Check On Your Friends – English Lyrics

• By: Kelsea Ballerini
• Album: Mount Pleasant

Lyrics & Translation

Unlock the layers of human emotion with Kelsea Ballerini's "Check On Your Friends." This deeply vulnerable country-pop track offers a unique opportunity to explore English expressions related to empathy, mental well-being, and genuine connection. Through its poignant lyrics and Ballerini's heartfelt delivery, you can learn to articulate complex feelings and the importance of supporting one another, and yourself, even when smiles hide deeper truths. This song is special for its raw honesty and its universal call for compassion in a world often focused on appearances.

[English]

Check on your friends that are smilin'

They're the ones cryin'

When they're home and it's late

The ones that the life of the party

Up with the DJ, up on the drugs that they take

Pretty in the photo for sure

Pretty in the app, pretty not good at being alone

Struggling and nobody knows

'Cause she's so good, all glitter when she picks up the phone

So, check on your friends that are smilin'

They're the ones cryin'

Check on your friends that are smilin'

They're the ones dyin'

Funny with self-deprecatin' jokes that she's makin'

Hopes that they take it at face

Spark in her eyes like an actress

Hidin' the fact that her heart's all up in flames

Pretty in the photo for sure

Pretty far from the girl that she was when she was 24

Another plane to Paris for the allure

Deep down terrified of going home and shutting the door

Check on your friends that are smilin'

They're the ones cryin'

Check on your friends that are smilin'

(When they're checkin' out)

Check on your friends and your lovers

Fathers and mothers

Check on yourself, okay?

We all got the downers and uppers

Yeah, we all wonder

But it's better if you stay

It can snow in the summer for sure

But when it's coming down real bad

Baby, I got a coat

Strugglin', I see it, I know

You can take the cape and the makeup off

Let it pour

Check on your friends that are smilin'

They're the ones cryin'

Check on your friends that are smilin'

They're the ones dyin'

Check on your friends

Check on your friends

Check on your friends

When they're home but it's late

Check on your friends

Check on your friends

Check on your friends

Check on yourself, okay

I sit in parks

To see just how far I am

From the things that I want

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
struggle /ˈstrʌɡ.l̩/ B1	verb - to try very hard to do something difficult
party /ˈpɑːr.ti/ A2	noun - a social gathering of invited guests
photo /ˈfəʊ.təʊ/ A2	noun - a picture taken with a camera
glitter /ˈɡlɪt.ər/ B2	noun - very small pieces of shiny material used for decoration verb - to shine with a bright, shimmering reflected light
alone /əˈləʊn/ A2	adjective - without other people
cry /kraɪ/ A1	verb - to produce tears from your eyes because you are sad or hurt
joke /dʒəʊk/ A2	noun - something said or done to make people laugh
spark /spɑːk/ B2	noun - a small fiery particle or a feeling of excitement
actress /ˈæk.trəs/ B1	noun - a woman who performs in plays or movies
allure /əˈlʊr/ C1	noun - the quality of being attractive or charming
terrified /ˈter.ɪ.faɪd/ B1	adjective - extremely afraid
coat /kəʊt/ A2	noun - a piece of clothing worn over other clothes to keep warm
cape /keɪp/ B2	noun - a sleeveless cloak worn over the shoulders
makeup /ˈmeɪk.ʌp/ B1	noun - cosmetic products used to enhance the appearance
pour /pɔːr/ B1	verb - to make a liquid flow from a container
snow /snəʊ/ A2	noun - soft, white pieces of frozen water that fall from the sky
wonder /ˈwʌn.dər/ B1	verb - to want to know something

Key Grammar Structures

• Look after the friends who seem cheerful.

  ➔ Imperative mood

  ➔ The phrase uses an imperative verb ('look after') to give advice or encouragement.

• They're the ones crying when they're alone at night.

  ➔ Present continuous tense

  ➔ The form 'are crying' shows an ongoing emotional action in the present.

• She's pretending everything is fine.

  ➔ Present continuous with state verbs

  ➔ Using 'is pretending' emphasizes the act of faking or maintaining an appearance.

• She's good at hiding her pain.

  ➔ Be good at + gerund

  ➔ The phrase 'good at hiding' shows ability or skill in doing something.

• Nobody knows what she’s feeling.

  ➔ Indirect question / relative clause

  ➔ 'What she’s feeling' functions as the object of 'knows'.

• She used to be different before.

  ➔ Used to + base verb

  ➔ 'Used to' expresses a past habit or state that no longer exists.

• When it gets really bad, I’ll be there for you.

  ➔ First conditional

  ➔ This conditional shows a likely future situation with 'if/when + present' and 'will + verb'.

• We all wonder, but it’s better if you stay.

  ➔ Comparative with adjective + if clause

  ➔ The phrase 'better if you stay' expresses a preference or advice involving comparison.