I'd Be Surprisingly Good For You – English Lyrics

• By: Madonna, Jonathan Pryce
• Album: Evita Soundtrack

Lyrics & Translation

Step into the dramatic world of Argentine history with "I'd Be Surprisingly Good For You," a captivating duet from the musical 'Evita.' This song offers a fascinating insight into the motivations and dynamic between its central characters, Eva Duarte and Juan Perón. By exploring its lyrics, you can learn how characters in a musical convey complex desires and strategic intentions through song, making it an excellent piece for understanding English in a theatrical context and the nuances of power and seduction.

[English]

Colonel Peron

Eva Duarte

I've heard so much about you

I'm amazed, for I'm only an actress (a soldier)

Nothing to shout about (One of the thousands)

Only a girl on the air (Defending the country he loves)

But when you act, the things you do affect us all

But when you act, you take us away from the squalor of the real world

Are you here on your own?

Yes, oh yes

So am I, what a fortunate coincidence

Maybe you're my reward for my efforts here tonight

It seems crazy but you must believe

There's nothing calculated, nothing planned

Please forgive me if I seem naive

I would never want to force your hand

But please understand, I'd be good for you

I don't always rush in like this

Twenty seconds after saying hello

Telling strangers I'm too good to miss

If I'm wrong I hope you'll tell me so

But you really should know, I'd be good for you

I'd be surprisingly good for you

...

...

I won't go on if I'm boring you

But do you understand my point of view?

Do you like what you hear, what you see

And would you be, good for me too?

...

I'm not talking of a hurried night

A frantic tumble then a shy goodbye

Creeping home before it gets too light

That's not the reason that I caught your eye

Which has to imply, I'd be good for you

I'd be surprisingly good for you

Please go on, you enthrall me

I can understand you perfectly

And I like what I hear, what I see, and knowing me

I would be good for you too

I'm not talking of a hurried night

A frantic tumble then a shy goodbye

Creeping home before it gets too light

That's not the reason that I caught your eye

Which has to imply, I'd be good for you

I'd be surprisingly good for you

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
act /ækt/ A2	verb - to perform a role in a play or movie noun - a performed role, or a public display of behavior
reward /rɪˈwɔːrd, rɪˈwʊərd/ B1	noun - something given in recognition of service, effort, or achievement verb - to give a reward to someone
fortunate /ˈfɔːrtʃənət/ B2	adjective - lucky, having good luck
calculate /ˈkælkjuleɪt/ B2	verb - to determine by mathematical means or reasoning
forgive /fərˈɡɪv/ B1	verb - to stop feeling angry or resentful towards someone for an offense or mistake
naive /naɪˈiːv/ B2	adjective - lacking experience or knowledge, innocent
rush /rʌʃ/ B1	verb - to move with urgent haste noun - a sudden quick movement or rush of something
stranger /ˈstreɪn.dʒər/ A2	noun - a person whom one does not know
believe /bɪˈliːv/ B1	verb - to accept as true or real
enthrall /ɪnˈθrɔːl/ C1	verb - to captivate or charm someone's attention
imply /ɪmˈplaɪ/ B2	verb - to suggest or indicate without direct expression
light /laɪt/ A2	noun - electromagnetic radiation that makes things visible adjective - not heavy or dark
tumble /ˈtʌm.bəl/ B2	verb - to fall or roll suddenly and clumsily

Key Grammar Structures

• I'm amazed, for I'm only an actress.

  ➔ Present simple tense.

  ➔ The phrase "I'm amazed" uses the present simple to express a current state.

• But please understand, I'd be good for you.

  ➔ Conditional mood.

  ➔ The phrase "I'd be good for you" uses the conditional mood to express a hypothetical situation.

• Do you like what you hear, what you see?

  ➔ Interrogative form.

  ➔ The phrase "Do you like..." is in interrogative form, asking for information.

• I would never want to force your hand.

  ➔ Modal verb 'would'.

  ➔ The phrase "I would never want..." uses the modal verb 'would' to express a desire or intention.

• That's not the reason that I caught your eye.

  ➔ Past simple tense.

  ➔ The phrase "I caught your eye" uses the past simple tense to describe a completed action.

• I can understand you perfectly.

  ➔ Present simple tense.

  ➔ The phrase "I can understand" uses the present simple to express ability.

• Maybe you're my reward for my efforts here tonight.

  ➔ Present continuous tense.

  ➔ The phrase "you're my reward" uses the present continuous to indicate a current situation.