Too Afraid – English Lyrics

• By: MARINA
• Album: Love + Fear

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the nuances of expressing fear and longing in English with MARINA's "Too Afraid." The song's clear and emotive lyrics provide a great opportunity to learn vocabulary related to feelings of stagnation and the internal debate of making a big life decision. Its relatable theme and catchy, melancholic melody make it a compelling song for language learners.

[English]

I wanna change, but I don't know how

I've been trying to turn my life around

I've been to every party, every bar

Nothing thrills me in this city anymore

I guess I didn't know if I was happy (Ah)

I can't pretend, I can't pretend

Been feeling like I don't belong, and I see (Ah)

I've reached an end, I've reached an end

What, well, what can I do?

I hate this city, but I stay 'cause of you

Why, well, why can't I change?

I wanna move on, but I'm just too afraid

Just too afraid, just too afraid

Just too afraid, that's why I stay

Get on the train, I go underground

People look so lonely with eyes turned down

This isn't living, this isn't how I thought my life would be

But I need to get out

Nothing's gonna change the way I feel (Ah)

I can't pretend, I've reached an end

What, well, what can I do?

I hate this city, but I stay 'cause of you

Why, well, why can't I change?

I wanna move on, but I'm just too afraid

Just too afraid, just too afraid

Just too afraid, that's why I stay

Just too afraid, just too afraid

Just too afraid, that's why I stay

Ah, it could all be different

Ah, in this life

Change your future in an instant

Ah, just to feel alive

What, well, what can I do?

I hate this city, but I stay 'cause of you

Why, well, why can't I change?

I wanna move on, but I'm just too afraid

Just too afraid, just too afraid

Just too afraid, that's why I stay

Just too afraid, just too afraid

Just too afraid, that's why I stay

That's why I stay

That's why I stay

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
afraid /əˈfreɪd/ A1	adjective - feeling fear or anxiety
alive /əˈlaɪv/ A2	adjective - living, not dead adjective - full of energy
change /tʃeɪndʒ/ A1	verb - to make or become different noun - an act or process of making something different
city /ˈsɪti/ A1	noun - a large town
different /ˈdɪfrənt/ A1	adjective - not the same
feel /fiːl/ A1	verb - to experience an emotion or sensation verb - to touch in order to examine
happy /ˈhæpi/ A1	adjective - feeling pleasure or contentment
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the condition of being alive
lonely /ˈloʊnli/ A2	adjective - feeling sad and alone
move /muːv/ A1	verb - to change position verb - to change residence
party /ˈpɑːrti/ A1	noun - a social gathering for celebration
pretend /prɪˈtend/ A2	verb - to act as if something is true when it is not
reach /riːtʃ/ A2	verb - to arrive at a place
stay /steɪ/ A1	verb - to remain in a place
train /treɪn/ A1	noun - a vehicle on rails
turn /tɜːrn/ A1	verb - to change direction

Key Grammar Structures

• I've been trying to turn my life around

  ➔ Present Perfect Continuous Tense

  ➔ "I've been trying" expresses an action that started in the past and continues, emphasizing duration and effort toward change.

• Nothing thrills me in this city anymore

  ➔ Present Simple Tense with Negation

  ➔ "Nothing thrills me" uses present simple negative to convey a permanent loss of excitement or interest.

• I guess I didn't know if I was happy

  ➔ Past Tense Modal Verb with Subjunctive

  ➔ "I guess" uses a past modal to express uncertainty, while "if I was happy" shows subjunctive mood for hypothetical state.

• I've reached an end

  ➔ Present Perfect Tense

  ➔ "I've reached" in present perfect indicates completion of a process with current relevance to feeling stuck.

• What can I do?

  ➔ Interrogative with Modal Verb

  ➔ "What can I do?" uses an interrogative modal to express helplessness and seek options for change.

• I hate this city, but I stay 'cause of you

  ➔ Concession with Informal Conjunction

  ➔ "But" shows concession, and "'cause" (because) connects reasoning informally to staying despite dislike.

• But I need to get out

  ➔ Modal of Necessity with Infinitive

  ➔ "Need to" expresses obligation or strong desire to escape, contrasting with fear.

• It could all be different

  ➔ Modal of Possibility

  ➔ "Could" suggests potential for change, implying hope amidst fear.

• Change your future in an instant

  ➔ Imperative Mood with Infinitive

  ➔ "Change" is imperative, urging quick action to transform life.