American Oxygen – English Lyrics

• By: Rihanna
• Album: ANTI

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music can be a powerful experience, and Rihanna's "American Oxygen" offers a unique opportunity to delve into the nuances of English through its poignant lyrics. The song's exploration of the American dream, struggle, and hope provides a rich context for understanding not just the words, but also the cultural and social conversations in the United States. Its blend of straightforward and metaphorical language makes it an engaging and thought-provoking piece for language learners.

[English]

Breathe out, breathe in

American oxygen, woah

Every breath I breathe

Chasin' this American Dream

We sweat for a nickel and a dime

Turn it into an empire, whoa

Breathe in this feeling

American, American oxygen

American oxygen, whoa

Breathe in this feeling

American, American oxygen

...

Oh say, you see

This is the American Dream

...

Young girl, hustlin' on the other side of the ocean

You can be anything at all in America, America

(America, America)

I say if you can't see

Just close your eyes and breathe

...

Breathe out, breathe in

American oxygen, whoa

Every breath I breathe

Chasin' this American Dream

We sweat for a nickel and a dime

Turn it into an empire, whoa

Breathe in this feeling

American, American oxygen

American oxygen, whoa

Breathe in, this feeling

American, American oxygen

American oxygen, whoa

Breathe in, this feeling

American, American oxygen

...

Oh say, can you see

This is the American Dream

Young boy, hustlin', tryna get the wheels in motion

...

But he can be anything at all in America, America

(America, America)

I say if you can't see

Just close your eyes and breathe

...

Breathe out, breathe in

American oxygen, whoa

Every breath I breathe

Chasin' this American Dream

We sweat for a nickel and a dime

Turn it into an empire, whoa

Breathe in this feeling

American, American oxygen

This is the new America

We are the new America

This is the new America

We are the new America

This is the new America

We are the new America

This is the new America

We are the new America

...

Breathe out, breathe in

American oxygen, whoa

Every breath I breathe

Chasin' this American Dream

We sweat for a nickel and a dime

Turn it into an empire, whoa

Breathe in this feeling

American, American oxygen

American oxygen, whoa

Breathe in, this feeling

American, American oxygen

American oxygen, whoa

Breathe in, this feeling

American, American oxygen

This is the new America

We are the new America

This is the new America

We are the new America

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
breathe /briːð/ A2	verb - to take air into the lungs and then expel it
dream /driːm/ A2	noun - a series of thoughts, images, or emotions occurring during sleep noun - a cherished aspiration, ambition, or ideal
empire /ˈɛm.paɪər/ B2	noun - a group of nations or peoples ruled over by an emperor or empress
ocean /ˈoʊ.ʃən/ B1	noun - a large body of salt water that covers most of the Earth's surface
hustle /ˈhʌs.əl/ B2	verb - to move or act quickly verb - to obtain by forceful action
sweat /swɛt/ B1	verb - to excrete moisture through the skin
young /jʌŋ/ A1	adjective - having lived or existed for a short time
see /siː/ A1	verb - to perceive with the eyes
close /kloʊz/ A2	verb - to move something so that it is no longer open
turn /tɜrn/ A2	verb - to move in a circular direction
feeling /ˈfiː.lɪŋ/ B1	noun - an emotional state or reaction
nickel /ˈnɪk.əl/ B2	noun - a coin worth five cents in the US
dime /daɪm/ B2	noun - a coin worth ten cents in the US
America /əˈmɛr.ɪ.kə/ A1	noun - a country in North America

Key Grammar Structures

• Breathe out, breathe in

  ➔ Imperative mood

  ➔ The phrase "Breathe out, breathe in" uses the imperative mood to give a command or instruction.

• Chasin' this American Dream

  ➔ Gerund form

  ➔ The word "Chasin'" is a gerund, indicating an ongoing action related to pursuing the American Dream.

• We sweat for a nickel and a dime

  ➔ Prepositional phrase

  ➔ The phrase "for a nickel and a dime" is a prepositional phrase that indicates the reason for sweating.

• This is the American Dream

  ➔ Present simple tense

  ➔ The sentence "This is the American Dream" uses the present simple tense to state a fact.

• You can be anything at all in America

  ➔ Modal verb

  ➔ The phrase "You can be" uses the modal verb "can" to express ability or possibility.

• Just close your eyes and breathe

  ➔ Compound sentence

  ➔ The sentence "Just close your eyes and breathe" is a compound sentence that combines two actions.

• We are the new America

  ➔ Present continuous tense

  ➔ The phrase "We are the new America" uses the present continuous tense to indicate a current state of being.