Walls – English Lyrics

• By: The Lumineers

Lyrics & Translation

“Walls” by The Lumineers offers a beautiful opportunity to connect with the English language through its simple, yet profound lyrics. This heartfelt tribute to Tom Petty is an acoustic ballad that speaks of love's power to overcome any obstacle. For language learners, the clear and emotional vocals of Wesley Schultz make the lyrics easy to follow, allowing you to appreciate the poetic storytelling and rich metaphors within the song. It's a special track that not only honors a music legend but also carries a universal message of hope and perseverance.

[English]

Some days are diamonds

Some days are rocks

Some doors are open

Some roads are blocked

Sundowns are golden

And they fade away

If I never do nothing

I'll get you back someday

'Cause you got a heart so big

It could crush this town

And I can't hold out forever

Even walls fall down

...

All around your island

There's a barricade

It keeps out the danger

It holds in the pain

Sometimes you're happy

Sometimes you cry

Half of me is ocean

Half of me is sky

But you got a heart so big

It could crush this town

And I can't hold out forever

Even walls fall down

Yes dear

...

Some things are over

Some things go on

Part of me you carry

Part of me is gone

But you got a heart so big

It could crush this town

And I can't hold out forever

Even walls fall down

Baby, you got a heart so big

It could crush this town

And I can't hold out forever

Even walls fall down

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
days /deɪz/ A1	noun - a period of 24 hours
diamonds /ˈdaɪməndz/ B1	noun - a precious stone
rocks /rɒks/ A1	noun - a hard substance found in the ground
doors /dɔːrz/ A1	noun - a movable barrier
roads /roʊdz/ A1	noun - a way for traveling
blocked /blɒkt/ A2	adjective - obstructed; closed
golden /ˈɡoʊldən/ B1	adjective - of the color gold; precious
fade /feɪd/ B1	verb - to gradually disappear
heart /hɑːrt/ A1	noun - the organ that pumps blood noun - one's feelings or character
big /bɪɡ/ A1	adjective - of considerable size
town /taʊn/ A1	noun - a built-up area, smaller than a city
hold /hoʊld/ A2	verb - to keep; to maintain
forever /fərˈevər/ A2	adverb - for all time
walls /wɔːlz/ A1	noun - structures that enclose
fall /fɔːl/ A1	verb - to descend
island /ˈaɪlənd/ B1	noun - land surrounded by water
pain /peɪn/ A2	noun - suffering or distress
happy /ˈhapi/ A1	adjective - feeling or showing pleasure or contentment.
cry /kraɪ/ A1	verb - to shed tears
ocean /ˈoʊʃən/ A2	noun - a large body of saltwater
sky /skaɪ/ A1	noun - the atmosphere above the earth
over /ˈoʊvər/ A1	adjective - finished
carry /ˈkæri/ A1	verb - to hold and transport
gone /ɡɔːn/ A1	adjective - having departed

Key Grammar Structures

• Some days are diamonds, Some days are rocks

  ➔ Present Simple Tense

  ➔ The verb 'are' is in the present simple tense, used to describe general truths or habitual actions. Here, it highlights the contrasting nature of days.

• If I never do nothing, I'll get you back someday

  ➔ Zero Conditional + Future with 'will'

  ➔ The structure 'If I never do nothing' is a zero conditional, expressing a general truth. 'I'll get you back' uses 'will' to indicate a future action based on a present condition.

• You got a heart so big, It could crush this town

  ➔ Past Tense with 'got' + Modal Verb 'could'

  ➔ 'Got' is used in the past tense here, and 'could' is a modal verb expressing possibility. Together, they describe a hypothetical situation.

• Even walls fall down

  ➔ Present Simple with 'fall down'

  ➔ The verb phrase 'fall down' is in the present simple tense, indicating a general truth or fact. It emphasizes the inevitability of walls falling.

• Half of me is ocean, Half of me is sky

  ➔ Present Simple with 'is'

  ➔ The verb 'is' is used in the present simple tense to describe a permanent state or condition. Here, it metaphorically expresses the duality of the speaker's nature.

• Part of me you carry, Part of me is gone

  ➔ Present Simple with 'carry' and 'is'

  ➔ The verbs 'carry' and 'is' are both in the present simple tense, describing ongoing states. 'Carry' indicates a continuous action, while 'is gone' describes a permanent change.