeah)

And talk it up like yeah (yeah)

And talk it up like yeah (yeah)

Let's go down to the tennis court

And talk it up like yeah (yeah)

And talk it up like yeah (yeah)

And talk it up like yeah (yeah)

Let's go down to the tennis court

And talk it up like yeah (yeah)

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
borin' /ˈbɔːrɪn/ A2	adjective - not interesting; tedious
thrill /θrɪl/ B2	noun - a sudden feeling of excitement
chasin' /ˈtʃeɪsɪn/ A2	verb - pursue in order to catch
pumped /pʌmpt/ B2	adjective - very excited or full of energy
clown /klaʊn/ A2	noun - a comic entertainer
beauty /ˈbjuːti/ A1	noun - a combination of qualities that pleases the senses
tears /tɪərz/ A2	noun - a drop of clear salty liquid secreted from the eye
fear /fɪər/ A1	noun - an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone is dangerous
tennis /ˈtenɪs/ A1	noun - a game played with rackets and a ball
veins /veɪnz/ B1	noun - tubes forming part of the blood circulation system
wicked /ˈwɪkɪd/ B2	adjective - evil or morally wrong
flames /fleɪmz/ B1	noun - a hot glowing body of ignited gas
throne /θroʊn/ B2	noun - a ceremonial chair for a sovereign
window /ˈwɪndoʊ/ A1	noun - an opening in a wall

Key Grammar Structures

• Don't you think that it's borin' how people talk?

  ➔ Negative Interrogative Sentence

  ➔ The use of "Don't you" is an effective way to prompt the listener for agreement or to express a strong opinion.

• And I am only as young as the minute is

  ➔ Comparative structure 'as... as'

  ➔ This metaphor uses "as... as" to equate the subject's youth with the fleeting nature of the current minute.

• I'll be the beauty queen in tears

  ➔ Future Simple (Will)

  ➔ The singer uses "I'll be" (I will be) to make a voluntary prediction or statement about a future identity.

• We're so happy, even when we're smilin' out of fear

  ➔ Concessive Clause (even when)

  ➔ The phrase "even when" is used to introduce a contradiction, showing that the happiness exists despite the presence of fear.

• Pretty soon I'll be gettin' on my first plane

  ➔ Future Continuous (will be + verb-ing)

  ➔ The use of "will be gettin'" indicates a future action that is imminent and ongoing in the near timeline.

• How can I fuck with the fun again when I'm known?

  ➔ Modals of Ability (can)

  ➔ The modal verb "can" in this question asks about the feasibility or moral possibility of enjoying oneself after becoming famous.

• Everything's cool when we're all in line for the throne

  ➔ Subordinate Clause of time (when)

  ➔ The "when" clause establishes the specific context or condition under which everything is perceived as "cool".

• It looked alright in the pictures

  ➔ Past Simple (looked)

  ➔ The verb "looked" is used in the past tense to contrast an initial, superficial perception with current, deeper knowledge.