Instead of Here – English Lyrics

• By: Mitski
• Album: Nothing’s About to Happen to Me

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the lyrical depth and evocative sounds of Mitski's "Instead of Here," a song that masterfully articulates the complex feelings of longing for solitude and emotional retreat. Through its introspective lyrics and haunting musicality, listeners can explore powerful expressions of human vulnerability and the desire for peace amidst internal turmoil, offering a rich entry point into understanding emotional nuances in music.

[English]

Right as I live a toe in the abyss a

knock on the door saying are you in

there miss I stay quiet as can be

I'm not here I'm where nobody body can

reach.

Instead of live, I was lying on the

floor with death crouching beside me and

still got up for more saying I'm done

after this.

And to think I did believe it. I'd gone

where nobody can reach.

Death said I'd called not knowing that I

did. She said she wished I'd known that

I'm still just a kid, but knew I would

call again.

So she moy on back in case next time's

really the end.

Instead of love he said lie down in the

dirt. I looked up at the night sky,

wondering, is this what it's worth. The

stars never answered back.

I got up when it was done and went where

nobody can reach. So, excuse me. I'll be

opening my box of old French misery.

my secret treat to feel like myself

again.

I'll be here. I'll be where nobody can

reach.

I'm not here.

Somewhere nobody can reach.

Still here. Somewhere nobody can reach.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
abyss əˈbɪs B2	noun - a deep or bottomless chasm or void
crouching ˈkraʊtʃɪŋ A2	verb - to bend down and rest on one's knees
moy mɔɪ C1	verb - (contextual) to move or go
misery ˈmɪzəri A2	noun - a state of great unhappiness or emotional distress
reach riːtʃ A1	verb - to stretch out an arm or hand to touch or grasp something
live lɪv A1	verb - to have life; be alive
death dɛθ A1	noun - the end of life
kid kɪd A1	noun - a young person; child
worth wɜːrθ A2	adjective - having a value or deserving effort
stars stɑːrz A1	noun - luminous spheres of plasma in space
treat triːt A1	noun - something special or enjoyable
French frɛntʃ A1	adjective - relating to France or its people
secret ˈsiːkrɪt A1	adjective - known only to a few
box bɒks A1	noun - a container with a lid
old oʊld A1	adjective - having lived or existed for a long time
excuse ɪkˈskjuːz A2	verb - to forgive or understand an action

Key Grammar Structures

• Right as I live a toe in the abyss a knock on the door saying are you in there miss

  ➔ Subordinate Clause of time (As...)

  ➔ "As" is used here to indicate two actions happening simultaneously.

• I'm not here I'm where nobody body can reach.

  ➔ Relative clause with 'where'

  ➔ "Where" functions as a relative adverb to describe the location.

• And to think I did believe it.

  ➔ Infinitive phrase as an exclamation

  ➔ The infinitive "to think" is used to express disbelief or surprise.

• Death said I'd called not knowing that I did.

  ➔ Past Perfect (I'd called) and reported speech

  ➔ The past perfect "I'd called" shows an action completed before the speech.

• She said she wished I'd known that I'm still just a kid

  ➔ Wished + Past Perfect (hypothetical)

  ➔ "Wished I'd known" expresses a regret about a past situation.

• wondering, is this what it's worth.

  ➔ Noun Clause (is this what...)

  ➔ "What it's worth" functions as the complement of the verb 'is'.

• I'll be opening my box of old French misery.

  ➔ Future Continuous

  ➔ The Future Continuous "I'll be opening" suggests a planned future action.

• Still here. Somewhere nobody can reach.

  ➔ Reduced relative clause

  ➔ The phrase effectively omits "that" or "where" to create a poetic, concise tone.