Bittersweet Symphony – English Lyrics

• By: GAMPER & DADONI, Emily Roberts

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the rhythmic world of modern electronic music with this track! By listening to this song, you can learn how classic pop melodies are transformed through contemporary production techniques and contemporary English phrasing used in the dance music scene.

[English]

'Case it's a bitter sweet symphony this life

Tried to make ends meet, you're a slave to money then you die

I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down

You know the one that takes you to the places

Where all the veins meet, yeah

No change, I can change

I can change, I can change

But I'm here in my mould

I am here in my mould

But I'm a million different people from one day to the next

I can't change my mould

No, no, no, no, no, no, no

'Cause it's a bitter sweet symphony this life

'Cause it's a bitter sweet symphony this life

...

Well I've never prayed, but tonight I'm on my knees, yeah

I need to hear some sounds that recognize the pain in me, yeah

I let the melody shine, let it cleanse my mind, I feel free now

But the airwaves are clean and there's nobody singing to me now

No change, I can change

I can change, I can change

But I'm here in my mould

I am here in my mould

But I'm a million different people from one day to the next

I can't change my mould

No, no, no, no, no

'Cause it's a bitter sweet symphony this life

'Cause it's a bitter sweet symphony this life

'Cause it's a bitter sweet symphony this life

'Cause it's a bitter sweet symphony this life

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
bittersweet /ˌbɪt.əˈswiːt/ B2	adjective - containing a mixture of sadness and happiness
symphony /ˈsɪm.fə.ni/ B2	noun - an elaborate musical composition; a harmonious arrangement
slave /sleɪv/ B1	noun - a person who is forced to work for no pay; someone submissive to a force
meet /miːt/ A1	verb - to come into contact; to fulfill a requirement (as in 'make ends meet')
veins /veɪnz/ B2	noun - tubes in the body that carry blood; lines of force or direction
mould /moʊld/ C1	noun - a shape or pattern; a fixed way of behaving or thinking
pray /preɪ/ B1	verb - to address a prayer to a deity; to make a solemn request
recognize /ˈrek.əɡ.naɪz/ B1	verb - to identify from previous knowledge; to acknowledge
melody /ˈmel.ə.di/ B1	noun - a sequence of musical notes that is musically satisfying
cleanse /klenz/ C1	verb - to make clean; to purify
airwaves /ˈer.weɪvz/ C1	noun - the medium of radio or television broadcasting
different /ˈdɪf.ər.ənt/ A2	adjective - not the same as another or each other
pain /peɪn/ A2	noun - physical or mental suffering

Key Grammar Structures

• 'Cause it's a bitter sweet symphony this life

  ➔ Apposition

  ➔ The noun phrase "this life" is placed after "symphony" to rename or identify it.

• Tried to make ends meet, you're a slave to money then you die

  ➔ Elliptical clause (Subject omission)

  ➔ The subject "I" is omitted in "(I) Tried to make ends meet" for a more informal, lyrical style.

• I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down

  ➔ Relative clause with omitted relative pronoun

  ➔ The relative pronoun "that" or "which" is omitted after "road": "the only road (that) I've ever been down".

• But I'm a million different people from one day to the next

  ➔ Hyperbole

  ➔ The phrase "a million different people" is an exaggeration used to express extreme inconsistency in personality.

• Well I've never prayed, but tonight I'm on my knees

  ➔ Present Perfect Tense

  ➔ "I've never prayed" (I have never prayed) indicates an action that has not occurred at any time up to the present.

• I need to hear some sounds that recognize the pain in me

  ➔ Relative Clause

  ➔ "that recognize the pain in me" is a relative clause modifying the noun "sounds".

• I let the melody shine, let it cleanse my mind

  ➔ Causative verb "Let"

  ➔ Used as "Let + object + base form verb" to signify allowing something to happen (let the melody shine/cleanse).

• But the airwaves are clean and there's nobody singing to me now

  ➔ Existential "There is"

  ➔ "There's nobody singing" introduces the existence of a state where no one is present or performing.