Anarchy In The UK – English Lyrics

• By: Sex Pistols

Lyrics & Translation

Learning English through "Anarchy in the U.K." offers a unique window into a pivotal moment in British youth culture. The song's raw energy and rebellious spirit are palpable, even if you don't understand every word at first. By exploring the lyrics, you can learn vocabulary related to politics, rebellion, and social commentary. The song is special because it perfectly captures the anger and frustration of a generation, making it a powerful and authentic piece of cultural history.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
anarchy /ˈænərki/ C1	noun - a state of disorder due to absence or nonrecognition of authority.
antichrist /ˈæntiˌkraɪst/ C2	noun - an opponent of Christ.
anarchist /ˈænərkɪst/ C1	noun - a person who believes in or advocates anarchism.
destroy /dɪˈstrɔɪ/ B2	verb - to end the existence of (something) by damaging or attacking it.
future /ˈfjuːtʃər/ A2	noun - a time yet to come. adjective - that will exist or happen in the time to come.
dream /driːm/ A2	noun - a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep. verb - to indulge in daydreams or fantasies about something greatly desired.
shopping /ˈʃɒpɪŋ/ A1	noun - the activity of buying goods or services.
scheme /skiːm/ B2	noun - a large-scale systematic plan or arrangement for attaining some particular object or putting a particular idea into effect. verb - make plans, especially in a devious way or with intent to do something illegal or wrong.
city /ˈsɪti/ A1	noun - a large town.
ways /weɪz/ A2	noun - a method, style, or manner of doing something.
country /ˈkʌntri/ A1	noun - a nation with its own government, occupying a particular territory.
council /ˈkaʊnsl/ B1	noun - a body of people elected to manage the affairs of a city, county, or other district.
tenancy /ˈtenənsi/ B2	noun - the occupation or possession of land or property as a tenant.
pissed /pɪst/ B2	adjective - drunk.
mean /miːn/ A2	verb - intend to convey or refer to (a particular thing or notion).

Key Grammar Structures

• I am an antichrist

  ➔ Subject-Verb-Complement (SVC) - Use of the indefinite article "an" before a vowel sound.

  ➔ This line employs the basic SVC structure. "An" is used instead of "a" because "antichrist" begins with a vowel sound. This is a fundamental rule of English article usage. The sentence asserts the speaker's identity or self-proclaimed role.

• Don't know what I want but I know how to get it

  ➔ Compound sentence with "but" as a conjunction. Uses a negative imperative ("Don't know") and an embedded question ("what I want"). Also uses "how to" + infinitive to express ability or method.

  ➔ This line demonstrates a complex sentence structure. "Don't know what I want" uses an embedded question as the object of the verb "know". "How to get it" describes the speaker's knowledge of *method*, even if they don't know the *goal*.

• It's coming sometime and maybe

  ➔ Present continuous tense used to describe a future event. Use of "sometime" as an adverb of time. "Maybe" used as an adverb modifying the entire clause.

  ➔ "It's coming" uses the present continuous to indicate a future action that is perceived as relatively certain or imminent. "Sometime" adds vagueness to the timing. "Maybe" further softens the prediction, expressing uncertainty.

• I give a wrong time stop a traffic line

  ➔ Simple present tense to express intended actions (though possibly hypothetical or rebellious). Lack of conjunctions (asyndeton) creates a sense of rapid succession and urgency.

  ➔ This line uses a series of short, declarative clauses without conjunctions. The actions are presented as intended and immediate, although their realism is questionable given the context of anarchy. The lack of "and" creates a sense of rapid, impulsive actions.

• Your future dream is a shopping scheme

  ➔ Subject-Verb-Complement (SVC) structure. "Future dream" is a compound noun. Use of the indefinite article "a" before a consonant sound.

  ➔ Another example of the simple SVC sentence structure. The line critiques the consumerist nature of society, equating aspirations with mere shopping.

• How many ways to get what you want

  ➔ Interrogative sentence using "How many" + plural noun. Use of "to" + infinitive to express purpose. Embedded question using "what" as a relative pronoun.

  ➔ This rhetorical question explores the means of achieving desires. "How many ways to get..." inquires about the multitude of possibilities. "What you want" is the object of "get", presented as a known entity, though the earlier line contradicted this.

• Is this the MPLA? Or is this the UDA? Or is this the IRA?

  ➔ Series of interrogative sentences using the "Is this the...?" structure. Uses proper nouns (acronyms) of political organizations. Repetition for emphasis.

  ➔ This section employs a repetitive question structure to highlight confusion and disillusionment. The speaker is questioning the nature of authority or the source of societal problems by listing various political organizations.