Slow Dancing In The Dark – English Lyrics

• By: Joji

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a powerful tool, and Joji's "Slow Dancing in the Dark" offers a unique opportunity to explore emotive and poetic English. The song's lyrical depth, filled with metaphors and expressions of vulnerability, can help you understand nuanced language in a contemporary context. What makes this song special is its universal theme of heartbreak, conveyed through Joji's soulful delivery and atmospheric production, making it a compelling piece for language learners to connect with on an emotional level.

[English]

IN THE DARK, DARK

IN THE DARK, DARK

I DON'T WANNA SLOW DANCE

OH WELL, CAN'T YOU SEE?

YOU LOOKED AT ME LIKE I WAS SOMEONE ELSE

YOU SHOULD BE WITH HIM, I CAN'T COMPETE

GIVE ME REASONS WE SHOULD BE COMPLETE

CAN YOU? CAN YOU?

I DON'T WANNA GO HOME, CAN IT BE ONE NIGHT?

YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, I DON'T FUCK WITH YOUR TONE

USED TO BE THE ONE TO HOLD YOU WHEN YOU FALL

SHUTTING ME OUT YOU, DOING SO GREAT, YOU

WHEN YOU GOTTA RUN, JUST HEAR MY VOICE IN YOU

IN THE DARK, DARK

I DON'T WANNA SLOW DANCE

OH WELL, CAN'T YOU SEE?

YOU LOOKED AT ME LIKE I WAS SOMEONE ELSE

YOU SHOULD BE WITH HIM, I CAN'T COMPETE

GIVE ME REASONS WE SHOULD BE COMPLETE

CAN YOU? CAN YOU?

YOU DONE MADE UP YOUR MIND, I DON'T NEED NO MORE SIGNS

DON'T FOLLOW ME, YOU'LL END UP IN MY ARMS

WHEN I'M AROUND SLOW DANCING IN THE DARK

WAITING TO GET THERE, WAITING FOR YOU

I DON'T WANT A FRIEND, I WANT MY LIFE IN TWO

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
dark /dɑːk/ A1	adjective - having little or no light noun - absence of light
dance /dɑːns/ A1	verb - to move rhythmically to music noun - a rhythmic movement to music
slow /sloʊ/ A1	adjective - happening at a low speed
see /siː/ A1	verb - to use your eyes to look at
look /lʊk/ A1	verb - to direct your eyes
compete /kəmˈpiːt/ B1	verb - to try to win
reasons /ˈriːzənz/ A2	noun - causes or explanations
complete /kəmˈpliːt/ A2	adjective - total or whole
home /hoʊm/ A1	noun - place where you live
night /naɪt/ A1	noun - time between sunset and sunrise
tone /toʊn/ B1	noun - sound quality or attitude
hold /hoʊld/ A1	verb - to keep or support
fall /fɔːl/ A1	verb - to move down quickly
voice /vɔɪs/ A2	noun - sound made by talking
mind /maɪnd/ B1	noun - your thoughts or intellect
signs /saɪnz/ A2	noun - indications or symbols
arms /ɑːrmz/ A1	noun - parts of the body from shoulder to hand
friend /frɛnd/ A1	noun - a person you know and like
life /laɪf/ A2	noun - the period of existence

Key Grammar Structures

• I DON'T WANNA SLOW DANCE

  ➔ negative modal construction (don't want to + infinitive)

  ➔ The word "don't" negates the desire expressed by "want".

• OH WELL, CAN'T YOU SEE?

  ➔ rhetorical question with modal verb (can't you)

  ➔ The modal "can't" forms a rhetorical question expecting agreement.

• YOU LOOKED AT ME LIKE I WAS SOMEONE ELSE

  ➔ comparative clause with "like" + past simple

  ➔ The word "like" introduces a comparison using the past simple "was".

• YOU SHOULD BE WITH HIM, I CAN'T COMPETE

  ➔ modal verb "should" for recommendation/obligation

  ➔ The modal "should" expresses advice: "You "should" be with him".

• GIVE ME REASONS WE SHOULD BE COMPLETE

  ➔ imperative sentence (command)

  ➔ "GIVE" is the base form used to give a direct command.

• YOU DONE MADE UP YOUR MIND, I DON'T NEED NO MORE SIGNS

  ➔ present perfect (have/has + past participle) – colloquial "done" + past participle

  ➔ The phrase "done made up" is an informal way of saying "have made up"; "done" marks the perfect aspect.

• DON'T FOLLOW ME, YOU'LL END UP IN MY ARMS

  ➔ future simple with "will" (you'll = you will)

  ➔ The contraction "you'll" expands to "you will", showing a prediction about the future.

• WHEN I'M AROUND SLOW DANCING IN THE DARK

  ➔ adverbial clause of time introduced by "when"

  ➔ "when" links the clause to a specific time: "When I'm around...".

• I USED TO BE THE ONE TO HOLD YOU WHEN YOU FALL

  ➔ "used to" + base verb for past habits or states

  ➔ "used to" indicates that the speaker was formerly "the one to hold you".