Welcome (Bem vindo) again to our Song Meanings post. This month we will examine (to look at (something) closely and carefully in order to learn more about it, to find problems, etc.) a song from the 90s. This song is an example (In this sentence, example means, “something or someone chosen from a group in order to show what the whole group is like.” There are other uses in English for the word example.) of what we call country music. It is different than what is considered (to think of (someone or something) in a specified way) country music here in Brazil. Both “country” music styles developed in the rural (of or relating to the country and the people who live there instead of the city) areas of the country, but the sound is very different. The song I will be explaining is called How Do I Live Without You, and it was a number one song for LeAnn Rimes. My comments will be in parenthesis ( ), as always. Let´s see if it will teach us anything about English. Otherwise we can live without it! How Do I Live Without You How do I get through one night without you
If I had to live without you What kinda life would that be
Oh I need you in my arms, need you to hold You are my world, my heart, my soul
If you ever leave Baby you would take away
Everything good in my life And tell me now
How do I live without you? I want to know How do I breathe without you?
If you ever go
(I am often asked about the word through. In Portuguese you might say através. The definition of it for this sentence is, “from the beginning to the end of (something).” There are several other uses for the word in English.) (The word live is pronounced like “win,” not like “bike.” ) (Kinda of = sort of. This is an expression that means, “in a small amount or degree.”) (Need you to hold is an incorrect way to say need to hold you.) (These are all ways to say how important someone is. They are called hyperbole (language that describes something as better or worse than it really is).
(take away = remove. Baby is a very common word we use for someone we love. It is called a, “term of endearment.”) (She is saying, “answer this question.”)
(Obviously this is more hyperbole. She will still be able to breathe (pronounced like leave, and the definition is, “to move air into and out of your lungs.”)