45) Another Love

Hello and welcome to Learning English with Lyrics! I am your host Jake, and today we are discussing the song "Another Love" by Tom Odell. This is a somewhat sad love song, where a man sings of his desire to be with someone new, but something is stopping him. Something is keeping him from being able to move on to this new relationship. And that is what we're going to discuss today as we dive into one of the lyrics from the song.

Let's get started!

The line I want to talk about today, is found throughout the song, but most notably, in the chorus. "All my tears have been used up." Specifically the phrase "used up".

You might be familiar with the word "used" already, but in case you're not, let's talk about it for a moment. "To use" something means that you do an action with that thing, usually some sort of tool or machine. To use it, generally, assumes that you're "using" it for its function. If I "use" my sink, that means I turn it on, and water comes out. If I "use" my car, that means I drive my car. If I "use" my hands to do something, that means my hands are the tool that I do the action with.

So "using" something means doing an action with it.

If something has been "used", that means an action was taken on it. Now here is where it gets tricky. "Used" in this case is a passive verb. Something was done TO that thing. For example, "This toothbrush has been used by someone." means that someone brushed their teeth with the toothbrush.

However, "used" can also be an adjective. If something "is used", that means that it is no longer "new" or "brand new". For example, a "used car" is a car that is not new. Perhaps it was driven by someone else for a few years, and then sold. A "new car" will have never had another driver.

One last difficulty. If something "is used FOR" something, we're back to "used" being a verb. "using something for something" describes the function, or "use" of the thing. "A toothbrush is used for brushing teeth." "A lawnmower is used for mowing lawns." "A donut is used for making me happy."

You get the idea.

There are other ways that we can "use" the word "use", but I don't want to complicate today's episode any further. It's a simple, yet complicated word.

So how does our song "use" the word "use"?

It says "All my tears have been used up."

Something being "used up" has yet another meaning. To "use something up" means to completely drain it. To empty it. To take from it until there is nothing left. It has been "exhausted".

In this case, our singer is saying, that he has cried so much, he has "run out" of tears. He has no more tears left.

Essentially, what this means is, that his last relationship was quite difficult. He used all of his emotional energy on that relationship. He wants to start a new relationship, but he is too tired, too exhausted to be able to give anything to it. He himself feels like he is "used up".

A pretty sad love song!

Well, that's all we have for this week. I hope your patience hasn't been used up. I hope to talk to you soon!