You asked for this – English Lyrics

• By: Halsey
• Album: If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the raw and introspective world of Halsey's "You asked for this," a powerful track where the artist confronts the intense emotions of impending motherhood and societal pressures. Through its compelling lyrics and a unique blend of grunge-pop, you can explore nuanced expressions of fear, self-criticism, and ultimately, a journey towards self-acceptance. This song offers a fascinating insight into Halsey's personal transformation and the universal struggle of reconciling different aspects of one's identity, making it a rich and relatable piece for language learners to delve into emotionally charged English.

[English]

Don't know what you want from me

When I'm sunburnt lips and summer feet

I'm tattered like these Levi jeans

Punch-wasted on redundancy

Now, what the fuck does all this mean?

You know I'm still somebody's daughter, see

I spilled the milk you left for me

My tears are falling flawlessly now

Go on and be a big girl, you asked for this now

Go on and be a big girl, or everybody's gonna drown you out

Go on and be a big girl, you asked for this now

You better show 'em why you talk so loud

You wished upon a falling star

And then left behind the avant-garde

For lemonade in crystal glasses

Picket fences, file taxes

Who the hell is in your bed?

You better kiss goodnight and give some head

And then, next the morning comes instead

Well, is this the life that lies ahead now?

Go on and be a big girl, you asked for this now

Go on and be a big girl, or everybody's gonna drown you out

Go on and be a big girl, you asked for this now

You better show 'em why you talk so loud

Go on and be a big girl, you asked for this now

Go on and be a big girl, or everybody's gonna drown you out

Go on and be a big girl, you asked for this now

You better show 'em why you talk so loud

I want my cake on a silver platter

I want a fistful in my hands

I want a beautiful boy's despondent laughter

I wanna ruin all my plans

I want a fist around my throat

I wanna cry so hard, I choke

I want everything I asked for

Ah, ah, ah, ah

Ah, ah, ah, ah

...

Ah, ah, ah, ah

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
tattered /ˈtætərd/ B1	adjective - worn out or torn from long use
redundancy /rɪˈdʌndənsi/ C1	noun - the state of being not necessary or not useful
flawlessly /ˈflɔːləsli/ B2	adverb - without any mistakes or errors
avant-garde /ˌævɒŋˈɡɑːrd/ C1	adjective - new and unusual or experimental ideas, especially in the arts
despondent /dɪˈspɒndənt/ C1	adjective - feeling very sad and without hope
platter /ˈplætər/ B1	noun - a large, flat dish used for serving food
fistful /ˈfɪstfʊl/ B2	noun - an amount that can be held in a closed hand
ruin /ˈruːɪn/ B1	verb - to destroy or spoil something completely
throat /θroʊt/ A2	noun - the front part of the neck
choke /tʃoʊk/ A2	verb - to have difficulty breathing because something is blocking the throat
silver /ˈsɪlvər/ A1	adjective - made of or colored like the metal silver
laughter /ˈlæftər/ A2	noun - the sound of laughing
taxes /ˈtæksɪz/ B1	noun - money paid to the government
crystal /ˈkrɪstəl/ A2	noun - a clear, transparent mineral
punch /pʌntʃ/ A2	verb - to strike with the fist
drown /draʊn/ A2	verb - to die by taking water into the lungs

Key Grammar Structures

• Don't know what you want from me

  ➔ Contraction (Don't)

  ➔ The word 'don't' is a contraction of 'do not', used in informal or conversational English.

• I'm tattered like these Levi jeans

  ➔ Simile (like)

  ➔ The word 'like' is used to make a simile, comparing the speaker's state to that of tattered jeans.

• You know I'm still somebody's daughter, see

  ➔ Present tense with 'be' (I'm)

  ➔ The contraction 'I'm' is the present tense of 'to be', indicating a current state or condition.

• Go on and be a big girl, you asked for this now

  ➔ Imperative mood (Go on, be)

  ➔ The phrases 'Go on' and 'be' are in the imperative mood, giving a direct command or instruction.

• You wished upon a falling star

  ➔ Past tense (wished)

  ➔ The verb 'wished' is in the past tense, indicating an action that occurred in the past.

• Who the hell is in your bed?

  ➔ Interrogative sentence with dummy subject (Who)

  ➔ The word 'Who' acts as a dummy subject in this interrogative sentence, used to form a question.

• I want my cake on a silver platter

  ➔ Present simple with 'want'

  ➔ The verb 'want' is in the present simple tense, expressing a current desire or wish.

• I wanna cry so hard, I choke

  ➔ Contraction (wanna)

  ➔ The word 'wanna' is a contraction of 'want to', used informally to express desire.