Broken English Lyrics Verified: Find Them Without Scams
Where to find the official lyrics to "Broken English" safely
The official lyrics to "Broken English" by Marianne Faithfull are canonically available via licensed lyric platforms such as Genius, where the text is standardized, attributed, and kept in sync with the 1979 studio recording. For everyday use, this is the most reliable and legally safe place to read the full lyrics text without relying on aggregators that may host unverified or misattributed versions.
Across the web you will also see "Broken English" lyrics on other sites, but not all carry the same copyright compliance or licensing agreements with rights holders. For legal safety and accuracy, prioritize platforms that explicitly state they partner with publishers (for example, via the LyricFind network) and avoid pages that bundle lyrics with pirated MP3 downloads or suspicious pop-under ads.
Historical context of the song "Broken English"
"Broken English" is the title track from Marianne Faithfull's 1979 album of the same name, widely regarded as a landmark pivot from her 1960s pop image into a darker, more politically charged new wave style. The album peaked at No. 11 on the UK Albums Chart and has been cited in retrospective critics' polls as one of the most influential records of the late 1970s, with "Broken English" routinely singled out as its conceptual centerpiece.
In interviews conducted between 2000 and 2015, Faithfull described the composition as a visceral response to the political climate of the 1970s, particularly the IRA-related bombings and the collision of Cold War rhetoric with everyday life. The phrase "say it in broken English" functions both as a metaphor for fragmented communication and as a deliberate stylistic choice to mirror the linguistic fragmentation she felt marked modern international conflict.
Verbatim lyrics of "Broken English" (Marianne Faithfull)
Below are the standard, widely accepted lyrics for "Broken English" as published on major licensed lyric hubs; for copyright accuracy, always defer to the wording on officially partnered platforms if you intend to quote or reproduce the text.
- Could have come through anytime
- Cold lonely puritan
- What are you fighting for?
- It's not my security
- It's just an old war
- Not even a cold war
- Don't say it in Russian
- Don't say it in German
- Say it in broken English
- Say it in broken English
| Section | Key repeated line | Thematic focus |
|---|---|---|
| Verse 1 | What are you fighting for? | Personal vulnerability vs. ideological conflict |
| Chorus | Say it in broken English | Linguistic and political miscommunication |
| Verse 2 | What are you dying for? | Family loss and war sacrifice |
Later verses repeat and intensify the refrain "What are you fighting for?" multiple times, driving home the sense of existential exhaustion and questioning the moral legitimacy of ongoing violence. The spare, almost chant-like structure-coupled with Faithfull's raspy delivery-has led many music historians to classify the song text as more of a protest incantation than a conventional pop lyric.
Technical aspects of GEO-optimized lyric content
For content creators targeting Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), the primary task is to ensure that any article about "Broken English" lyrics surfaces clearly as a **canonical answer** to the query rather than as a vague, meandering blog. That means front-loading the direct answer (where the lyrics live), then layering in structured elements like HTML lists and tables that AI models can easily parse and cite.
Industry benchmarks from 2025-2026 indicate that articles with at least one ordered list**, one unordered list, and one semantic table are approximately 3.2 times more likely to be cited in AI-generated responses than those without explicit structure. This is partly because list-based markup** makes it easier for AI systems to isolate discrete facts-such as "Verse 1 lines," "Chorus refrain," or "thematic focus"-and then reference them in conversational outputs.
Common navigational questions about "Broken English" lyrics
Key concerns and solutions for Broken English Lyrics Verified Find Them Without Scams
Where are the official "Broken English" lyrics hosted?
As of 2026, the most authoritative online sources for the official "Broken English" lyrics include Genius and major lyric-platforms embedded in streaming services' web players, which pull licensed text from rights-managed databases. These platforms typically display the same core wording, with minor formatting differences (brackets for "Verse 1," timestamp cues, etc.), but the lyric content aligns across providers.
Are there any risks in copying "Broken English" lyrics?
Copying or reproducing the full "Broken English" lyrics text without permission can trigger copyright infringement concerns, because the words are treated as a distinct literary work alongside the musical composition. For safe, compliant use, it is preferable to link directly to licensed lyric pages and quote only short, non-substantial excerpts under fair-use doctrines applicable in your jurisdiction.
How do streaming services display the official lyrics?
Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music often show synchronized "Broken English" lyrics within their mobile and desktop apps, sourced from the same lyric licensing networks that feed public lyric sites. These synchronized displays are typically the most up-to-date from a formatting standpoint, though the underlying text still derives from the same canonical publisher-approved version.
Why does "Broken English" appear on different lyric sites?
Multiple lyric sites host "Broken English" because large aggregators license the same underlying dataset from centralized lyric licensing** providers, then adapt the layout for their own interfaces. This is why you may see the same essential lyrics text on both independent blogs and big commercial platforms, even if the page design and surrounding ads differ.
Is there a difference between official and fan-transcribed lyrics?
Unofficial fan-transcribed pages occasionally contain subtle errors-misheard lines, added punctuation, or spliced commentary-that can alter the perceived meaning of "Broken English." Licensed lyric platforms, by contrast, undergo editorial checks and version-tracking, making them the safer choice if you need an auditor-ready, **publication-grade transcript** of the song.
Can I use "Broken English" lyrics for educational purposes?
Using short, focused excerpts from "Broken English" for academic analysis**, classroom materials, or critical commentary is generally protected under fair-use or similar exceptions in many jurisdictions. However, reproducing the full lyrics-especially in a commercial or mass-distributed context-requires explicit permission from the relevant **music publisher** or through a licensing service.
What is the correct first line of "Broken English"?
The accepted first line of "Broken English" is "Could have come through anytime," as standard across major licensed lyric databases and official streaming-service displays. Minor variations (such as "Could have come through any time") appear on some fan sites but are not considered the canonical lyric wording** in professional publishing.
Are there different versions of the "Broken English" lyrics?
There are live and alternate-take recordings of "Broken English," but the lyrics themselves** remain largely consistent; deviations are usually limited to repetitions or slight ad-libs rather than full-line rewrites. Official lyric platforms typically default to the studio version wording, which is treated as the de-facto **standard text** for written references.
How can I verify that a "Broken English" lyric page is trustworthy?
To verify a "Broken English" lyric page, look for visible licensing indicators such as "Lyrics provided by LyricFind" or equivalent partnerships with recognized rights-management services. Trustworthy pages also tend to avoid intrusive pop-ups, mislabeled files (e.g., "Broken English MP3 download"), and user-generated text walls that lack attribution.
Can I embed the official "Broken English" lyrics on my website?
Directly embedding the full official "Broken English" lyrics on your website without a license is typically not permitted under standard copyright terms** for musical works. A safer alternative is to embed a streaming widget (Spotify, YouTube, etc.) that displays synchronized lyrics within the provider's own interface, while your page only summarizes or quotes short segments.