Modigliani – English Lyrics

• By: Lucy Dacus
• Album: Forever Is A Feeling

Lyrics & Translation

Step into the poetic world of Lucy Dacus with "Modigliani," a masterclass in emotional vulnerability and vivid storytelling. The lyrics are rich with imagery and intellectual allusions, from a subtle biblical reference to a witty nod to Italian painter Amedeo Modigliani, making it an excellent song for language learners. You can learn to express complex, abstract feelings like profound longing and the strength of a non-romantic bond, all set against Dacus's clear, expressive vocal style.

[English]

"Loving father, friend, and son",

printed backwards

on my shoulderblade

from leaning back on a

plaque on a bench.

I carry David's name until

it fades.

Why does it feel significant?

Why do I have to tell you

about it?

Trying to fall asleep.

Back flat on the floor,

while you are eating continental

breakfast in Singapore.

You make me homesick for

places I've never been before.

How'd you do that?

How's tomorrow so far?

Meeting your family was a trip,

seeing what you got from them,

for better or worse,

a blessing and a curse.

You don't need to love them, but you do.

You can take off a year or two.

We'll all be here when you get back.

When you told me 'bout your new man,

it wasn't news,

'cause you've got all these mannerisms

that you never do,

like rolling your eyes and laughing real dry,

like you were trying him on for size.

Even if it doesn't fit,

you'll wear it,

'cause if it's what you want,

you're gonna get it.

I've heard this anecdote

at least a dozen times.

Yeah, I know every word and

inflection as if it were mine.

I like watching you win

over a new crowd.

You can make 'em go wild,

you can leave 'em spellbound

But you will never be

famous to me.

You will never be

famous to me.

I should know my neighbor's names.

I should not stay up so late.

Modigliani melancholy got me

long in the face.

But I feel better when you call,

just to tell me how you are.

How'd you do that?

How's tomorrow so far?

You make me homesick for places

I've never been before.

How'd you do that?

How's tomorrow so far?

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
Modigliani ˌmɒdɪˈliːni B2	noun - A reference to the Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani, often associated with melancholy and elongated figures in his paintings.
melancholy ˈmɛlənˌkɒli B1	adjective - A feeling of pensive sadness, often with no obvious cause.
homesick ˈhoʊmˌsɪk A2	adjective - Experiencing a longing for one's home or family while away from them.
continental ˌkɒntɪˈnɛntəl B1	adjective - Relating to the mainland of Europe, especially in contrast to Britain.
mannerisms ˈmænərɪzəmz B2	noun - Characteristic or habitual gestures, speech patterns, or behaviors.
anecdote ˈænɪkdoʊt B1	noun - A short, amusing, or interesting story about a real incident or person.
inflection ɪnˈflɛkʃən B2	noun - The modulation of the voice in speaking, especially to express emotion or emphasis.
spellbound ˈspɛlˌbaʊnd B1	adjective - Completely captivated or entranced, as if by magic.
fades feɪdz A2	verb - To gradually grow faint or disappear.
significant sɪɡˈnɪfɪkənt B1	adjective - Having a particular meaning or importance.

Key Grammar Structures

• printed backwards on my shoulderblade

  ➔ Past participle adjective

  ➔ The word "backwards" is a past participle used as an adjective to describe how the text is printed.

• I carry David's name until it fades.

  ➔ Present simple with future meaning

  ➔ The present simple verb "carry" is used to describe an action that will continue into the future until a certain point.

• Why do I have to tell you about it?

  ➔ Present simple in questions

  ➔ The present simple verb "do" is used in a question to express a habitual or general action.

• You make me homesick for places I've never been before.

  ➔ Present simple with causative meaning

  ➔ The present simple verb "make" is used to express that someone or something causes a feeling or action.

• How's tomorrow so far?

  ➔ Present tense with future reference

  ➔ The present tense "is" is used to ask about a future state or condition, even though it is not strictly future.

• You don't need to love them, but you do.

  ➔ Contrastive conjunction

  ➔ The conjunction "but" is used to contrast two ideas: not needing to love them and actually loving them.

• You will never be famous to me.

  ➔ Future simple with negation

  ➔ The future simple verb "will be" is negated with "never" to express that something will not happen in the future.

• Modigliani melancholy got me long in the face.

  ➔ Past simple with result

  ➔ The past simple verb "got" is used to describe an action that resulted in a specific state or condition.