Liability (Reprise) – English Lyrics

• By: Lorde
• Album: Melodrama

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the emotional depth of English through 'Liability (Reprise)'. This track is perfect for learners to study the use of metaphors and the power of repetition to convey complex feelings of isolation and self-discovery.

[English]

I'm a liability

I'm a liability

Much for me

You're a little much for me, no, no, no, no

What ya gonna do?

All of the dreams that get harder

All of the things that I offer you

...

And all of the shit that we harbour

Make all of the kids in the choirs sing, "Woo-hoo"

Maybe all this is the party

Maybe the tears and the highs we breathe, oh, no

Maybe all this is the party

Maybe we just do it violently

But you're not what you thought you were

...

But you're not what you thought you were

(Liability)

But you're not what you thought you were

(Make you leave)

...

But you're not what you thought you were

...

(Leave)

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
liability /ˌlaɪəˈbɪləti/ C1	noun - a person or thing whose presence or behavior is likely to cause embarrassment or put one at a disadvantage
offer /ˈɒfər/ B1	verb - to present or proffer something for someone to accept or reject noun - an expression of willingness to do or give something
harbour /ˈhɑːrbər/ C1	verb - to keep a thought or feeling (typically a negative one) in one's mind, especially more secretly than one would like
choir /ˈkwaɪər/ B2	noun - an organized group of singers, especially one that sings in a church
party /ˈpɑːrti/ A1	noun - a social gathering of people for celebration or entertainment
tears /tɪərz/ A2	noun - drops of salty liquid secreted from the eyes
highs /haɪz/ B2	noun - periods of great happiness, excitement, or success
breathe /briːð/ B1	verb - to take air into the lungs and then expel it
violently /ˈvaɪələntli/ B2	adverb - in a manner involving physical force intended to hurt, damage, or kill; or with great intensity
leave /liːv/ A2	verb - to go away from someone or something
harder /ˈhɑːrdər/ A2	adjective - more difficult or requiring more effort
dreams /driːmz/ A2	noun - a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep

Key Grammar Structures

• You're a little much for me

  ➔ Quantifier with adjectives

  ➔ Using "a little" to soften the intensity of the adjective "much".

• What ya gonna do?

  ➔ Future intention with 'be going to' (informal)

  ➔ "Gonna" is a contraction of "going to", used here to ask about future plans.

• All of the dreams that get harder

  ➔ Relative clause with 'that'

  ➔ The clause "that get harder" modifies the noun phrase "All of the dreams".

• All of the things that I offer you

  ➔ Relative clause with omitted relative pronoun (optional)

  ➔ You can say "things that I offer" or "things I offer". "That" functions as the object.

• Maybe all this is the party

  ➔ Modal adverb for probability

  ➔ "Maybe" is used to express that something is possible but not certain.

• But you're not what you thought you were

  ➔ Noun clause after the verb 'to be'

  ➔ "What you thought you were" acts as a subject complement.

• Maybe we just do it violently

  ➔ Adverb of manner

  ➔ "Violently" describes how the action "do it" is performed.

• All of the shit that we harbour

  ➔ Determiner 'all of the' + uncountable noun

  ➔ "Shit" is used here as an uncountable noun representing negative feelings or burdens.