You Raise Me Up – English Lyrics

• By: Westlife

Lyrics & Translation

Journey into the heartfelt lyrics of Westlife's "You Raise Me Up" to connect with universal themes of hope, resilience, and the power of human connection. Its clear, emotive English makes it an excellent song for language learners to grasp expressions of support and overcoming challenges, while its uplifting melody and powerful vocals create an unforgettable listening experience.

[English]

(gentle music)

♪ When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary ♪

♪ When troubles come and my heart burdened be ♪

♪ Then, I am still and wait here in the silence ♪

♪ Until you come and sit awhile with me ♪

♪ You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains ♪

♪ You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas ♪

♪ I am strong, when I am on your shoulders ♪

♪ You raise me up to more than I can be ♪

(uplifting music)

♪ You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains ♪

♪ You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas ♪

♪ I am strong, when I am on your shoulders ♪

♪ You raise me up to more than I can be ♪

♪ You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains ♪

♪ You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas ♪

♪ I am strong, when I am on your shoulders ♪

♪ You raise me up to more than I can be ♪

♪ You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains ♪

♪ You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas ♪

♪ I am strong, when I am on your shoulders ♪

♪ You raise me up to more than I can be ♪

♪ You raise me up ♪

♪ To more than I can be ♪

(gentle music)

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
soul /soʊl/ B2	noun - the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being
weary /ˈwɪəri/ B2	adjective - tired, exhausted
troubles /ˈtrʌbəlz/ B1	noun - difficulties or problems
heart /hɑːrt/ A1	noun - the organ that pumps blood; the centre of emotions
burdened /ˈbɜːrdənd/ B2	adjective - carrying a heavy load; feeling weighed down
silence /ˈsaɪləns/ B1	noun - absence of sound
raise /reɪz/ B1	verb - to lift up; to cause to rise
stand /stænd/ A1	verb - to be upright; to remain in a position
mountains /ˈmaʊntənz/ A2	noun - large natural elevations of the earth's surface
walk /wɔːk/ A1	verb - to move at a regular pace by foot
stormy /ˈstɔːrmi/ B2	adjective - characterized by storms; turbulent
seas /siːz/ B1	noun - large bodies of salt water
strong /strɔːŋ/ A2	adjective - having great physical power
shoulders /ˈʃoʊldərz/ B1	noun - upper part of the arms and torso
more /mɔːr/ A2	adjective - greater in amount or degree
still /stɪl/ A2	adjective - not moving; calm

Key Grammar Structures

• ♪ When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary ♪

  ➔ Ellipsis

  ➔ In "my soul, so weary", the verb "is" is omitted (elided) for conciseness or poetic effect, implying "my soul "is" so weary".

• ♪ When troubles come and my heart burdened be ♪

  ➔ Subjunctive Mood (Poetic/Archaic)

  ➔ The use of "be" instead of "is" in "my heart burdened be" is a poetic or archaic form of the subjunctive mood, expressing a wish, desire, or condition.

• ♪ Until you come and sit awhile with me ♪

  ➔ Adverb "awhile"

  ➔ "awhile" is used as an adverb meaning "for a short time," indicating the duration of the action "sit."

• ♪ You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains ♪

  ➔ Clause of Purpose (so that)

  ➔ "so I can stand on mountains" expresses the purpose of being raised up, where "that" is often omitted after "so".

• ♪ You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas ♪

  ➔ Infinitive of Purpose

  ➔ The infinitive phrase "to walk on stormy seas" indicates the purpose or reason why "you raise me up."

• ♪ I am strong, when I am on your shoulders ♪

  ➔ Adverbial Clause of Time/Condition

  ➔ The clause "when I am on your shoulders" specifies the condition or time under which the speaker feels strong.

• ♪ You raise me up to more than I can be ♪

  ➔ Comparative Clause with "than"

  ➔ The phrase "more than I can be" uses "than" to introduce a clause that completes the comparison, indicating an extent beyond the speaker's natural ability.

• ♪ You raise me up ♪

  ➔ Phrasal Verb

  ➔ "raise up" is a phrasal verb meaning to lift something or someone to a higher position, or to help someone improve their situation.