To Be Young – English Lyrics

• By: Anne-Marie, Doja Cat
• Album: UNHEALTHY

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the world of youthful experiences with Anne-Marie and Doja Cat's 'To Be Young'. This track offers a glimpse into the language of emotions, teaching you how to express the bittersweet moments of growing up. Experience the blend of pop melodies and relatable lyrics that make this song a unique exploration of youth .

[English]

They tell me I should make a plan for a life

All I'm thinkin' 'bout is what to do tonight

Hundred miles an hour, no headlights

On an open road home

We do what we can to dull the pain

Pinky promise, things still stay the same

Even when I'm old, I'll know your name

Anywhere we go, oh

Dye my hair a million colours

Dream I'll make a billion dollars

I swear that day can't come soon enough

In the meantime, we just

Fall in love, broken heart

Break the rules, drink too much

We're all a mess, but I guess

This is what it feels like to be young (to be young)

Take a punch (take a punch), get back up (get back up)

Act a fool (act a fool), give a fuck (give a fuck)

We're all a mess (all a mess), but I guess

This is what it feels like to be young

Small town and we're drinkin' all the liquor

Every night, tryna feel somethin' bigger (feel somethin' bigger)

Hotbox in the car in the winter

We don't wanna go home

And I'll dye my hair a million colours

Dream I'll make a billion dollars

I swear that day can't come soon enough

In the meantime, we just

Fall in love (fall in love), broken heart (broken heart)

Break the rules (break the rules), drink too much (drink too much)

We're all a mess (all a mess), but I guess

This is what it feels like to be young (to be young)

Take a punch (take a punch), get back up (get back up)

Act a fool (hey), give a fuck (give a fuck)

We're all a mess (all a mess), but I guess

This is what it feels like to be young

This can't be real life, don't even feel high

Maybe if you take one with me, then it'll feel right

Don't wanna know what stayin' still would even feel like

Wanted to fit in when I didn't, now I know

And I just want freedom, can't be lonely

Heartless, hopeful, stupid, phony

Say they love me, but won't show me

Is this how it feels like to be young?

Fall in love (young), broken heart (young)

Break the rules (young), drink too much (young)

We're all a mess (young), but I guess

This is what it feels like to be young

Take a punch (take a punch), get back up (get back up)

Act a fool (act a fool), give a fuck (give a fuck)

We're all a mess (all a mess), but I guess

This is what it feels like to be young

Yeah-oh-oh-oh

Yeah-oh-oh-oh

This is what it feels like to be young, young

...

This is what it feels like to be young

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the existence of a living being; the period between birth and death
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - a strong feeling of affection toward someone or something verb - to feel deep affection for someone or something
dream /driːm/ A2	noun - a series of thoughts, images, or emotions occurring during sleep; an aspiration verb - to experience dreams while sleeping; to imagine something desired
freedom /ˈfriːdəm/ B1	noun - the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance
heart /hɑːrt/ A2	noun - the organ that pumps blood; the center of emotion
pain /peɪn/ A2	noun - physical or emotional suffering or discomfort
mess /mɛs/ B1	noun - a state of disorder or confusion
rules /ruːlz/ A2	noun - explicit or understood regulations or principles governing behavior
drink /drɪŋk/ A1	verb - to swallow liquid noun - a liquid suitable for swallowing
dye /daɪ/ B2	verb - to color something by soaking it in a coloring substance
colours /ˈkʌl.əz/ A2	noun - the visual perceptual property derived from reflected light; hues
punch /pʌntʃ/ B1	noun - a forceful blow with a closed fist verb - to strike with a closed fist
act /ækt/ B1	verb - to behave in a particular way; to take action
fool /fuːl/ B1	noun - a person who lacks sense or judgment; a silly person
lonely /ˈloʊn.li/ B2	adjective - sad because of a lack of companionship or contact with others
hopeful /ˈhoʊp.fəl/ B2	adjective - feeling or showing optimism about the future
young /jʌŋ/ A1	adjective - in an early stage of life; not old
million /ˈmɪl.jən/ B1	noun - the number 1,000,000; a very large quantity

Key Grammar Structures

• They tell me I should make a plan for a life

  ➔ Modal verb 'should' for advice

  ➔ "Should" expresses recommendation or advice about future actions.

• All I'm thinkin' 'bout is what to do tonight

  ➔ Contractions & informal reductions

  ➔ "I'm" (I am) and "'bout" (about) show spoken English contractions common in songs.

• We do what we can to dull the pain

  ➔ Noun clause with 'what'

  ➔ "What we can" functions as a noun phrase meaning "the thing that we can do".

• Even when I'm old, I'll know your name

  ➔ Future simple tense with 'will'

  ➔ "I'll" (I will) expresses a definite future prediction or promise.

• Take a punch, get back up

  ➔ Phrasal verb 'get back up'

  ➔ "Get back up" means to recover after difficulty (literal: rise to standing position).

• Every night, tryna feel somethin' bigger

  ➔ Informal contractions ('tryna', 'somethin')

  ➔ "Tryna" = trying to, "somethin'" = something. Common reductions in casual speech/song lyrics.

• Maybe if you take one with me, then it'll feel right

  ➔ Conditional structure (if...then...)

  ➔ Shows a cause-effect relationship where "it'll feel right" depends on "you take one with me".

• Wanted to fit in when I didn't, now I know

  ➔ Past tense for past desires

  ➔ "Wanted" describes a past desire (contrasted with present understanding "now I know").