The A Team – English Lyrics

• By: Ed Sheeran
• Album: +

Lyrics & Translation

Learning English through Ed Sheeran's "The A Team" offers a unique opportunity to explore powerful storytelling and figurative language. The song's narrative, though somber, is rich with metaphors and evocative imagery that can deepen your understanding of nuanced expression in English. What makes this song special is its ability to tackle a difficult social issue with both subtlety and raw honesty, making it a compelling piece for language learners to analyze and connect with on an emotional level.

[English]

[BIRDSONG]

[♪♪♪]

♪ White lips, pale face ♪

♪ Breathin' in the snowflakes ♪

♪ Burnt lungs, sour taste ♪

♪ Light's gone, days end ♪

♪ Struggling to pay rent ♪

♪ Long nights, strange men ♪

♪ And they say ♪

♪ She's in the Class A Team ♪

♪ Stuck in her daydream ♪

♪ Been this way since eighteen ♪

♪ But lately, her face seems ♪

♪ Slowly sinking, wasting ♪

♪ Crumbling like pastries ♪

♪ And they scream ♪

♪ The worst things in life come free to us ♪

♪ Cos we're just under the upper hand ♪

♪ And go mad for a couple grams ♪

♪ And she don't wanna go outside tonight ♪

♪ And in a pipe, she flies to the Motherland ♪

♪ Or sells love to another man ♪

♪ It's too cold outside ♪

♪ For angels to fly ♪

♪ Angels to fly ♪

♪ Ripped gloves, raincoat ♪

♪ Tried to swim and stay afloat ♪

♪ Dry house, wet clothes ♪

♪ Loose change, banknotes ♪

♪ Weary-eyed, dry throat ♪

♪ Call girl, no phone ♪

♪ And they say she's in the Class A Team ♪

♪ Stuck in her daydream ♪

♪ Been this way since eighteen ♪

♪ But lately, her face seems ♪

♪ Slowly sinking, wasting ♪

♪ Crumbling like pastries ♪

♪ And they scream ♪

♪ The worst things in life come free to us ♪

♪ Cos we're just under the upper hand ♪

♪ And go mad for a couple grams ♪

♪ But she don't wanna go outside tonight ♪

♪ And in a pipe, she flies to the Motherland ♪

♪ Or sells love to another man ♪

♪ It's too cold outside ♪

♪ For angels to fly ♪

♪ An angel will die ♪

♪ Covered in white ♪

♪ Closed eye and hopin' for a better life ♪

♪ This time, we'll fade out tonight ♪

♪ Straight down the line ♪

[♪♪♪]

♪ And they say she's in the Class A Team ♪

♪ Stuck in her daydream ♪

♪ Been this way since eighteen ♪

♪ But lately, her face seems ♪

♪ Slowly sinking, wasting ♪

♪ Crumbling like pastries ♪

♪ And they scream ♪

♪ The worst things in life come free to us ♪

♪ And we're all under the upper hand ♪

♪ And go mad for a couple grams ♪

♪ And we don't wanna go outside tonight ♪

♪ And in the pipe, we fly to the Motherland ♪

♪ Or sell love to another man ♪

♪ It's too cold outside ♪

♪ For angels to fly ♪

♪ Angels to fly ♪

♪ Fly, fly ♪

♪ For angels to fly ♪

♪ To fly, to fly ♪

♪ Angels to die ♪

[BIRDSONG]

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
face /feɪs/ A1	noun - the front part of the head verb - to deal with something
lungs /lʌŋz/ A2	noun - organs in the chest used for breathing
rent /rent/ A2	noun - a payment for the use of property verb - to pay for the use of something
nights /naɪts/ A1	noun - the period of darkness each day
daydream /ˈdeɪdriːm/ B2	noun - a series of pleasant thoughts that distract one from reality verb - to have pleasant thoughts that distract one from reality
sinking /ˈsɪŋkɪŋ/ B1	verb - descending into something, especially water; declining
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic matter
hand /hænd/ A1	noun - the part of the body at the end of the arm
pipe /paɪp/ A2	noun - a tube for conveying water, gas, or other fluid
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - an intense feeling of affection verb - to feel deep affection for someone
angels /ˈeɪndʒəlz/ A2	noun - a spiritual being believed to act as an intermediary between God and humans
gloves /ɡlʌvz/ A2	noun - coverings for the hands
house /haʊs/ A1	noun - a building for human habitation
change /tʃeɪndʒ/ A1	noun - coins or small bills verb - to make or become different
throat /θroʊt/ A2	noun - the part of the body in front of the neck
girl /ɡɜːrl/ A1	noun - a female child or young woman
eye /aɪ/ A1	noun - organ of sight

Key Grammar Structures

• She's in the Class A Team.

  ➔ Present Simple Tense

  ➔ The sentence uses the present simple tense to describe a current state or fact.

• But lately, her face seems slowly sinking.

  ➔ Present Continuous Tense

  ➔ The present continuous tense is used to describe an action that is currently ongoing.

• The worst things in life come free to us.

  ➔ Present Simple Tense

  ➔ This line uses the present simple tense to express a general truth.

• It's too cold outside for angels to fly.

  ➔ Infinitive Phrase

  ➔ The infinitive phrase 'to fly' indicates purpose or intention.

• And in a pipe, she flies to the Motherland.

  ➔ Present Simple Tense

  ➔ The present simple tense is used here to describe a habitual action.

• An angel will die covered in white.

  ➔ Future Simple Tense

  ➔ The future simple tense is used to express an action that will happen.

• And they scream.

  ➔ Present Simple Tense

  ➔ The present simple tense is used to describe a repeated action.