Everything I Own – English Lyrics

• By: Ken Boothe

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the story behind the classic reggae hit 'Everything I Own' and explore the English language through its heartfelt lyrics. Originally a soft-rock ballad, Ken Boothe's soulful and clear vocal performance in this lovers rock anthem makes it an excellent song for English learners to connect with powerful emotions while practicing their listening skills. The song's journey from a personal tribute to a global phenomenon is as captivating as its melody.

[English]

You sheltered me from harm

Kept me warm

Kept me warm

You gave my life to me

Set me free

Set me free

The finest years I ever knew

Is all the years I had with you

...

And I would give anything, I own

Give up my life, my heart, my own

And I would give anything I own

Just to have you

Back again

Is there someone you know

That won't let you go

And takin' it all for granted?

You may lose them one day

Someone, takes them away

And you don't

Hear a word they say

And I would give anything I own

I'd give up my life, my heart, my own

And I would give anything I own

Just, to have you

Back again

Just to talk to you

Words again

...

If there's someone you know

That won't let you go

And takin' it all for granted?

You may lose them one day

Someone takes them away

And you don't

Hear a word they say

And I would give anything I own

Give up my life, my heart, my own

And I would give anything I own

Just to have you

Back again

Just to talk to you

Words again

Just, to hold you

Once again

Just to talk to you

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
sheltered /ˈʃeltərd/ B2	verb - protected from harm or danger
harm /hɑːrm/ B1	noun - physical injury or damage
warm /wɔːrm/ A1	adjective - having a moderately high temperature
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic matter, including capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death
free /friː/ A1	adjective - not under the control or power of someone else; able to do or be as one pleases verb - to release from captivity or control
finest /ˈfaɪnɪst/ B1	adjective - of very high quality; excellent
years /jɪərz/ A1	noun - the time that it takes the earth to travel around the sun once
give /ɡɪv/ A1	verb - to freely transfer the possession of (something) to someone
own /oʊn/ A2	verb - to have (something) as one's own; possess adjective - belonging to oneself
heart /hɑːrt/ A1	noun - a hollow muscular organ that pumps the blood through the circulatory system by rhythmic contraction and dilation
lose /luːz/ A2	verb - to be deprived of something
granted /ˈɡræntɪd/ B2	verb - agreed or accepted as true
hear /hɪər/ A1	verb - perceive with the ear the sound made by someone or something.
word /wɜːrd/ A1	noun - a single distinct meaningful element of speech or writing, used with others (or sometimes alone) to form a sentence and typically shown with a space on either side when written or printed.
talk /tɔːk/ A1	verb - speak in order to give information or express ideas or feelings; converse or communicate by spoken words.
hold /hoʊld/ A2	verb - grasp, carry, or support with one's hands

Key Grammar Structures

• You sheltered me from harm

  ➔ Past Simple Tense

  ➔ The sentence uses the "Past Simple" tense to describe a completed action in the past: You "sheltered" me.

• The finest years I ever knew

  ➔ Relative Clause (reduced)

  ➔ This sentence contains a reduced relative clause. The full clause would be "The finest years that I ever knew". The relative pronoun "that" is omitted, which is common.

• Is all the years I had with you

  ➔ Present Tense linking verb with a past clause

  ➔ The "is" links the subject "The finest years" to the clause "all the years I had with you". 'Is' is present, while "had" is past. This emphasizes that the period of time he is talking about is completed.

• And I would give anything, I own

  ➔ Conditional sentence (hypothetical situation)

  ➔ This uses the conditional "would + verb" to express a hypothetical situation. It implies that it's unlikely or impossible to actually give everything he owns.

• Just to have you back again

  ➔ Infinitive of Purpose

  ➔ "To have" is an infinitive used to express the purpose of the previous action (giving everything he owns). He would give everything in order "to have you back again".

• Is there someone you know That won't let you go

  ➔ Relative Clause with 'that'

  ➔ The 'that' introduces a restrictive relative clause that defines 'someone'. It specifies which 'someone' the speaker is referring to: the one who won't let you go.

• And takin' it all for granted?

  ➔ Ellipsis and Present Participle

  ➔ There is an implied subject and auxiliary verb (e.g., "are you") which are omitted (ellipsis). "Takin'" is a present participle, indicating an ongoing action. The full question could be "Are you taking it all for granted?".