Across the Universe of Time – English Lyrics

• By: Hayley Westenra

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a profound experience, and "Across the Universe of Time" offers a beautiful gateway into the English language. The song's clear and emotive lyrics, sung with Hayley Westenra's pristine diction, make it easy to follow the poetic narrative of love and destiny. Its soaring melodies and rich vocabulary provide a special opportunity to appreciate the nuances of English expression in a truly moving context.

[English]

When the sea falls from the shore

As the light sinks low, will I see you anymore

As the rain falls from the sky

Can I bring you back from a distant lullaby

Show me your vision

The story behind

Two lights are rising and burning as one

In the deep blue of the night

Shine the millions of stars and my spirit burning bright

Spinning on, into the sun, flying higher

Now my journey's begun

And the cold, cold wind, it blows me away

The feeling all over is a black, black day

But I know that I'll see you again

And I know that you're near me

There's a star, calling my name

It's echo is true and the song is not the same

Take my hand and lead me away

Bring me back to you, in your arms I'm going to stay

Tell me your vision

The story begun

Two lights are rising and burning as one

All those years drifting in space

I have known you well, yet I've never seen your face

You turn around, looking at me, laughter in your eyes

And now I can see

And the cold, cold wind, it blows me away

The feeling all over is a black, black day

But I know that I'll see you again

And I know that you're near me

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
sea /siː/ A1	noun - the expanse of salt water that covers most of the earth's surface and surrounds its landmasses.
light /laɪt/ A1	noun - the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible. verb - to give light to; illuminate.
rain /reɪn/ A1	noun - moisture condensed from the atmosphere that falls visibly in separate drops. verb - to fall as rain.
distant /ˈdɪstənt/ B1	adjective - far away in space or time.
vision /ˈvɪʒən/ B2	noun - the faculty or state of being able to see.
lights /laɪts/ A1	noun - plural of light
burning /ˈbɜːrnɪŋ/ B1	verb - producing flames or intense heat.
deep /diːp/ A2	adjective - extending far down from the top or surface.
night /naɪt/ A1	noun - the period from sunset to sunrise in each twenty-four hours.
stars /stɑːrz/ A1	noun - a fixed luminous point in the night sky which is a large, remote incandescent body like the sun.
spirit /ˈspɪrɪt/ B2	noun - the nonphysical part of a person regarded as their true self and capable of surviving physical death or separation.
wind /wɪnd/ A1	noun - the perceptible natural movement of the air, especially in the form of a current of air blowing from a particular direction.
feeling /ˈfiːlɪŋ/ A2	noun - an emotional state or reaction.
black /blæk/ A1	adjective - of the very darkest color owing to the absence of or complete absorption of light; the opposite of white.
name /neɪm/ A1	noun - a word or set of words by which a person, animal, place, or thing is known, addressed, or referred to. verb - give (someone or something) a name.
arms /ɑːrmz/ A1	noun - plural of arm (either of the two upper limbs of the human body, especially from the shoulder to the hand)
face /feɪs/ A1	noun - the front part of the head, from the forehead to the chin.
years /jɪərz/ A1	noun - plural of year (the time taken by the earth to make one revolution around the sun.)

Key Grammar Structures

• When the sea falls from the shore

  ➔ Present Simple Tense

  ➔ The phrase uses the present simple tense to describe a general truth or a habitual action.

• As the light sinks low, will I see you anymore

  ➔ Future Simple Tense

  ➔ The phrase uses the future simple tense to express a future action or event.

• Can I bring you back from a distant lullaby

  ➔ Modal Verbs

  ➔ The phrase uses the modal verb 'can' to express ability or possibility.

• Two lights are rising and burning as one

  ➔ Present Continuous Tense

  ➔ The phrase uses the present continuous tense to describe an ongoing action.

• But I know that I'll see you again

  ➔ Future Simple Tense with 'will'

  ➔ The phrase uses 'will' to indicate a future intention or promise.

• There's a star, calling my name

  ➔ There is/are structure

  ➔ The phrase uses the 'there is' structure to indicate the existence of something.

• Take my hand and lead me away

  ➔ Imperative Mood

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

• All those years drifting in space

  ➔ Past Continuous Tense

  ➔ The phrase uses the past continuous tense to describe an action that was ongoing in the past.