All Is Not Lost – English Lyrics

• By: OK Go, Pilobolus

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the inspiring message of hope and resilience in OK Go's "All Is Not Lost," a song that teaches us to find optimism even in the face of adversity. Explore the unique blend of alternative rock and collaborative choreography with Pilobolus, and learn how this song became a 'love letter to Japan'. The innovative HTML5 music video lets you experience the band's creativity in an interactive way, making it a must-explore for language and culture enthusiasts.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
lost /lɔːst/ A1	adjective - unable to find one's way or be found
coming /ˈkʌmɪŋ/ A1	verb - approaching or arriving
remember /rɪˈmɛmbər/ A2	verb - to recall or retain in memory
tide /taɪd/ B1	noun - the alternate rising and falling of the sea
rolls /roʊlz/ A2	verb - to move in a circular or rotating manner
burn /bɜːrn/ A1	verb - to be on fire; to destroy by fire
matter /ˈmætər/ B1	noun - the subject or situation being dealt with verb - to be important or significant
place /pleɪs/ A1	noun - a particular position or location
ground /ɡraʊnd/ A1	noun - the surface of the earth
crazy /ˈkreɪzi/ A2	adjective - mentally deranged; wild or bizarre
yell /jɛl/ A2	verb - to shout in a loud or harsh voice
fire /faɪər/ A1	noun - flames or burning material
right /raɪt/ A1	adjective - correct or true
way /weɪ/ A1	noun - a method, style, or manner of doing something
long /lɔːŋ/ A1	adjective - having a great linear extent

Key Grammar Structures

• It's coming down, babe

  ➔ Present Continuous

  ➔ The verb "is coming" shows present continuous, indicating an action happening right now.

• Could be as bad as they talked about

  ➔ Modal verb "could" + be + comparative structure

  ➔ The modal "could" expresses possibility; the structure "could be as ... as" compares degree.

• But when they say that all is lost

  ➔ Noun clause as object of the verb "say"

  ➔ The clause "that all is lost" functions as a noun phrase, the object of "say".

• All is not lost, all is not lost

  ➔ Simple present negative

  ➔ The verb "is" is in the simple present, negated by "not" to state a fact.

• If they burn this place down to the ground

  ➔ First conditional (if + present simple)

  ➔ The clause "If they burn..." uses present simple after "if" to talk about a possible future situation.

• What does it matter?

  ➔ Question formation with do‑support

  ➔ The auxiliary "does" is used to form a question in the present simple.

• They could be right in some crazy way

  ➔ Modal verb "could" + be + adjective

  ➔ "could" expresses possibility; "be right" is a linking verb + adjective.

• But just remember: when the tide rolls in

  ➔ Imperative verb "remember" + noun clause introduced by "when"

  ➔ "remember" is an imperative command; the clause "when the tide rolls in" functions as a time clause.

• It can't be too much until it rolls back out

  ➔ Negative modal "can't" + infinitive; "until" time clause

  ➔ "can't" is a negative modal indicating inability; "until" introduces a future time clause.