New post with new lyrics! This time we’ll look at the song “Rumour Has It” by Adele from her album 21. Check these lyrics for your English understanding and learn a bit more about informal terms or cultural points. I’ve taken notes on significantly incorrect grammar or words, and explained more about informal or culture-specific terms. As always I put a short explanation of what I think the song is about, if you’re interested. I’ll also leave the video here on top if you want to listen at the same time. Happy reading!
She, she ain’t real
- *she isn’t real…
She ain’t gon’ be able to love you like I will
- “she won’t be able…” also, “she isn’t going to be able…”
She is a stranger
You and I have history, or don’t you remember?
- To “have history” with someone means to have some past experience with them, usually a long and complicated one. It’s often used to talk about people who were in a relationship together.
Sure, she’s got it all
But baby, is that really what you want?
Bless your soul, you’ve got your head in the clouds
- “Bless your soul” is an interesting phrase. Even though it sounds kind of religious, it’s used a lot to refer to someone who is clueless or making some kind of mistake. It can be for innocent mistakes, like when you’re talking to a child, or for bigger mistakes like an adult would make. A similar phrase is “bless your heart” which is more common in the South of the U.S. “I’d like to order a file mignon.” “Oh, bless his heart. He doesn’t know we don’t serve that here.” Also, having your “head in the clouds” means to be daydreaming, thinking of impossible or useless ideas, or thinking about faraway places. It can be either a negative or positive thing.
She made a fool out of you and, boy, she’s bringin’ you down
- She’s “bringing him down,” meaning she is making him feel worse or making his life worse. “Make a fool out of someone” is a good phrase too, meaning to make someone else look foolish or silly.
She made your heart melt, but you’re cold to the core
- If your “heart melts” this means that you fall in love, basically. I think this is the same in many languages, but being “cold” is being heartless, without emotion, and without care for others. So cold to the core (to the center, deep down) is super cold, as emotionally cold as possible.
Now rumour has it, she ain’t got your love anymore
- *“she doesn’t have your love…” Saying “rumour has it” is a popular way to start talking about a rumor or gossip. It let’s the other person know that what you’ll say is some kind of gossip. The spelling here is standard British, “rumour,” while in the U.S. (or North America?) it’s spelled “rumor.”
Rumour has it (Rumour)
Rumour has it (Rumour)
Rumour has it (Rumour)
Rumour has it (Rumour)
Rumour has it (Rumour)
Rumour has it (Rumour)
Rumour has it (Rumour)
Rumour has it (Rumour)
She is half your age
But I’m guessin’ that’s the reason that you strayed
- To “stray” means to go off or run away without warning, usually in secret. We use this word to talk about pets a lot, like a stray cat or dog.
I heard you’ve been missin’ me
You’ve been tellin’ people things you shouldn’t be
Like when we creep out when she ain’t around
- *“when she is not around…” To “creep out” or “creep” as a verb means to go places, usually secretively under cover of the dark. It has the idea of a snake, cat, or other creature crawling around at night. To be “around” just means to be present somewhere. So he creeps out when his girlfriend isn’t around.
Haven’t you heard the rumours? (Bless your soul)
Bless your soul, you’ve got your head in the clouds
You made a fool out of me and, boy, you’re bringin’ me down
You made my heart melt, yet I’m cold to the core
But rumour has it, I’m the one you’re leaving her for
Rumour has it (Rumour)
Rumour has it (Rumour)
Rumour has it (Rumour)
Rumour has it (Rumour)
Rumour has it (Rumour)
Rumour has it (Rumour)
Rumour has it (Rumour)
Rumour has it (Rumour)
All of these words whispered in my ear
Tell a story that I cannot bear to hear
- This isn’t really a slang term, but learners might not be familiar with it. If you “cannot bear” something, it means you can’t stand it, you can’t handle it, you can’t take it, it’s too much, etc. Yes, it is spelled the same as “bear,” the animal.
Just ’cause I said it, it don’t mean that I meant it
- *“Just because I said, it doesn’t mean that I meant it…” To “mean” something means to be sincere about it. For example, “I said I’m sorry. I mean it.” This is different from using “mean” to talk about a meaning or definition. “Hola means Hello in Spanish.”
People say crazy things
Just ’cause I said it, don’t mean that I meant it
Just ’cause you heard it
Rumour has it (Rumour)
And the lyrics repeat.
Alrighty. This is not the typical romantic song. The story that the lyrics tell is a juicy one, like a soap opera. We have Adele secretly running around with a guy, seemingly her ex. He seems to have moved on, or they sound like they broke up. Still, he is going out with her at night, probably cheating on his current girlfriend, but won’t accept Adele during the day. It sounds like the guy left Adele for a younger woman, maybe someone shallow and outwardly pretty (she’s got it all, she ain’t real), but he secretly still likes the singer of this song. They seem to have a long history and some kind of real connection. The lyrics put us in this weird space where we don’t know if she’s upset and wants to forget this guy or if she is proud that he still wants to be with her deep down. She’s obviously been affected by him, since he did make her heart melt and no one can love him like she can. It’s a different take on romantic relationships, betrayal, and secret desires. Good stuff.
Tell me, y’all, what songs do you want me to explain? I’m waiting on my first comments here and I would love to do a song that you guys are interested in. What do you say? Comment what you thought of this song. Do you love Adele? Does this sound like a relationship you’ve been in? Tell me your thoughts, or email me directly at tietewaller@gmail.com
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