Learning English with Songs – You’ve got time by Regina Spektor

Ready to sing?

Have you heard about the series “Orange is the New Black”? It is about Piper Chapman, a woman living in New York City who is sentenced to 15 months in a women’s federal prison, for transporting a suitcase full of drug money.

The series’ song is by Regina Spektor and is called “You’ve got time”.

We suggest you write down the words you don’t understand, check the vocabulary section below or use a dictionary and then practice singing the lyrics to improve your pronunciation and remember the new words better.

1. Read the lyrics
2. Understand the vocabulary
3. Sing!

Lyrics

The animals, the animals
Trapped, trapped, trapped ’till the cage is full
The cage is full
Stay awake
In the dark, count mistakes
The light was off but now it’s on
Searching the ground for a bitter song
The sun is out, the day is new
And everyone is waiting, waiting on you
And you’ve got time
And you’ve got time

Think of all the roads
Think of all their crossings
Taking steps is easy
Standing still is hard
Remember all their faces
Remember all their voices
Everything is different
The second time around

The animals, the animals
Trapped, trapped, trapped ’till the cage is full
The cage is full
Stay awake
In the dark, count mistakes
The light was off but now it’s on
Searching the ground for a bitter song
The sun is out, the day is new
And everyone is waiting, waiting on you
And you’ve got time
And you’ve got time
And you’ve got time

Vocabulary

Trapped – to force (someone) to stay in a bad or unpleasant situation.

Cage – a box made of wire or metal bars in which people keep animals or birds. In this case, it refers to the prison.

Dark – having very little or no light.

Bitter – having a strong and often unpleasant flavor that is the opposite of sweet.

Crossings – a place where two things (such as a street and a railroad track) cross each other.

Second time around – The second time you do something.

Song

x