2000 Light Years Away – English Lyrics

• By: Green Day
• Album: Saviors

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into Green Day's "2000 Light Years Away," a raw and heartfelt punk rock anthem that beautifully conveys the emotions of longing and love across distance. This song is perfect for English learners as its direct and passionate lyrics offer a clear narrative of personal feelings, helping you grasp expressions of love, desire, and separation in an authentic musical context. Discover how simple, impactful language can tell a powerful story.

[English]

♪♪

♪ I sit alone in my bedroom ♪

♪ Staring at the walls ♪

♪ I've been up all damn night long ♪

♪ My pulse is speeding ♪

♪ My love is yearning ♪

♪ I hold my breath and close my eyes and ♪

♪ Dream about her ♪

♪ 'Cause she's two thousand light years away ♪

♪ She holds my malakite so tight so ♪

♪ Never let go ♪

♪ Cause she's two thousand light years away ♪

♪ Years away! ♪

♪ I sit outside and watch the sunrise ♪

♪ Lookout as far as I can ♪

♪ I can't see her, but in the distance ♪

♪ I hear some laughter, ♪

♪ We laugh together ♪

♪ I hold my breath and close my eyes and ♪

♪ Dream about her ♪

♪ 'Cause she's two thousand light years away ♪

♪ She holds my malakite so tight so ♪

♪ Never let go ♪

♪ Cause she's two thousand light years away ♪

♪ Years away! ♪

♪♪

♪ I sit alone in my bedroom ♪

♪ Staring at the walls ♪

♪ I've been up all damn night long ♪

♪ My pulse is speeding ♪

♪ My love is yearning ♪

♪ I hold my breath and close my eyes and ♪

♪ Dream about her ♪

♪ 'Cause she's two thousand light years away ♪

♪ She holds my malakite so tight, oh ♪

♪ Never let go ♪

♪ 'Cause she's two thousand light years away ♪

♪ Years away! ♪

♪♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
distance /ˈdɪs.təns/ B1	noun - the amount of space between two points or objects
light /laɪt/ A2	noun - electromagnetic radiation that makes things visible adjective - having a bright or pale color
years /jɪərz/ A2	noun - units of time equal to 365 days (or 366 in leap years)
hold /hoʊld/ A2	verb - to grasp or carry something with the hands
sky /skaɪ/ A1	noun - the expanse of air above the Earth
shoot /ʃuːt/ B2	verb - to send out a projectile or beam of light
pass /pæs/ A2	verb - to move past someone or something
dream /driːm/ A2	verb - to experience images or thoughts while sleeping
wish /wɪʃ/ B1	verb - to want something to happen or be true
hold /hoʊld/ A2	verb - to keep or grasp something

Key Grammar Structures

• I've been up all damn night long

  ➔ Present Perfect Continuous (with emphasis)

  ➔ Uses the Present Perfect Continuous ('have/has been' + verb-ing) to emphasize the duration and ongoing nature of being awake. 'Damn' is an intensifier, adding emphasis to 'all night long'. The speaker is stressing that they have *been* awake for the entire night and still *are* awake.

• My pulse is speeding

  ➔ Present Continuous

  ➔ Describes an action happening right now. The speaker's pulse is actively getting faster.

• My love is yearning

  ➔ Present Continuous (describing a state)

  ➔ Here, "yearning" is being used in the present continuous to describe a state of intense longing. While some verbs are stative and not typically used in the continuous form, using it here emphasizes the active and ongoing nature of the feeling.

• I hold my breath and close my eyes and...

  ➔ Simple Present (describing habitual actions)

  ➔ Simple Present is used to describe actions that happen regularly or habitually. Here, it suggests a recurring ritual.

• 'Cause she's two thousand light years away

  ➔ Contraction ('cause) and Simple Present

  ➔ 'Cause is a contraction of 'because'. The Simple Present ('she's') expresses a fact or a state of being. The distance is presented as an unchanging reality.

• She holds my malakite so tight so...

  ➔ Simple Present (describing a state/action)

  ➔ The Simple Present 'holds' describes a continuous state or a regular action. The word 'so' acts as an intensifier for 'tight'.

• Never let go

  ➔ Imperative (negative)

  ➔ This is a negative imperative sentence. It's a command or strong suggestion *not* to perform an action. It implies urgency and importance.

• Lookout as far as I can

  ➔ Imperative (Lookout) and Adverbial Clause of Degree (as far as I can)

  ➔ "Lookout" is an imperative verb, a command to be watchful. "As far as I can" is an adverbial clause modifying the verb "lookout," indicating the extent of the speaker's ability to look. It expresses a limitation to the action.