Shadowing Practice: Alex Warren - First Time On Earth (Official Audio) - Learn English Speaking with Video

I've been walking on a tie rope,

juggling high hopes and reality Just trying not to mess up, trying to keep my head up,

fighting gravity I can't help but growing up,

I still feel like a kid Quick to judge the ones we love,

sometimes I forget It's your first time on earth too And I hope that you know that I don't blame you

It's just pain that you were passing down I'm older and I see it now It's your first time on earth too

Orange bottles in the cabinet Trying to kill a habit that was killing you

Back then I didn't get that You gave me the best

that you knew how to do You were far from done Growing up when you had a kid

Quick to judge the ones we love Sometimes I forget It's your first time on earth too

And I hope that you know that I don't blame you

It's just pain that you were passing down I'm older and I see it now It's your first time on earth too

When you cry through the waters, I'll be with you Just cause I'm angry, sometimes I mean I don't miss you You had your issues and I had mine Oh,

I'd forgive you if we still had time I was too young, I couldn't see the world on your shoulders You traded your dreams for me,

for us Is that just life,

nobody ever gets every dead light It's your first time on earth too How did you know that I don't blame you?

You know I don't blame you It's just pain that you were passing down

I'm older and I see it now It's your first time on earth too

✨ Recommend Video

22 sentences

Armin van Buuren feat. Trevor Guthrie - This Is What It Feels Like (Official Music Video)

TeensDaily ConversationHigh School Students

Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson

This video has 18 sentences and 293 words to shadow. The speech runs for 2:35. The speaker talks at a steady 114 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 86% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.

Key vocabulary in this video

12 less common words from the video, with pronunciation and meaning:

forgive /fɚˈɡɪv/ (verb) — To pardon (someone); to waive any negative feeling towards or desire for punishment or retribution against.
habit /ˈhæb.ɪt/ (noun) — An action performed on a regular basis.
gravity /ˈɡɹævɪti/ (noun) — Of an activity such as a ceremony, a person's conduct, etc.: the quality of being deeply serious and solemn, especially in a dignified manner; seriousness…
rope /ɹoʊp/ (noun) — Thick strings, yarn, monofilaments, metal wires, or strands of other cordage that are twisted together to form a stronger line.
juggling /ˈd͡ʒʌɡəlɪŋ/ (noun) — The art of moving objects, such as balls, clubs, beanbags, rings, etc. in an artful or artistic manner.
blame /bleɪm/ (verb) — To assert or consider that someone is the cause of something negative; to place blame; to attribute responsibility (for something negative or for doing…
angry /ˈæŋ.ɡɹi/ (adjective) — Displaying or feeling anger.
orange /ˈɒɹɪnd͡ʒ/ (noun) — An evergreen tree of the genus Citrus such as Citrus sinensis which yields oranges (the fruit).
bottle /ˈbɒt.l̩/ (noun) — A container, typically made of glass or plastic and having a tapered neck, used primarily for holding liquids.
mess /mɛs/ (noun) — A thing or group of things in a disagreeable, disorganised, or dirty state; hence a bad situation.
shoulder /ˈʃoʊldɚ/ (noun) — The part of the human torso forming a relatively horizontal surface running away from the neck.
cabinet /ˈkæb.ɪ.nɪt/ (noun) — A storage closet either separate from, or built into, a wall.

Phrasal verbs you will hear

pass down (verb) — To hand over, pass through or transfer to a lower level, next generation, etc.
grow up (verb) — To mature and become an adult.
head up (verb) — To lead or take the lead in; to direct; to take charge of.
mess up (verb) — To make a mess of; to untidy, disorder, soil, or muss.
walk on (verb) — To come onstage.

Pronunciation to watch

The speaker uses 15 contractions and reduced forms, such as don't, I'm, can't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.

How to practise with this video

Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like forgive, habit, gravity.

Grammar in this video

The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:

Structure	In the video
Present perfect continuous have/has been + -ing — an action that started earlier and is still going on	I've been walking
Past continuous was/were + -ing — an action in progress at a moment in the past	were passing · was killing
Superlatives the -est / the most … — the top or bottom of a group	the best
Future with “will” will + verb — a decision, promise or prediction	I'll be

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

Shadowing technique: read the full step-by-step guide →

Shadowing Practice: Alex Warren - First Time On Earth (Official Audio) - Learn English Speaking with Video

Alex Warren - Ordinary (Official Lyric Video)

Like My Father - Jax ( slowed + reverb + lyrics )

Earth Song - Michael Jackson / Lyrics / apicsart / zero degree music

The Weeknd - Save Your Tears (Official Audio)

Damiano David - The First Time (Sub. Español + Lyrics)

Alexander Stewart - Scared of Myself (Official)

Tai Verdes - last day on earth (Official Video)

Aurora - Runaway(Lyrics)

Forrest Frank - CELEBRATION (Official Audio)

Jason Mraz - I'm Yours (Official Video) [4K Remaster]

Thirty Seconds To Mars - This Is War