Phonetics with M-E

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Relax (take it easy) -karaoke (Mika)
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Now you can sing to one of Mika's greatest hits: Relax. You can also listen to the original video here:

RELAX (TAKE IT EASY)

Warning: there are a few transcription mistakes in the lyrics. Nothing to spoil the fun but be aware. (for example, the first line should be "took a ride" and not "took a right")

Took a ride to the end of the line
Where no one ever goes.
Ended up on a broken train with nobody I know.
But the pain and the longing's the same
When you're dying.
Now I'm lost and I'm screaming for help, alone.

Relax, take it easy
For there is nothing that we can do.
Relax, take it easy
Blame it on me or blame it on you.

It's as if I'm scared.
It's as if I'm terrified.
It's as if I'm scared.
It's as if I'm playing with fire.
Scared.
It's as if I'm terrified.
Are you scared?
Are we playing with fire?

Relax
There is an answer to the darkest times.
It's clear we don't understand it
But the last thing on my mind
Is to leave you.
I believe that we're in this together.
Don't scream - there are so many roads left.

Relax, take it easy
For there is nothing that we can do.
Relax, take it easy
Blame it on me or blame it on you.

Relax, take it easy
For there is nothing that we can do.
Relax, take it easy
Blame it on me or blame it on you.


Relax, take it easy
For there is nothing that we can do.
Relax, take it easy
Blame it on me or blame it on you.

Relax, take it easy
For there is nothing that we can do.
Relax, take it easy
Blame it on me or blame it on you.

It's as if I'm scared.
It's as if I'm terrified.
It's as if I'm scared.
It's as if I'm playing with fire.
Scared.
It's as if I'm terrified.
Are you scared?
Are we playing with fire?

Relax
Relax

(I) TOOK A RIDE TO THE END OF THE LINE=  I went to the limit. I went through a limit situation (one which is extremely difficult, almost impossible to bear). To take a ride = to ride = to travel in a means of transport.

THE LONGING= A strong persistent desire, especially one impossible to fulfil.

TAKE IT EASY= Relax, don't worry.

BLAME IT ON ME= Put the blame on me. Consider that the fault is mine, I’m the culprit. Note the preposition ON.

BLAME IT ON ME OR BLAME IT ON YOU= It doesn’t matter whom you blame because it is nobody’s fault, so nobody is to blame, things just happen.

IT’S AS IF I’M SCARED= I think I’m scared; I’m very afraid. The phrase “it’s as if” doesn’t mean anything really, or it means the same as “more or less”.
- It’s going to rain = I know it or I believe that.
- It’s as if it’s going to rain = I’m not very sure but I think it’s going to rain, it looks like it.

TERRIFIED= Very, very, very scared.

FIRE= In "perfect English" this word is pronounced /faɪə/ but people usually pronounce it /fɑ:ə/ and sometimes (like here), it is pronounced /fɑ:/ . The same process also happens to both triphthongs: /aɪə/ and /aʊə/ , so the word POWER may also sound /pɑ:ə/ or /pɑ:/ . So in modern pronunciation the words fire and far may sound the same, also the words tower and tar, etc. This change is more common in BrE than in AmE but it happens in both [note: for American English add an /r/ sound to all the above examples].

I’M PLAYING WITH FIRE= I’m in a very dangerous situation, very risky. The saying goes that “if you play with fire, you’ll get burnt”, because when you do something dangerous you’ll probably suffer the bad consequences of it.

THE LAST THING ON MY MIND IS TO LEAVE YOU= A very emphatic way to say: I will never leave you.

WE’RE IN THIS TOGETHER= You’re not alone, I will support you. Maybe I’ll be with you because I love you, or I’m with you because the problem affects both of us.

THERE ARE SO MANY ROADS LEFT= Life will bring more possibilities.

Under a happy music tune and an idyllic kaleidoscopic video scenery there is a much darker message. This song is clearly about putting a brave face in a difficult situation. This is hard but relax, after all, there’s nothing we can do about it.

The message is good for any situation that escapes our control, but Mika is most probably referring to a particular situation, and it’s impossible to know what situation he is talking about unless he told us himself.

I’ve heard different accounts of what this difficult situation may be. Some say it’s about leaving a girl, but some lines are difficult to fit in that. Others say it’s about war or terrorist attacks (being Mika of a Lebanese parent, he has family there who suffered war and terrorism, so maybe this is more plausible). Finally, other people point to other reasons. But whatever the situation may be, the message is universal: if there’s nothing you can do about it, don’t worry and take it easy.

3:46            
 
 
© Angel Castaño 2008 Salamanca / Poole - free videos to learn real English online || InfoPrivacyTerms of useContactAbout
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