You're Not There – English Lyrics

• By: Lukas Graham
• Album: self-titled album

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a powerful tool, and 'You're Not There' by Lukas Graham offers a poignant and universally understood story of love and loss. The song's clear and emotional lyrics provide a great opportunity to learn heartfelt vocabulary and explore how music can convey deep feelings. What makes this song special is its raw honesty and the way it connects with listeners on a profoundly personal level.

[English]

I only got you in my stories

And you know I tell them right

And remember you and I, when I'm awake at night

So give it up for fallen glory

I never got to say goodbye

I wish I could ask for just a bit more time

Every step I take

you used to lead the way

Now I'm terrified to face it on my own

You're not there

To celebrate the man that you made

You're not there

To share in my success and mistakes

Is it fair?

You'll never know the person I'll be

You're not there

With me...

Though I know that you're not there

I still write you all these songs

It's like, you got the right to know what's going on

As i struggle to remember how you used to look and sound

At times i still think i can spot you in the crowd

Every step I take

you used to lead the way

Now I'm terrified to face it on my own

You're not there

To celebrate the man that you made

You're not there

To share in my my success and mistakes

Is it fair?

You'll never know the person I'll be

You're not there

With me...

Time can heal your wounds if

You're strong and standing tall

I've been doing all of that, it didn't help at all

They say "You'll grow older, and it'll get better still"

Yes, I will, but no it won't

They don't get it, cause...

You're not there

To celebrate the man that you made

You're not there

To share in my my success and mistakes

Is it fair?

You'll never know the person I'll be

You're not there

With me...

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
remember /rɪˈmem.bər/ B1	verb - to keep something in mind; to recall
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - the measured period during which events occur
step /stɛp/ A1	noun - a movement made by lifting a foot and putting it down again verb - to move by lifting the foot and putting it down again
lead /liːd/ B2	verb - to guide or direct someone
way /weɪ/ A2	noun - a method, direction, or route
terrified /ˈter.ɪ.faɪd/ B2	adjective - extremely scared
celebrate /ˈsel.ɪ.breɪt/ B2	verb - to observe a special day or event with festivities
success /səkˈses/ B2	noun - the achievement of a desired aim or result
mistakes /mɪsˈteɪks/ B1	noun - errors or faults
fair /fɛər/ B1	adjective - just, impartial, or reasonable
person /ˈpɜːr.sən/ A1	noun - a human being
strong /strɒŋ/ A2	adjective - having great physical or mental power
standing /ˈstæn.dɪŋ/ B1	verb (present participle) - being in an upright position
heal /hiːl/ B2	verb - to make or become healthy again
wounds /wuːndz/ B2	noun - injuries to the body, especially cuts or bruises
grow /ɡroʊ/ A2	verb - to increase in size, number, or importance
older /ˈoʊl.dər/ B1	adjective (comparative) - more advanced in age
better /ˈbɛt.ər/ A2	adjective (comparative) - of higher quality or more desirable
song /sɒŋ/ A1	noun - a short piece of music with words
glory /ˈɡlɔːr.i/ B2	noun - great honor, admiration, or praise

Key Grammar Structures

• I only got you in my stories

  ➔ Simple present (present simple)

  ➔ The verb "got" is used in the simple present to mean "have"; it is a colloquial form.

• And you know I tell them right

  ➔ Simple present with object pronoun

  ➔ "tell" is in the simple present and takes the object pronoun "them".

• And remember you and I, when I'm awake at night

  ➔ Adverbial clause of time (when + present)

  ➔ "when" introduces a time clause; the verb "am" is in the present simple.

• I wish I could ask for just a bit more time

  ➔ Wish + could (modal) for unreal present

  ➔ "could" is a modal verb used after "wish" to show an unreal desire in the present.

• Now I'm terrified to face it on my own

  ➔ Present continuous + adjective + infinitive

  ➔ "terrified" is an adjective describing the subject, followed by the infinitive "to face".

• You're not there to celebrate the man that you made

  ➔ Relative clause (that) + infinitive of purpose

  ➔ "that you made" is a relative clause modifying "the man"; "to celebrate" shows purpose.

• They say "You'll grow older, and it'll get better still"

  ➔ Future simple (will) in direct quotation

  ➔ "will" forms the simple future "You'll grow" and "it'll get" to talk about future events.

• Time can heal your wounds if you're strong and standing tall

  ➔ First conditional (if + present, will/can)

  ➔ "if" introduces a realistic condition; "can" expresses possibility in the main clause.

• It's like, you got the right to know what's going on

  ➔ Noun clause (what's going on) as object

  ➔ "what's going on" functions as a noun phrase answering "the right to know ___".