What If – English Lyrics

• By: Tokio Hotel
• Album: 2001

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the captivating world of Tokio Hotel's "What If," a song that masterfully blends retro-electro sounds with heartfelt lyrics. Learning the language through this track offers a unique opportunity to explore modern pop vocabulary and expressions related to love, doubt, and commitment, all set to an undeniably catchy beat. Its blend of atmospheric synths and thoughtful questioning makes it a special and engaging piece for any language learner.

[English]

I am down for something

Come pick me up in your car

Don't let me down for nothing

I wanna know who you are

And if you down for something

I want a piece of your heart

Come let's just not do anything

Give me a piece of the stars

We're high as fuck, nowhere to be

No second chance in this galaxy

It could be you, it could be me

So let us be, you and I

What if I would love you till the end?

You would never be alone again

What if I would love you till the end?

You would never be alone again

It's 5 a.m., that's nothing

Jump back in the car

We're getting lost in some new place

At least we know who we are

We're high as fuck, nowhere to be

No second chance in this galaxy

It could be you, it could be me

So let us be, you and I

What if I would love you till the end?

You would never be alone again

What if I would love you till the end?

You would never be alone again

What if I would love you till the end?

(What if, what if, what if)

You would never be alone again

(What if, what if, baby)

What if I would love you till the end?

(What if, what if, what if)

You would never be alone again

(What if, what if, baby)

What if I would love you till the end?

You would never be alone again

What if I would love you till the end?

You would never be alone again

What if I would love you till the end?

(What if, what if, what if)

You would never be alone again

(What if, what if, baby)

What if I would love you till the end?

(What if, what if, what if)

You would never be alone again

(What if, what if, baby)

Key Grammar Structures

• I am down for something

  ➔ Idiomatic Expression / Phrasal Verb: 'be down for something'

  ➔ The phrase "down for something" means to be willing or eager to do something. It implies enthusiasm or agreement to participate.

• Don't let me down for nothing

  ➔ Negative Imperative + Phrasal Verb: 'let down'

  ➔ "Don't let me down" is a negative imperative using the phrasal verb "let down," which means to disappoint someone or fail to provide expected support. The added "for nothing" emphasizes the importance of not disappointing.

• I wanna know who you are

  ➔ Informal Contraction: 'wanna'

  ➔ "Wanna" is a common informal contraction of "want to." It is widely used in spoken English and song lyrics but should generally be avoided in formal writing.

• And if you down for something

  ➔ Conditional Clause (Informal Ellipsis)

  ➔ In informal English, especially in spoken language or song lyrics, the verb "to be" can sometimes be omitted in conditional clauses. The full, more formal sentence would be "And if you **are** down for something."

• Come let's just not do anything

  ➔ Imperative + Suggestion ('let's') + Negative Infinitive

  ➔ "Come" is an imperative. "Let's" (let us) is used to make a suggestion that includes the speaker and the listener. "Not do anything" is a negative infinitive, expressing the suggestion to refrain from action.

• It could be you, it could be me

  ➔ Modal Verb: 'could' for Possibility

  ➔ The modal verb "could" is used here to express a possibility or a potential outcome. It suggests that both options, being 'you' or 'me,' are equally plausible.

• What if I would love you till the end?

  ➔ 'What if' + Hypothetical Future/Conditional Structure

  ➔ The phrase "What if" introduces a question about the consequences of a hypothetical situation. The use of "would" in the 'if' clause here is less common in formal Type 2 conditionals (which often use simple past in the 'if' clause), but in informal or emotional contexts, it can emphasize a strong, hypothetical future action or willingness.

• You would never be alone again

  ➔ Modal Verb: 'would' for Hypothetical Result

  ➔ "Would" is used here to express the hypothetical result or consequence of the situation posed in the preceding "What if" clause. It indicates what would happen under that specific condition.

• We're getting lost in some new place

  ➔ 'Get + Past Participle' (Change of State)

  ➔ The construction "get + past participle" is often used to describe a change of state or an action happening to the subject, similar to a passive voice but often emphasizing the process of becoming. Here, "getting lost" means "becoming lost."

• At least we know who we are

  ➔ Idiomatic Phrase: 'at least'

  ➔ "At least" is an idiomatic phrase used to indicate that something is the minimum acceptable or positive aspect of a situation, despite other potential negatives. It implies a small consolation or a basic truth.