Awful Sound (Oh Eurydice) – English Lyrics

• By: Arcade Fire
• Album: Reflektor

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the layers of meaning in Arcade Fire's "Awful Sound (Oh Eurydice)" and explore a classic story of love and loss through its powerful lyrics. This song offers a unique opportunity to delve into Greek mythology and sophisticated emotional expression, making it a special piece for language learners to connect with universal themes while appreciating poetic songwriting.

[English]

You and I were born

In a little town

Before the awful sound

Started coming down

Oh no

Oh

You came home from school

And knew you had to run

Please stop running now

Just let me be the one

For you

But I know you can see

Things that we can't see

But when I say I love you

Your silence covers me

Oh, Eurydice

It's an awful sound

So disappointed

You didn't want me

Oh, how could it be, Eurydice?

I was standing beside you

By a frozen sea

Will you ever get free?

Just take all your pain

Just put it on me

So that you can breathe

When you fly away

Will you hit the ground?

It's an awful sound

I know there's a way

We can make 'em pay

Think it over and say

"I'm never going back again"

I know there's a way

We can leave today

Think it over and say

"I'm never going back again"

You were born in a little town

Before the awful sound

Started coming down

There's so much inside you

That you won't let me see

You fly away from me

But it's an awful sound

When you hit the ground

It's an awful sound

When you hit the ground

I know there's a way

We can make 'em pay

Think it over and say

"I'm never going back again"

But I know there's a way

We can leave today

Think it over

We know there's a price to pay

For love in a reflective age

I met you up upon a stage

Our love in a reflective age

Oh no, now you're gone

La-la, la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

La-la, la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la, la-la-la

La-la, la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

La-la, la-la-la, la-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
run /rʌn/ A1	verb - move quickly by using your legs
sound /saʊnd/ A2	noun - vibrations that travel through air or another medium and can be heard adjective - in good condition; not damaged
see /siː/ A1	verb - to perceive with the eyes
love /lʌv/ A2	noun - an intense feeling of affection verb - to have a strong affection for
pain /peɪn/ B1	noun - physical suffering or discomfort
free /friː/ B1	adjective - not under the control or power of another
breathe /briːð/ B1	verb - to take air into and out of the lungs
fly /flaɪ/ A2	verb - move through the air using wings
ground /ɡraʊnd/ A2	noun - the solid surface of the earth
way /weɪ/ A2	noun - a method or direction
pay /peɪ/ A2	verb - to give money in exchange for goods or services
age /eɪdʒ/ B1	noun - a period in a person's life
inside /ɪnˈsaɪd/ A2	adverb - within the limits of
disappointed /dɪsəˈpɔɪntɪd/ B2	adjective - sad or displeased because someone or something has failed to fulfill one's hopes or expectations
reflective /rɪˈflektɪv/ C1	adjective - characterized by deep thought; thoughtful
stage /steɪdʒ/ B1	noun - a platform for performing

Key Grammar Structures

• You and I **were born**

  ➔ Past Simple Passive Voice

  ➔ The past simple passive voice is formed with 'was/were' + past participle. It describes an action done to the subject, not by the subject. Here, "were born" indicates the act of being born.

• And knew you **had to run**

  ➔ Modal Verb 'had to' (Past Obligation)

  ➔ "Had to" is the past form of 'must' or 'have to', expressing a past obligation or necessity. It means there was no choice but to perform the action, as in "had to run".

• Please **stop running** now

  ➔ Imperative with Gerund (Verb + -ing after 'stop')

  ➔ The verb 'stop' can be followed by a gerund (-ing form) to indicate ceasing an activity. "Stop running" means to discontinue the act of running.

• Just **let me be** the one

  ➔ Causative Verb 'let' (Allow/Permit)

  ➔ The causative verb "let" is used to say that someone allows or permits someone else to do something. The structure is 'let + object + base form of verb'. Here, "let me be" means allow me to be.

• I **was standing** beside you

  ➔ Past Continuous Tense

  ➔ The past continuous tense is formed with 'was/were' + verb + -ing. It describes an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past, often setting a scene. Here, "was standing" describes an ongoing state at a past moment.

• So that you **can breathe**

  ➔ Purpose Clause with 'so that' and Modal 'can'

  ➔ A purpose clause starting with "so that" explains the reason or purpose for an action. It is often followed by a modal verb like "can" or "could" to express possibility or ability to achieve that purpose. Here, it explains why "take all your pain" is suggested.

• We **can make 'em pay**

  ➔ Causative Verb 'make' (Force/Cause)

  ➔ The causative verb "make" is used to say that someone forces or causes someone else to do something. The structure is 'make + object + base form of verb'. Here, "make 'em pay" means to force them to pay.

• **I'm never going back again**

  ➔ Future with 'going to' (Strong Intention/Decision with 'never')

  ➔ The "going to" future is used to express a strong intention or a decision made before the moment of speaking. The addition of "never" emphasizes a definite refusal or a permanent decision not to do something again.

• When you **fly away** / Will you hit the ground?

  ➔ Conditional Clause (Type 1, 'when' for future possibility/event)

  ➔ This sentence uses a 'when' clause to introduce a condition or a future event, followed by a question in the future simple. It implies a cause-and-effect relationship or a consequence that might happen after the condition is met. The first part 'When you fly away' acts like a conditional clause.

• There's so much inside you / **That you won't let me see**

  ➔ Relative Clause (Defining, with 'that' as object pronoun)

  ➔ A relative clause provides essential information about a noun (in this case, "so much"). "That you won't let me see" describes what "so much" refers to. "That" functions as an object pronoun and could sometimes be omitted in informal English.