When You're Small – English Lyrics

• By: MGMT
• Album: Little Dark Age

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the lyrical simplicity and profound message of MGMT's "When You're Small." Through its melancholic tone and straightforward vocabulary, you can learn to express complex feelings of vulnerability and powerlessness in English, while appreciating how the band masterfully uses the concept of 'size' as an extended metaphor for self-worth and finding solace in being 'contained.'

[English]

When you're big and troubles seem so far

You put your belly up to the bar

Squint your eyes, you can almost miss the dirt

You tell yourself it couldn't hurt

But when you're small

You can't walk down the hall

When you're small

You're not very big at all

...

When you're low, you reach a certain point

Where you can't really see the point

...

You can try, but you can't see eye to eye

Yet when you're low then you really know

But when you're high

It's easier to fight

When you're high

You don't have to know why

...

When you're small

You don't have very far to fall

When you're small

You feel like you belong

When you're small

You can curl into a ball

When you're small

No you're not very big at all

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
big /bɪɡ/ A1	adjective - large in size, extent, or importance
small /smɔːl/ A1	adjective - of limited size, quantity, or extent
troubles /ˈtrʌbəlz/ B1	noun - problems, difficulties, or concerns
belly /ˈbɛli/ A2	noun - the front part of the human torso between the chest and the pelvis
bar /bɑː(r)/ A1	noun - a counter where drinks are served; also a solid piece of metal or wood
squint /skwɪnt/ B1	verb - to look at something with narrowed eyes, typically in order to see more clearly
eyes /aɪz/ A1	noun - the organs of sight
miss /mɪs/ A2	verb - to fail to hit, reach, or come into contact with something
dirt /dɜːt/ A2	noun - soil or a substance that makes something unclean
hurt /hɜːt/ A2	verb - to cause pain or injury
walk /wɔːk/ A1	verb - to move at a regular pace by lifting and setting down each foot in turn
hall /hɔːl/ A2	noun - a large room or passageway in a building
low /loʊ/ A2	adjective - situated close to the ground; not high
high /haɪ/ A1	adjective - situated far above the ground; tall
point /pɔɪnt/ A2	noun - a precise location or position; an idea or argument
fight /faɪt/ B1	verb - to engage in a physical or verbal struggle
fall /fɔːl/ A1	verb - to descend freely under the influence of gravity
belong /bɪˈlɒŋ/ B1	verb - to be rightly placed or attached to something; to be a member of
curl /kɜːrl/ B2	verb - to form into a spiral or coil; to draw inwards
ball /bɔːl/ A1	noun - a round object used in games or sports

Key Grammar Structures

• You put your belly up to the bar

  ➔ Phrasal Verb - 'put up to'

  ➔ The phrasal verb 'put up to' in this context means to lean or rest something against something else. It's an informal way of describing physical contact. The phrase 'belly up to' suggests a casual, relaxed posture.

• Squint your eyes, you can almost miss the dirt

  ➔ Imperative Mood & Adverb of Degree ('almost')

  ➔ The sentence begins with an imperative ('Squint'), giving a direct command. 'Almost' functions as an adverb of degree, modifying 'miss' and indicating a near, but not complete, failure to notice something. The use of 'you' is implied, making it a direct address.

• When you're low, you can't really see the point

  ➔ Conditional Clause & Modal Verb ('can't') + Adverb ('really')

  ➔ This sentence uses a conditional structure ('When you're low...'). 'Can't' is a modal verb expressing inability. 'Really' intensifies the negation, emphasizing the difficulty in finding meaning or purpose ('the point') when feeling depressed or discouraged.