Lyrics & Translation
"Treading Water" by Alex Clare offers a compelling journey into the complexities of human emotion, particularly the lingering effects of past relationships. Through its poignant lyrics and blend of soul, electronic, and alternative rock elements, the song provides a rich tapestry for language learners to explore English vocabulary related to heartbreak, introspection, and emotional stagnation. The raw honesty in Clare's vocals and the evocative imagery make this song a powerful piece for understanding nuanced expressions in English.
[English]
My heart just sank the moment I saw youYou're the image of a girl that I used to know
Don't be alarmed if it seems hard for me to explain
But every detail of your face makes me recall her name
Treading water, I keep treading water
Maybe it's another chance to mug myself again
Maybe it's another chance
I'm sure I'll fuck things up in the same way
Maybe it's another chance to mug myself again
Can you forgive the things I do that I can't amend
Nor the way I yearn for her, I hope you can pretend
Girl, you're a fire and you'll find that I want to get burned
No matter what you can teach me I'm sure I'll never learn
Treading water, I keep treading water
Maybe it's another chance to mug myself again
Maybe it's another chance
I'm sure I'll fuck things up in the same way
Maybe it's another chance to mug myself again
If my concentration seems spread too thin
And when you speak my eyes glaze over
I'm sorry girl, it's not you, it's her
And you're another chance to mug myself again.
Maybe you're another chance
I'm sure I'll fuck things up in the same way
Maybe it's another chance to mug myself again
And you're another chance to mug myself again.
Key Vocabulary
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Key Grammar Structures
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My heart just sank the moment I saw you
➔ Simple past tense
➔ The verbs "sank" and "saw" are in the simple past tense, used to describe completed actions in the past.
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You're the image of a girl that I used to know
➔ Used to + base verb
➔ "Used to know" expresses a past habit or state that is no longer true in the present.
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Treading water, I keep treading water
➔ Present continuous for repeated actions
➔ "Keep treading" uses the present continuous to emphasize a continuous, repeated action that is happening now.
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Maybe it's another chance to mug myself again
➔ Reflexive pronoun
➔ "Myself" is a reflexive pronoun used when the subject and object of the verb are the same person.
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I'm sure I'll fuck things up in the same way
➔ Future with 'will' for prediction
➔ "I'll fuck things up" uses 'will' to express a future prediction or certainty about an event.
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Can you forgive the things I do that I can't amend
➔ Modal verb 'can' for ability/possibility
➔ "Can" is used in both questions and negative statements to express ability, possibility, or permission.
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No matter what you can teach me I'm sure I'll never learn
➔ Concessive clause
➔ "No matter what" introduces a concessive clause that expresses a contrast or unexpected result.
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If my concentration seems spread too thin
➔ Present perfect passive
➔ "Seems spread too thin" uses a present perfect passive construction to describe a state resulting from a previous action.
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And you're another chance to mug myself again
➔ Infinitive of purpose
➔ "To mug myself again" uses the infinitive form to express purpose or reason.
