Unchained Melody – English Lyrics

• By: The Righteous Brothers

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a powerful and enjoyable experience, and "Unchained Melody" is a perfect song to start with. Its clear and heartfelt lyrics about love and longing can help you learn expressive vocabulary and emotional phrasing. The song's slow tempo allows you to easily follow along and appreciate the beauty of the words and the story they tell.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - a strong feeling of affection verb - to feel a strong affection for someone
darling /ˈdɑːrlɪŋ/ A2	noun - a term of endearment adjective - dear; beloved
touch /tʌtʃ/ A2	noun - the sense of feeling verb - to come into or be in contact with (something)
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole
lonely /ˈloʊnli/ A2	adjective - sad because one has no friends or company
need /niːd/ A1	verb - require (something) because it is essential or very important noun - a thing that is essential or very important
God /ɡɑːd/ A1	noun - the creator and ruler of the universe and source of all moral authority
speed /spiːd/ B1	verb - move rapidly noun - the rate at which someone or something is able to move or operate
rivers /ˈrɪvərz/ A1	noun - large natural streams of water flowing in a channel to the sea, a lake, or another such stream
flow /floʊ/ A2	verb - move steadily and continuously in a current or stream noun - the action or fact of moving along in a steady, continuous stream
sea /siː/ A1	noun - the expanse of salt water that covers most of the earth's surface and surrounds its landmasses.
open /ˈoʊpən/ A1	adjective - allowing access, passage, or a view verb - to allow access, passage, or a view
arms /ɑːrmz/ A1	noun - each of the two upper limbs of the human body from the shoulder to the hand
home /hoʊm/ A1	noun - the place where one lives permanently, especially as a member of a family or household
coming /ˈkʌmɪŋ/ A1	verb - to move or travel towards or into a place thought of as near or familiar to the speaker.
hungered /ˈhʌŋɡərd/ B2	verb - feel a strong desire or craving for.

Key Grammar Structures

• I've hungered for your touch

  ➔ Present Perfect Tense

  ➔ The present perfect ("I've hungered") indicates an action that started in the past and continues to be relevant in the present. It emphasizes the state of longing that still exists.

• A long, lonely time

  ➔ Adjective Series

  ➔ The adjectives "long" and "lonely" modify the noun "time", adding emotional depth and emphasizing the duration and feeling associated with the separation.

• Time goes by so slowly

  ➔ Adverb of Degree

  ➔ The adverb "slowly" describes *how* time goes by, and "so" intensifies the degree of slowness, highlighting the speaker's perception of elongated time.

• Are you still mine?

  ➔ Interrogative Sentence with Adverb

  ➔ This is a question asking about a continued state of ownership. The adverb "still" indicates the speaker's uncertainty about whether the relationship has endured over time.

• God speed your love to me

  ➔ Subjunctive Mood (archaic)

  ➔ "God speed" is an archaic expression using the subjunctive mood to express a wish or blessing. Modern English would likely use "May God speed..." or "May God bring..." .

• Lonely rivers flow to the sea

  ➔ Subject-Verb Agreement

  ➔ The plural subject "rivers" agrees with the plural verb "flow". This illustrates basic grammatical agreement, ensuring the sentence is structurally sound.

• Wait for me

  ➔ Imperative Mood

  ➔ "Wait" is the base form of the verb used to give a command or make a request.