The World Is Stone – English Lyrics

• By: Cyndi Lauper

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the somber beauty of "The World Is Stone" by Cyndi Lauper, a song that delves into themes of loneliness and despair. Through its poignant lyrics, learn how the metaphor of a world turned to stone can reflect deep emotional landscapes and inspire meaningful discussions about empathy and connection.

[English]

Stone, the world is stone

It's no trick of the light

It's hard on the soul

Stone, the world is stone

Cold to the touch

And hard on the soul

In the grey of the streets

In the neon unknown

I look for a sign

That I'm not on my own

That I'm not here alone

As the still of the night

And the choke of the air

And the winner's delight

And the loser's despair

Closes in left and right

I would love not to care

Stone, the world is stone

From the far away look

Without stars in my eyes

Through the halls of the rich

And the flats of the poor

Wherever I go

There's no warmth anymore

There's no love anymore

(There's no love anymore)

So I turn on my heels

I'm declining the fall

I've had all I can take

With my back to the wall

Tell the world I'm not in

I'm not taking the call

Stone, the world is stone

But I saw it once

With the stars in my eyes

When each colour rang out

In a thunderous chrome

It's no trick of the light

I can't find my way home

In a world made of stone

Ooh ooh ooh

In a world made of stone

Can't find it, I can't find it, I can't find my way home

Ooh ooh ooh

In a world made of stone

Can we, can we, can we

Stone

Ooh, ooh ooh ooh, ooh ooh ooh

Stone

Stone

Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh

Key Grammar Structures

• Stone, the world is stone

  ➔ Simple present (linking verb)

  ➔ The verb "is" functions as a linking verb, connecting the subject "the world" with the complement "stone".

• I look for a sign

  ➔ Verb + preposition (look for)

  ➔ The verb "look" is followed by the preposition "for" to indicate the object being sought – "a sign".

• That I'm not on my own

  ➔ Noun clause introduced by "that"

  ➔ The clause "that I'm not on my own" functions as a noun phrase, acting as the object of the verb "look for".

• There's no warmth anymore

  ➔ Existential there is + negative

  ➔ The construction "there's" (= there is) introduces the existence of something, here negated by "no" to mean "no warmth".

• I've had all I can take

  ➔ Present perfect + object clause

  ➔ The present perfect "I've had" expresses an experience up to now, and the noun phrase "all I can take" is an object clause introduced by the relative pronoun "that" (understood).

• I'm not taking the call

  ➔ Present continuous negative

  ➔ The negative form "I'm not taking" uses the auxiliary "am" + "not" + present participle "taking" to show a temporary refusal.

• When each colour rang out

  ➔ Past simple with temporal clause "when"

  ➔ The clause begins with the temporal conjunction "when" and the verb "rang" is in the simple past, indicating an event that happened at a specific moment.

• Can't find my way home

  ➔ Modal verb "can" + infinitive (negative)

  ➔ The negative modal "Can't" (cannot) is followed by the base verb "find" to express inability: "I cannot find my way home".

• Can we, can we, can we

  ➔ Repeated interrogative with modal "can"

  ➔ The modal verb "can" introduces a question; repeating it three times adds emphasis and a sense of pleading.