The Writing's On the Wall – English Lyrics

• By: OK Go

Lyrics & Translation

[English]

Listen, I know it's been hard, you know it's no different for me.

We're less than a zero-sum game now, and baby we both know that's not how it's supposed to be.

The writing's on the wall — it seems like forever since we had a good day.

The writing's on the wall, and I... I just want to get you high tonight.

I just wanna see some pleasure in your eyes. Some pleasure in your eyes.

And I go too hot, and you go too cold and we both fall apart.

and you bring your mind to rest against mine, but the mind has no say in affairs of the heart.

The writing's on the wall — it seems like forever since we had a good day.

The writing's on the wall, and I... I just want to get you high tonight.

I just wanna see some pleasure in your eyes. Some pleasure in your eyes.

and you bring your mind to rest against mine, but the mind has no say in affairs of the heart.

The writing's on the wall — it seems like forever since we had a good day.

The writing's on the wall, and I... I just want to get you high tonight.

I just wanna see some pleasure in your eyes. Some pleasure in your eyes.

I...just want to get you high...just want to get you high.

just want to get you high.

Even if its the last thing that we do together.

Even if its the last thing that we do together.

And CUT!

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
writing /ˈraɪtɪŋ/ A1	noun - letters, symbols, or words written on a surface
wall /wɔːl/ A1	noun - a vertical structure defining or protecting an area
forever /fəˈreɪvər/ A1	adverb - for an infinite or seemingly endless period of time
pleasure /ˈplɛʒər/ A2	noun - a feeling of happy satisfaction and enjoyment
high /haɪ/ A1	adjective - great, or greater than normal, in quantity or intensity adverb - at or to a great height
tonight /təˈnaɪt/ A1	adverb - during the night of the current day
mind /maɪnd/ A2	noun - the part of a person that thinks, feels, and remembers
rest /rɛst/ A1	verb - to cease work or movement in order to relax noun - peaceful ease free from worries
affairs /əˈfɛrz/ B1	noun - matters or situations under consideration
heart /hɑːrt/ A1	noun - the organ in the chest that pumps blood around the body
zero-sum /ˈzɪroʊ sʌm/ C1	adjective - denoting a situation in which one person's gain is equivalent to another's loss
game /ɡeɪm/ A1	noun - a form of play or sport, especially a competitive one
supposed /səˈpoʊzd/ B1	verb - generally believed or expected to be true
cold /koʊld/ A1	adjective - of or at a low or relatively low temperature
fall /fɔːl/ A1	verb - to move downward, typically rapidly and freely
together /təˈɡɛðər/ A1	adverb - in or into one place, group, or arrangement

Key Grammar Structures

• Listen, I know it's been hard, you know it's no different for me.

  ➔ Present Perfect

  ➔ The phrase 'it's been hard' uses the Present Perfect to describe an action that started in the past and continues to the present.

• We're less than a zero-sum game now, and baby we both know that's not how it's supposed to be.

  ➔ Comparative Adjective

  ➔ 'Less than' is used to compare the current situation to a zero-sum game, indicating a worse condition.

• The writing's on the wall — it seems like forever since we had a good day.

  ➔ Present Perfect with 'since'

  ➔ The phrase 'since we had a good day' uses the Present Perfect with 'since' to indicate a point in the past from which the situation has continued.

• I just want to get you high tonight.

  ➔ Modal Verb 'want'

  ➔ The modal verb 'want' expresses desire or wish, indicating the speaker's intention.

• And I go too hot, and you go too cold and we both fall apart.

  ➔ Parallel Structure

  ➔ The sentence uses parallel structure with 'and' to show contrasting actions between the two subjects.

• But the mind has no say in affairs of the heart.

  ➔ Negative Structure

  ➔ The phrase 'has no say' is a negative structure indicating lack of influence or control.

• Even if its the last thing that we do together.

  ➔ Conditional Clause

  ➔ The phrase 'even if' introduces a conditional clause, expressing a hypothetical situation.