Lyrics & Translation
Learning English with OneRepublic's 'Truth To Power' offers a unique opportunity to engage with powerful, emotive language. The song personifies the Earth, using clear and direct metaphors to convey a message of urgency and hope regarding climate change. Its lyrical structure and compelling narrative make it an accessible and moving piece for learners to explore themes of responsibility and the power of truth.
[English]
I could tell you I was fragileI could tell you I was weak
I could write you out a letter
Tell you anything you need
I've seen minutes turn to hours
Hours turn to years
And I've seen truth turn to power
If you could see me the way I see you
If you could feel me the way I feel you
You'd be a believer
You'd be a believer
Minutes turn to hours
Hours turn to years
And I've seen truth turn to power
I could tell you I was ageless
But I know you'll see the light
I could tell you I'm immune to everything
But that's a lie
Dust don't turn to flowers
Skies don't disappear
But I've seen truth to power
Oh, if you could see me the way I see you
If you could feel me the way I feel you
You'd be a believer (believer)
You'd be a believer (believer)
You'd be a believer (believer)
You'd be a believer (believer)
Hard to keep goin' on (hard to keep goin' on)
I said it's hard to keep goin' on (hard to keep goin' on)
I said it's hard to keep goin' on (hard to keep goin' on)
If you could see me the way I see you
If you could feel me the way I feel you
You'd be a believer
You'd be a believer
You'd be a believer
Be a believer
Be a believer (believer)
You'd be (be a believer)
Minutes turn to hours
Hours turn to years
And I've seen truth turn to power
Key Vocabulary
| Vocabulary | Meanings |
|---|---|
|
fragile /ˈfrædʒaɪl/ B1 |
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weak /wiːk/ A2 |
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letter /ˈlɛtər/ A2 |
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need /niːd/ A2 |
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minutes /ˈmɪnɪts/ A1 |
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hours /ˈaʊərz/ A1 |
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truth /tɹuːθ/ B2 |
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power /ˈpaʊər/ B2 |
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believer /bɪˈliːvər/ B2 |
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light /laɪt/ A2 |
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immune /ɪˈmjuːn/ B2 |
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flower /ˈflaʊər/ A2 |
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disappear /ˌdɪsəˈpɪər/ B2 |
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keep /kiːp/ A2 |
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Key Grammar Structures
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I've seen minutes turn to hours
➔ Present perfect tense
➔ Used to describe an action that started in the past and continues to the present or its effect is relevant now.
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Truth to power
➔ Noun phrase
➔ An idiomatic expression meaning speaking honestly or challenging authority.
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if you could see me the way I see you
➔ Second conditional (hypothetical situation)
➔ Expressing a hypothetical or unreal situation that is not currently true.
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Dust don't turn to flowers
➔ Present tense with modal 'don't' for negation
➔ Expressing a general truth or observation in the negative form.
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It's hard to keep goin' on
➔ Gerund ('goin'') used as the object of the preposition
➔ Using the -ing form of a verb as a noun to indicate ongoing action.
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You'd be a believer
➔ Conditional 'would' + base verb (second conditional)
➔ Expressing a hypothetical or possible future state.
