Leda – English Lyrics

• By: Japanese Breakfast
• Album: For Melancholy Brunettes (& sad women)

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the sophisticated tapestry of personal narrative and classical literature in Japanese Breakfast's "Leda." This song weaves the ancient Greek myth of Leda and the Swan into a contemporary examination of complex family relationships, offering listeners a chance to study how Michelle Zauner uses literary allusion to give weight to modern emotional struggles. Its delicate, evocative sound makes it a special piece for appreciating poetic songwriting.

[English]

"Tell me everything"

"Everybody's fine"

I can tell you're drunk

Wanderin' somewhere Cretian

Gordian-like knot

Raveled by the days

Tried to cut you off

Somehow pulled it tighter

Talkin' to you, it's nearly morning where you are

While my afternoons move so slow

Pacing the room, awaitin' a moment gone too far

And your special way of ruining the mood

...

Oh, I'm always wondering where you are

May this be the year the spirit takes you, takes you, takes you

Oh, you always take it way too far

Is it the bottle or blood? I can't relate to you at all

...

The ocean in view, I'm thinking of all the Grecian Gods

The men they all played to get what they want

A crashing of waves, a sculpture of Leda and the Swan

You wait, you wait, you wait

You wait and wait and wait

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
drunk /drʌŋk/ B1	adjective - affected by alcohol
wanderin' /ˈwɒndərɪn/ B1	verb - to move or travel aimlessly
knot /nɒt/ A2	noun - a fastening made by tying a rope or cord
raveled /ˈrævəld/ C1	verb - to become tangled or confused
pacing /ˈpeɪsɪŋ/ B1	verb - to walk back and forth repeatedly
awaitin' /əˈweɪtɪn/ B1	verb - waiting for
ruining /ˈruːnɪŋ/ B2	verb - to damage or spoil
spirit /ˈspɪrɪt/ B2	noun - the nonphysical part of a person
bottle /ˈbɒtl/ A2	noun - a container for liquid
blood /blʌd/ A2	noun - the red fluid that circulates in the body
ocean /ˈoʊʃən/ A2	noun - a very large expanse of sea
Grecian /ˈɡriːʃən/ C1	adjective - relating to ancient Greece
Gods /ɡɒdz/ B1	noun - beings with supernatural powers
crashing /ˈkræʃɪŋ/ B1	verb - to break violently or loudly
sculpture /ˈskʌlptʃər/ B2	noun - an artistic form created by carving or shaping
Leda /ˈliːdə/ C1	noun - a figure in Greek mythology
Swan /swɒn/ A2	noun - a large white waterbird

Key Grammar Structures

• Tell me everything

  ➔ Imperative Mood

  ➔ The phrase uses the imperative mood to give a direct command or request.

• I can tell you're drunk

  ➔ Modal Verb (can)

  ➔ The modal verb 'can' is used to express ability or certainty.

• Wanderin' somewhere Cretian

  ➔ Contraction (Wanderin')

  ➔ The contraction 'Wanderin'' is a shortened form of 'wandering', common in informal or poetic language.

• Gordian-like knot

  ➔ Compound Adjective

  ➔ 'Gordian-like' is a compound adjective formed by adding '-like' to a noun, describing similarity.

• While my afternoons move so slow

  ➔ Subordinating Conjunction (While)

  ➔ The subordinating conjunction 'while' introduces a contrastive clause.

• May this be the year the spirit takes you

  ➔ Subjunctive Mood

  ➔ The subjunctive mood is used in 'may this be' to express a wish or desire.

• Is it the bottle or blood?

  ➔ Disjunctive Question

  ➔ This is a disjunctive question offering two alternatives for the answer.

• A crashing of waves, a sculpture of Leda and the Swan

  ➔ Apposition

  ➔ Apposition is used here where 'a sculpture of Leda and the Swan' renames 'a crashing of waves'.