Broken Window Serenade – English Lyrics

• By: Whiskey Myers

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the soul-stirring storytelling of 'Broken Window Serenade.' This song is perfect for learners looking to master expressive, narrative-driven English and Southern colloquialisms, offering a deep look into emotional storytelling through music.

[English]

[music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

>> Make a couple of pretty [singing]

flowers.

That's what I [music] brought to you. I

saw you through a broken window with a

different point [music] of view. You had

sounds of depression

from a long line [singing] of seeing

[music]

your face. Tears and stories about the

places you have been. I love you so.

I thought you should know. [music]

>> [music]

>> And then muddy waters flowing.

And as [music] you take my hand past the

creek down by the hollow

through your daddy's land. I couldn't

[music] buy you a diamond,

but I cannot change the world cuz I

got no [music] money.

You'll never be my girl.

>> [singing]

[music]

>> I thought you should know.

>> [music]

>> You were going to be a singer

and a big movie star, [singing]

but you [music] can't kiss no bricks,

baby, and Hollywood [singing]

is out. Now you work down at [music] the

diner

off of 155

and you're [music] dancing for your

dollars,

just trying to stay alive. It hurts me

so.

>> [music]

>> I thought [singing] he should know.

And you feed [music] your addiction

with your crystal meth and I plead

[music] for your life as it takes you to

your death. [music] You make your deal

with [singing] the devil.

As your looks [music] begin to fade, I

saw you laughing through the tears.

[music] As you slowly slipped away, I

watched you go.

>> [music]

>> I thought he should know.

>> [music]

>> Yeah, I watched you go.

>> [music]

>> I thought [singing] he should know.

>> [music]

[music]

[music]

>> And [music] that cold rain is pouring as

they lay [singing] you in the grave and

I can [music] barely recognize you.

In your fragile state, no more [music]

signs of depression.

From a long time [singing and music]

ago, I threw

in a pretty fly. As they slowly

[music and singing]

laid you low, it was a rose.

>> [music]

>> I thought you should know. [music]

And it [music] was a rose.

>> [music]

>> I thought you should

know.

>> [music]

[music]

[music]

[music]

>> A couple of pretty flies,

that's what I brought to you. I saw you

[music] through a broken window with a

different part of you.

>> [music]

[music]

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
broken /ˈbroʊkən/ A2	adjective - having been fractured or damaged and no longer in one piece or in working order
depression /dɪˈprɛʃən/ B2	noun - feelings of severe despondency and dejection
muddy /ˈmʌdi/ B1	adjective - covered in or full of mud
creek /kriːk/ B2	noun - a small stream
hollow /ˈhɒloʊ/ B2	noun - a depression or valley in the landscape
diamond /ˈdaɪmənd/ A2	noun - a precious stone consisting of a clear and colorless crystalline form of pure carbon
diner /ˈdaɪnər/ B1	noun - a small, informal restaurant
addiction /əˈdɪkʃən/ B2	noun - the fact or condition of being addicted to a particular substance
crystal meth /ˈkrɪstəl mɛθ/ C1	noun - a potent form of methamphetamine
plead /pliːd/ B2	verb - to make an emotional appeal
devil /ˈdɛvəl/ B1	noun - the supreme spirit of evil
fade /feɪd/ B1	verb - to gradually disappear
grave /ɡreɪv/ B1	noun - a hole dug in the ground to receive a coffin or dead body
recognize /ˈrɛkəɡˌnaɪz/ B1	verb - to identify from having encountered before
fragile /ˈfrædʒaɪl/ B2	adjective - easily broken or damaged; delicate

Key Grammar Structures

• I saw you through a broken window

  ➔ Past Participle as an Adjective

  ➔ "Broken" is used to describe the state of the "window".

• I couldn't buy you a diamond

  ➔ Modal Verb of Past Ability (Negative)

  ➔ "Couldn't" indicates the inability to perform an action in the past.

• You were going to be a singer

  ➔ Past Future (was going to)

  ➔ "Was going to" describes a plan or prediction that existed in the past.

• As your looks begin to fade

  ➔ Subordinate Clause of Time (As)

  ➔ "As" here means "while" or "at the same time that".

• As they lay you in the grave

  ➔ Transitive Verb (Lay)

  ➔ "Lay" is the transitive form (to place something/someone down) and needs an object ("you").

• I can barely recognize you

  ➔ Adverb of Degree (Barely)

  ➔ "Barely" functions as a negative adverb meaning "almost not".

• I saw you laughing

  ➔ Verb of Perception + Object + Participle

  ➔ After "saw", the present participle "laughing" describes the ongoing action.

• As they slowly laid you low

  ➔ Phrasal Verb / Idiomatic Expression (Lay low)

  ➔ To "lay low" in this context means to place someone into the grave.