Rocky Trail – English Lyrics

• By: Kings Of Convenience
• Album: Peace Or Love

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the subtle beauty and emotional depth of Kings of Convenience's "Rocky Trail." This song offers a gentle introduction to understanding relationship dynamics and the importance of communication, all while enjoying the soothing sounds of indie folk-pop.

[English]

One more time

Let's say you give me one more time

One last chance to speak again

Let's start from what we left unsaid

And here we go

Brave enough to go climbing a wall so high

That no sunlight is seen through winter

Brave enough to go travelling around the world

Without money to eat or sleep for

Seeing what you can do with your hands and feet

I feel there is no question about it

Almost anything you can imagine, almost any goal, you will get there

...

I wish you had been more of a talker

Not the kind that is just flapping his lips

And not the kind that looks away

But learns through his eyes when somebody is watching

Maybe you could've told me

There was the world on those shoulders that needed lifting

Maybe I could have helped you with that

The weight is not easy, I know

But you never know

I thought your shoes were good

I thought they would take you to the end of any road

I thought your back was strong

But I should have carried you to the top of the rocky trail (carried you to the top of the rocky trail)

I should have carried you to the top of the rocky trail

...

How am I to know about your problems and your load?

I am blind to what you show

I am waiting to be told, I never ask

How am I to know about your problems and your load?

I am blind to what you show

I am waiting to be told, I never ask

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - a point of time as measured in hours and minutes
brave /breɪv/ B1	adjective - ready to face and endure danger or pain
climb /klaɪm/ A2	verb - to go up or ascend
sunlight /ˈsʌn.laɪt/ B1	noun - light from the sun
travel /ˈtræv.əl/ A2	verb - to make a journey, typically of some length
imagine /ɪˈmædʒ.ɪn/ B1	verb - to form a mental image of something
goal /ɡoʊl/ A2	noun - the object of a person's ambition or effort; an aim or desired result
weight /weɪt/ B1	noun - a measure of how heavy something is
should /ʃʊd/ A2	modal verb - used to indicate obligation or duty
carry /ˈkæri/ A2	verb - to support and move someone or something from one place to another
road /roʊd/ A1	noun - a wide way leading from one place to another
blind /blaɪnd/ B2	adjective - unable to see; sightless
load /loʊd/ B2	noun - a heavy or bulky thing that is being carried
speak /spiːk/ A2	verb - to say something in order to convey information
end /ɛnd/ A1	noun - the final part of something
top /tɒp/ A1	noun - the highest or uppermost point
rocky /ˈrɒki/ B2	adjective - consisting of or full of rocks

Key Grammar Structures

• Let's say you give me one more time

  ➔ Subjunctive Mood (in 'Let's say')

  ➔ "Let's say" introduces a hypothetical scenario. While not a full-blown subjunctive clause, it uses an imperative form expressing a wish or proposal, somewhat akin to a softened command or suggestion. This structure is common for introducing hypothetical situations in conversation.

• Brave enough to go climbing a wall so high That no sunlight is seen through winter

  ➔ Adjective + "enough" + to-infinitive

  ➔ The structure "brave enough to go climbing" shows someone's courage reached a level that enables an action. The phrase "so high that" illustrates the degree of the wall's height and its effect, linking cause and consequence. The passive voice in "no sunlight is seen" emphasize the lack of sunlight.

• I wish you had been more of a talker

  ➔ Third Conditional (Wish + Past Perfect)

  ➔ Expresses a regret about something that happened (or didn't happen) in the past. The speaker wishes the other person had been more communicative. "Had been" is the past perfect form used here to reflect on a past action.

• Maybe I could have helped you with that

  ➔ Modal Verb of Speculation in the Past (Could have + Past Participle)

  ➔ Expresses possibility in the past that did not happen. It suggests that the speaker now believes they were capable of helping, but it's a missed opportunity. The "could have helped" indicates that the speaker thinks they *might* have been able to provide assistance.

• I should have carried you to the top of the rocky trail

  ➔ Regret/Criticism (Should have + Past Participle)

  ➔ Expresses a sense of regret or self-criticism for not having done something in the past. The speaker believes they had a responsibility or opportunity to help the other person, but didn't.

• How am I to know about your problems and your load?

  ➔ "To be" + infinitive expressing obligation/destiny

  ➔ The "am I to know" structure expresses a rhetorical question indicating a lack of information and perhaps a feeling of helplessness or resignation. It highlights that the speaker feels they are not naturally equipped or expected to know the other person's burdens without being told.