You'll Be OK, Kid – English Lyrics

• By: Demi Lovato

Lyrics & Translation

Immerse yourself in Demi Lovato's "You'll Be OK, Kid," a poignant pop ballad that offers a powerful message of self-compassion and resilience. Through its introspective lyrics and comforting tone, you can explore expressions of healing and overcoming adversity. This song, rooted in Lovato's personal journey as a former child star, provides rich vocabulary and emotional depth, making it an excellent choice for learners to connect with English through its universal themes of hope and inner strength.

[English]

Wide eyes, wild heart

Blowin' out candles, wishin' on stars

One day, you'll blink

It's all gonna happen, but not how you think

Can't stop you, don't want to

Here's what I wish I knew

The sharks in the water will teach you to swim

The thorns on the roses will thicken your skin

People might hurt you and break promises

But darlin', I promise you this

You'll be okay, kid

You'll be okay, kid, hmm

Slow down, deep breath

Don't let the monsters scare you to death

They'll try to tear you apart

But know that you're perfect the way that you are

I know you can't see it now

But someday it all works out

The sharks in the water will teach you to swim

The thorns on the roses will thicken your skin

People might hurt you and break promises

But darlin', I promise you this

You'll be okay, kid

You'll be okay, kid

You'll make it like I did

You'll be okay, kid

You'll be okay, kid

You'll be okay, kid

You'll be okay, kid, hmm

You'll be okay, kid, you'll be okay

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
wish /wɪʃ/ A1	verb - to hope for something
happen /ˈhæpən/ A1	verb - to occur or take place
teach /tiːtʃ/ A1	verb - to show or explain how to do something
hurt /hɜːrt/ A1	verb - to cause pain or injury
promise /ˈprɒmɪs/ A2	verb - to commit to do something noun - a commitment to do something
perfect /ˈpɜːrfɪkt/ A2	adjective - without flaws or errors
thicken /ˈθɪkən/ B1	verb - to make or become thicker
skin /skɪn/ A1	noun - the outer covering of the body
monster /ˈmɒnstər/ A1	noun - a large, ugly, and frightening creature
scare /skeər/ A2	verb - to cause fear
tear /teər/ A2	verb - to pull apart or break into pieces
darlin /ˈdɑːlɪŋ/ A1	noun - a term of endearment
blink /blɪŋk/ A2	verb - to close and open the eyes quickly
candle /ˈkændl/ A1	noun - a cylindrical wax object with a wick, providing light
star /stɑːr/ A1	noun - a large ball of gas in space that gives off light
shark /ʃɑːrk/ A1	noun - a large predatory fish with sharp teeth
rose /rəʊz/ A1	noun - a type of flower with thorns
breath /breθ/ A1	noun - air taken into or expelled from the lungs

Key Grammar Structures

• Blowin' out candles, wishin' on stars

  ➔ Present Continuous (-ing form) used as a gerund and present participle.

  ➔ The verbs "blowin'" and "wishin'" are in their -ing form, functioning as verbs but describing actions happening simultaneously. "Blowin'" acts as a gerund, while "wishin'" is part of a participle phrase modifying the subject.

• It's all gonna happen, but not how you think

  ➔ "Gonna" is a contraction of "going to", used to express future intention or prediction. The sentence also utilizes a concessive clause ("but not how you think")

  ➔ The contraction "gonna" replaces "going to", making the sentence sound more casual. The contrast introduced by "but" and the adverbial clause "not how you think" highlights a difference between expectation and reality.

• The sharks in the water will teach you to swim

  ➔ Future simple tense ("will teach") and infinitive of purpose ("to swim"). Prepositional phrase ("in the water")

  ➔ The sentence uses the future simple tense to predict what will happen. "To swim" is an infinitive of purpose, explaining why the sharks will teach the person.

• The thorns on the roses will thicken your skin

  ➔ Future simple tense ("will thicken"). Prepositional phrases ("on the roses"). Possession ('your skin')

  ➔ Similar to the previous example, this line predicts a future outcome. Prepositional phrases add detail. Possession ('your skin') indicates what will be affected.

• People might hurt you and break promises

  ➔ Modal verb of possibility ("might"). Compound sentence structure (two clauses joined by "and").

  ➔ The modal verb "might" suggests a possibility, not a certainty. The use of "and" creates a compound sentence, linking two related actions.

• But darlin', I promise you this

  ➔ Emphasis with a contraction (darlin'). Direct object and indirect object. Use of a comma.

  ➔ The word "darlin'" is a contraction, making the sentence more personal. The sentence structure is fairly direct, with "this" acting as a direct object of the promise. The comma sets off the vocative.