Total Eclipse of the Heart – English Lyrics

• By: Bonnie Tyler

Lyrics & Translation

[English]

♪

♪ (Turn around) ♪

♪ Every now and then I get a little bit tired ♪

♪ Of listening to the sound of my tears ♪

♪ (Turn around) ♪

♪ Every now and then I get a little bit nervous ♪

♪ That the best of all the years have gone by ♪

♪ (Turn around) ♪

♪ Every now and then I get a little bit terrified ♪

♪ And then I see the look in your eyes ♪

♪ (Turn around, bright eyes) ♪

♪ Every now and then I fall apart ♪

♪ (Turn around, bright eyes) ♪

♪ Every now and then I fall apart ♪

♪ (Turn around) ♪

♪ Every now and then I get a little bit restless ♪

♪ And I dream of something wild♪

♪ (Turn around) ♪

♪ Every now and then I get a little bit helpless ♪

♪ And I'm lying like a child in your arms ♪

♪ (Turn around) ♪

♪ Every now and then I get a little bit angry ♪

♪ And I know I've got to get out and cry ♪

♪ (Turn around) ♪

♪ Every now and then I get a little bit terrified ♪

♪ But then I see the look in your eyes ♪

♪ (Turn around, bright eyes) ♪

♪ Every now and then I fall apart ♪

♪ (Turn around, bright eyes) ♪

♪ Every now and then I fall apart ♪

♪ And I need you now tonight ♪

♪ And I need you more than ever ♪

♪ And if you only hold me tight ♪

♪ We'll be holding on forever ♪

♪ And we'll only be making it right ♪

♪ 'Cause we'll never be wrong ♪

♪ Together we can take it to the end of the line ♪

♪ Your love is like a shadow on me all of the time (All of the time) ♪

♪ I don't know what to do and I'm always in the dark ♪

♪ We're living in a powder keg and giving off sparks ♪

♪ I really need you tonight ♪

♪ Forever's gonna start tonight Forever's gonna start tonight ♪

♪ Once upon a time I was falling in love ♪

♪ But now I'm only falling apart ♪

♪ There's nothing I can do ♪

♪ A total eclipse of the heart ♪

♪ Once upon a time there was light in my life ♪

♪ But now there's only love in the dark ♪

♪ Nothing I can say ♪

♪ A total eclipse of the heart ♪

♪

♪ (Turn around, bright eyes) ♪

♪ Every now and then I fall apart ♪

♪ (Turn around, bright eyes) ♪

♪ Every now and then I fall apart ♪

♪ And I need you now tonight ♪

♪ And I need you more than ever ♪

♪ And if you only hold me tight ♪

♪ We'll be holding on forever ♪

♪ And we'll only be making it right ♪

♪ 'Cause we'll never be wrong ♪

♪ Together we can take it to the end of the line ♪

♪ Your love is like a shadow on me all of the time (All of the time) ♪

♪ I don't know what to do and I'm always in the dark ♪

♪ We're living in a powder keg and giving off sparks ♪

♪ I really need you tonight ♪

♪ Forever's gonna start tonight Forever's gonna start tonight ♪

♪ Once upon a time I was falling in love ♪

♪ But now I'm only falling apart ♪

♪ Nothing I can do ♪

♪ A total eclipse of the heart ♪

♪ Once upon a time there was light in my life ♪

♪ But now there's only love in the dark ♪

♪ Nothing I can say ♪

♪ A total eclipse of the heart ♪

♪ A total eclipse of the heart ♪

♪ (Turn around, bright eyes) ♪

♪ (Turn around, bright eyes) ♪

♪ (Turn around) ♪

Key Grammar Structures

• Every now and then I get a little bit tired

  ➔ get + adjective (become)

  ➔ The verb **"get"** is followed by an adjective to show a change of state: *I get tired* = I become tired.

• And then I see the look in your eyes

  ➔ simple present (habitual / factual)

  ➔ The verb **"see"** is in the simple present to describe a regular or factual observation.

• And I know I've got to get out and cry

  ➔ present perfect + have to (obligation)

  ➔ The contraction **"I've"** is present perfect, while **"got to"** (have to) expresses strong obligation: *I have got to get out* = *I must leave*.

• We'll be holding on forever

  ➔ future continuous (will be + -ing)

  ➔ The structure **"will be holding"** uses the future continuous to talk about an action that will be in progress at a future time.

• Your love is like a shadow on me all of the time

  ➔ simile with "like"

  ➔ The phrase **"is like"** creates a simile, comparing love to a shadow to highlight similarity.

• I don't know what to do and I'm always in the dark

  ➔ negative verb + indirect question (what to do)

  ➔ The clause **"don't know what to do"** uses a negative verb (**don't know**) followed by an indirect question (**what to do**) to express uncertainty.

• Once upon a time I was falling in love

  ➔ past continuous (was + -ing)

  ➔ The structure **"was falling"** is past continuous, indicating an ongoing action in the past.

• We're living in a powder keg and giving off sparks

  ➔ present progressive (be + -ing)

  ➔ The verbs **"are living"** and **"giving"** are in the present progressive, describing actions happening right now.