The Longest Goodbye – English Lyrics

• By: ROLE MODEL

Lyrics & Translation

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
blue /bluː/ A1	adjective - of the color whose hue is that of the clear sky
friend /frend/ A1	noun - a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection
stranger /ˈstreɪndʒər/ A2	noun - a person whom one does not know or with whom one is not familiar
morning /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/ A1	noun - the period of time between sunrise and noon
war /wɔːr/ B1	noun - a state of armed conflict between different nations or groups
headache /ˈhedeɪk/ B1	noun - a continuous pain in the head
chore /tʃɔːr/ B2	noun - a routine task, especially a household one
hold /hoʊld/ A2	verb - to grasp and support
goodbye /ˌɡʊdˈbaɪ/ A1	noun - an instance of saying goodbye
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic matter
shoes /ʃuːz/ A1	noun - a covering for the foot
man /mæn/ A1	noun - an adult male human being
silence /ˈsaɪləns/ B1	noun - the state of not speaking
mileage /ˈmaɪlɪdʒ/ B2	noun - the number of miles traveled or covered
sure /ʃʊr/ A2	adjective - confident in what one thinks or knows

Key Grammar Structures

• You were a brand-new blue jean, picket on the front lawn

  ➔ Use of simile. (comparing to a "brand-new blue jean")

  ➔ The line creates an image of something new and desirable, implying the person was initially exciting and appealing. The simile emphasizes the newness and perhaps the conventionality of the person.

• Should I even open that door?

  ➔ Modal verb "should" for asking advice/questioning an action

  ➔ "Should" expresses doubt and uncertainty about the action of opening the door, implying potential negative consequences or regret. It's a rhetorical question suggesting hesitation.

• Felt like you were starting a war

  ➔ Past continuous tense in a subordinate clause ("were starting") after "felt like".

  ➔ The past continuous emphasizes the ongoing, disruptive nature of the other person's actions, highlighting the feeling of conflict and unease.

• I'll take my ass to Houston

  ➔ Informal language and idiom ("take my ass to...") for emphasis and emotional expression

  ➔ This is a colloquial expression meaning to leave or go somewhere. The use of "ass" adds a blunt, almost defiant tone, suggesting the speaker is hurt and determined to remove themselves from the situation.

• Loving me's like doing a chore

  ➔ Gerund phrase used as the subject of the sentence ("Loving me") compared using a simile.

  ➔ The gerund "loving" transforms the verb into a noun phrase, allowing it to act as the subject. The simile suggests that loving the speaker is perceived as unpleasant and burdensome.

• Forget the matrimony

  ➔ Imperative used to reject an idea. (expressing sarcasm or bitterness)

  ➔ The imperative "Forget" is used here not as a command but as a dismissive rejection of the idea of marriage, indicating disillusionment and the end of the relationship.

• It's been the longest of my life

  ➔ Superlative adjective "longest" used with the present perfect tense "It's been" to emphasize the duration and significance of the goodbye.

  ➔ The present perfect "It's been" connects the goodbye to the present, highlighting its lasting impact. The superlative "longest" emphasizes the extreme length and emotional toll of the goodbye.

• I see my shoes have been filled

  ➔ Passive voice in the present perfect tense ("have been filled").

  ➔ The passive voice shifts the focus from who filled the shoes to the fact that they *are* filled. In this context, it implies someone else has taken the speaker's place in the relationship. Using the present perfect emphasizes the completed action and its current relevance.