Witness – English Lyrics

• By: Cyndi Lauper

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the story behind Cyndi Lauper's 'Witness' and improve your English by exploring its direct and powerful lyrics. This song, with its clear narrative and repetitive chorus, is a great tool for learners to grasp expressions of refusal and self-preservation. The blend of reggae and new wave makes it a unique and engaging way to experience the energy of 80s pop music while expanding your vocabulary.

[English]

You're sorry now

And you'll change somehow

And I am what you need to get out

I don't wanna be (I don't wanna)

I don't wanna be (I don't wanna)

I don't wanna be a witness

No, I don't wanna be (I don't wanna)

I don't wanna be (I don't wanna)

I don't wanna be a witness

Oh, oh, oh-oh, oh-oh

'Cause I'm crawling back

I'm searchin' the right track

I'm standin' at last, I'm sure

And I don't wanna be (I don't wanna)

I don't wanna be (I don't wanna)

I don't wanna be a witness

No, I don't wanna be (I don't wanna)

I don't wanna be (I don't wanna)

I don't wanna be a witness

Oh, oh, oh-oh, oh-oh

Jailbird chained to walk

Since they used to talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk

But the melody, none at all my love

And I don't wanna be (I don't wanna)

I don't wanna be (I don't wanna)

I don't wanna be a witness

And no, I don't wanna be (I don't wanna)

I don'28:43] wanna be (I don't wanna)

I don't wanna be a witness

Oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh

Witness!

Witness!

Witty, witty, witty, witty, witty, witty, yeah

Yeah, yeah

Please let me out this time

'Cause I don't wanna be (I don't wanna)

I don't wanna be (I don't wanna)

I don't wanna be a witness

No, I don't wanna be (I don't wanna)

I don't wanna be (I don't wanna)

I don't wanna be a witness

No, I don't wanna be (I don't wanna)

I don't wanna be (I don't wanna)

I don't wanna be a witness

I don't wanna be (I don't wanna)

No, I don't wanna be (I don't wanna)

No, I don't wanna be a witness

I don't wanna be (I don't wanna)

I don't wanna be (I don't wanna)

I don't wanna be a witness

I don't wanna be (I don't wanna)

No, I don't wanna be (I don't wanna)

No, I don't wanna be a witness

Oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh

Witness!

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
witness /ˈwɪtnəs/ A2	noun - a person who sees something happen verb - to see or know by personal presence
sorry /ˈsɒri/ A1	adjective - feeling regret or sadness
change /tʃeɪndʒ/ A1	verb - to make or become different noun - the act of becoming different
crawling /ˈkrɔːlɪŋ/ A2	verb - to move slowly on hands and knees
searching /ˈsɜːrtʃɪŋ/ A2	verb - to look for something
track /træk/ A2	noun - a mark or line left by something
standing /ˈstændɪŋ/ A1	verb - to be in an upright position
jailbird /ˈdʒeɪlbɜːrd/ B1	noun - a person in prison
chained /tʃeɪnd/ A2	adjective - bound with a chain
melody /ˈmelədi/ B1	noun - a sequence of pleasing sounds
witty /ˈwɪti/ B2	adjective - showing or characterized by quick and inventive verbal humor
need /niːd/ A1	verb - to require something noun - a requirement
sure /ʃʊr/ A1	adjective - certain or confident
talk /tɔːk/ A1	verb - to speak to someone noun - a conversation
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - a deep affection verb - to care deeply about someone

Key Grammar Structures

• You're sorry now

  ➔ Present Perfect Tense

  ➔ The phrase 'You're sorry now' uses the present perfect tense with 'have/has + past participle' (contracted to 'You're') to indicate an action that occurred in the past and has results relevant to the present.

• And you'll change somehow

  ➔ Future with 'will'

  ➔ The phrase 'you'll change' uses the future tense with 'will' to express a prediction or promise about a future action.

• I don't wanna be (I don't wanna)

  ➔ Negative Contraction

  ➔ The phrase 'I don't wanna' is a negative contraction of 'I do not want to,' commonly used in informal speech.

• I'm searchin' the right track

  ➔ Present Continuous Tense with Apostrophe

  ➔ The phrase 'I'm searchin'' uses the present continuous tense with an apostrophe to replace 'am searching,' a common feature in informal speech.

• Since they used to talk

  ➔ Past Habit with 'used to'

  ➔ The phrase 'used to talk' employs the structure 'used to + infinitive' to describe a past habit or repeated action that is no longer true.

• But the melody, none at all my love

  ➔ Emphasis with 'none at all'

  ➔ The phrase 'none at all' is used for emphasis to completely negate the existence of something, in this case, the melody.

• Witness!

  ➔ Exclamatory Sentence

  ➔ The word 'Witness!' is an exclamatory sentence used to express strong emotion or to draw attention.

• Please let me out this time

  ➔ Polite Request with 'Please'

  ➔ The phrase 'Please let me out' uses 'please' to make a polite request, showing respect and courtesy.