This – English Lyrics

• By: OK Go

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the beauty of the present moment with OK Go's song "This." Its uplifting lyrics and celebratory feel make it a perfect and accessible song to learn English with. The song's focus on simple, universal emotions and everyday imagery provides a great opportunity to connect with the language in a meaningful and joyful way.

[English]

The sun's barely rising

The eastern horizon

Is starting to lighten to grey

Man, there was a time

When a quarter past five

Was the whole other side of the day

Oh, but look at you now

Bright-eyed somehow

And swaying to a song that ain't playing out loud

And I lose the thread

Like, forget what I said

I'm a deer in the headlights again

'Cause by default the future wins

She carves the dolls and pulls the strings

But it's all right here, right now

In your hands and still out of reach somehow

This endless precipice

Or honey, whatever it is

Oh, it just don't get better than this

...

The revelry levels, eventually petals

Of normalcy settle again

Oh, but look at us now

Normal somehow

Is just inches from heaven, I guess

'Cause by default the future wins

She carves the dolls and pulls the strings

But now it's right here, right now

In your hands and still out of reach somehow

And it's all there, but you can't quite look at it

A glow in the margins, maybe that's just what heaven is

This endless precipice

'Cause honey, whatever it is

Oh, it just don't get better than this

And it's nearly unbearable

That it will not submit to the touch

Lovely and terrible

That there's no way to touch it

No way to tame it

No way to bottle it up

...

Oh, but look at you now

Bright-eyed somehow

And swaying to a song in your head

Right here, right now

In your hands and still out of reach somehow

And it's all there, though you can't quite look at it

A glow in the margins, honey, that's just what heaven is

This endless precipice

And sugar, whatever it is

Oh, it just don't get better than this

It just don't get better than this

It just don't get better than this

It just don't get better

(By default the future wins)

Oh, it just don't get better than this

Than this, than this

Oh, it just don't get better than this

Than this

It just don't get better than this

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
rising /ˈraɪzɪŋ/ A2	verb - moving upwards; ascending
lighten /ˈlaɪtn/ B1	verb - to make or become lighter in color or shade
bright-eyed /ˈbraɪt aɪd/ B2	adjective - having bright or eager eyes; enthusiastic and hopeful
swaying /ˈsweɪɪŋ/ B1	verb - moving gently from side to side
thread /θred/ B1	noun - a thin strand of cotton, nylon, or other material used in sewing or weaving.
deer /dɪr/ A2	noun - a hoofed grazing or browsing animal, with branched bony antlers on the males
headlights /ˈhɛdˌlaɪts/ B1	noun - a powerful light at the front of a vehicle
future /ˈfjuːtʃər/ A2	noun - the time or a period of time following the moment of speaking or writing; what is going to happen. adjective - that will exist or happen in the time to come
carves /kɑːrvz/ B2	verb - to cut (a hard material) in order to produce an object or design
dolls /dɒlz/ A1	noun - a child's toy resembling a baby or other human figure
strings /strɪŋz/ A2	noun - thin threads of twisted fiber used for tying, binding, or hanging
reach /riːtʃ/ A2	verb - stretch out an arm in a specified direction in order to touch or grasp something. noun - the extent or distance to which someone or something can reach.
precipice /ˈprɛsɪpɪs/ C1	noun - a very steep rock face or cliff, especially a tall one
revelry /ˈrɛvəlri/ C1	noun - lively and noisy festivities, especially involving drinking a large amount of alcohol
petals /ˈpɛtlz/ B1	noun - each of the segments of the corolla of a flower, which are modified leaves and are typically brightly colored.
normal /ˈnɔːrməl/ A2	adjective - conforming to a standard; usual, typical, or expected.
heaven /ˈhɛvn/ A2	noun - the abode of God or the gods; a supremely delightful place
glow /ɡloʊ/ B1	noun - a steady radiance of light or heat
margins /ˈmɑːrdʒɪnz/ B2	noun - the edge or border of something.
unbearable /ʌnˈbɛərəbl/ C1	adjective - not able to be endured or tolerated
submit /səbˈmɪt/ B2	verb - accept or yield to a superior force or to the authority or will of another person.
tame /teɪm/ B2	verb - to bring (an animal) from a wild or savage state to a domesticated condition. adjective - (of an animal) not dangerous or frightened of people; domesticated.
bottle /ˈbɑːtl/ A1	noun - a container, typically made of glass or plastic and with a narrow neck, used for storing liquids. verb - put (liquid or other substance) in bottles.
lovely /ˈlʌvli/ A2	adjective - exquisitely beautiful
terrible /ˈtɛrəbl/ A2	adjective - extremely bad or serious

Key Grammar Structures

• Man, there was a time / When a quarter past five / Was the whole other side of the day

  ➔ Past Tense Simple in narration, Time clauses with 'when'

  ➔ "There was a time" uses the past simple to describe a period in the past. "When a quarter past five was..." is a time clause specifying *when* that period was.

• Oh, but look at you now / Bright-eyed somehow / And swaying to a song that ain't playing out loud

  ➔ Relative clauses with reduced form ('that ain't playing'), Present Participle ('swaying')

  ➔ "That ain't playing" is a relative clause that has been simplified. "Swaying" is a present participle acting as a verb describing an ongoing action.

• Like, forget what I said / I'm a deer in the headlights again

  ➔ Imperative (forget), Idiomatic expression

  ➔ "Forget" is used in the imperative mood, giving a command. "A deer in the headlights" is an idiom meaning to be stunned or caught off guard.

• But it's all right here, right now / In your hands and still out of reach somehow

  ➔ Adverb of manner ('somehow'), Prepositional phrases

  ➔ "Somehow" indicates the manner in which something is happening, even if it's unclear *how*. "In your hands" and "out of reach" are prepositional phrases adding detail.

• This endless precipice / Or honey, whatever it is

  ➔ Noun phrase ('endless precipice'), Ellipsis

  ➔ "Endless precipice" is a noun phrase. "Whatever it is" implies a longer sentence that is shortened (ellipsis).

• It just don't get better than this

  ➔ Double negative (non-standard, but common in colloquial speech), Comparative structure

  ➔ "Don't get better *than* this" is a comparative structure. "It just don't" uses a double negative, technically incorrect but creating emphasis in informal speech.

• That it will not submit to the touch

  ➔ Future simple with 'will', Subjunctive mood (implied)

  ➔ "'will not submit' uses the future simple to express a future action. The sentence also implies a subjunctive mood because it expresses a desired but unlikely outcome (the thing refusing to be touched).