A Safe Place to Land – English Lyrics

• By: Sara Bareilles, John Legend

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the touching duet, "A Safe Place to Land" by Sara Bareilles and John Legend, a song that beautifully illustrates themes of compassion and support for those in need. Through its poignant lyrics and soothing melody, discover how music can bridge cultural divides and encourage empathy. This song offers a unique opportunity to learn the language of empathy, offering comfort and hope through the power of words.

[English]

When holding your breath is safer than breathing

When letting go is braver than keeping

When innocent words turn to lies

And you can't hide by closing your eyes

When the pain is all that they offer

Like the kiss from the lips of a monster

You know the famine so well, but never met the feast

When home is the belly of a beast

The ocean is wild and over your head

And the boat beneath you is sinking

Don't need room for your bags, hope is all that you have

So say the Lord's Prayer twice, hold your babies tight

Surely someone will reach out a hand

And show you a safe place to land

Oh, imagine yourself in a building

Up in flames, being told to stand still

The window's wide open, this is leap is on faith

You don't know who will catch you, but maybe somebody will

The ocean is wild and over your head

And the boat beneath you is sinking

Don't need room for your bags, hope is all that you have

So say the Lord's Prayer twice, hold your babies tight

Surely someone will reach out a hand

And show you a safe place to land

Be the hand of a hopeful stranger

Little scared, but you're strong enough

Be the light in the dark of this danger

'Til the sun comes up

Be the hand of a hopeful stranger

Little scared but you're strong enough

Be the light in the dark of this danger

'Til the sun comes up

Be the hand of a hopeful stranger

You're scared but you're strong enough

Be the light in the dark of this danger

'Til the sun comes up

'Til the sun comes up (Oh)

'Til the sun comes up ('Til the sun)

'Til the sun comes up (Ooh)

'Til the sun ('Til the sun)

Comes up

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
holding /ˈhoʊldɪŋ/ B2	verb (gerund) - to grasp or carry with hands
breath /brɛθ/ A2	noun - the air taken into or expelled from the lungs
braver /ˈbreɪvər/ B2	verb - to face or endure with courage
innocent /ˈɪnəsənt/ B1	adjective - not guilty; free from evil or sin
lie /laɪ/ B2	noun - a false statement meant to deceive verb - to be in a horizontal position on a surface
hide /haɪd/ B2	verb - to remove oneself from sight or conceal noun - a place of concealment
offer /ˈɒfər/ B1	verb - to present or suggest something for acceptance
hope /hoʊp/ B1	noun - a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen verb - to want something to happen or be true
land /lænd/ A2	noun - the solid part of the Earth's surface verb - to arrive on the ground after a flight or journey
stranger /ˈstreɪndʒər/ B1	noun - a person whom one does not know
danger /ˈdeɪndʒər/ B2	noun - the possibility of harm or injury

Key Grammar Structures

• When holding your breath is safer than breathing

  ➔ Present simple tense for general truths or habits

  ➔ The line states a general truth: sometimes holding your breath is safer than breathing.

• And you can't hide by closing your eyes

  ➔ Modal verb 'can't' + base verb to express impossibility

  ➔ This phrase indicates that it is impossible to hide oneself simply by closing your eyes.

• The ocean is wild and over your head

  ➔ Adjective 'wild' + linking verb 'is' to describe state

  ➔ The line depicts the ocean as being in a turbulent, uncontrolled state, emphasizing danger.

• Don't need room for your bags, hope is all that you have

  ➔ Present simple with 'don't need' to express lack of necessity

  ➔ This line means that only hope remains; material belongings are not necessary.

• Be the hand of a hopeful stranger

  ➔ Imperative form 'Be' to give a command or advice

  ➔ This line encourages to act kindly and helpfully towards others, especially strangers.

• 'Til the sun comes up

  ➔ Preposition 'till' (informal for 'until') + the present simple tense

  ➔ This phrase means 'until' a specific event occurs—in this case, the sun rising.