Be Alive – English Lyrics

• By: Beyoncé

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music can be an incredibly rewarding experience, and Beyoncé's "Be Alive" offers a powerful entry point into the English language. The song's clear and repetitive chorus makes it easy to follow along and learn key phrases about pride, family, and perseverance. What makes this song truly special is its inspiring message, which transcends language barriers and connects with listeners on an emotional level. By engaging with "Be Alive," you can not only improve your English but also be moved by a story of Black excellence and the strength of the human spirit.

[English]

It feels so good to be alive

Got all my family by my side

Couldn't wipe this black off if I tried

That's why I lift my head with pride

...

I got a million miles on me

They want to see how far I'll go

The path was never paved with gold (gold)

We worked and built this on our own (own)

...

And, and can't nobody knock it if they tried (no)

This is hustle personified

Look how we've been fighting to stay alive

So when we win, we will have pride

Do you know how much we have cried?

How hard we had to fight?

(It feels so good to be alive) it feels so, so, so good

(Got all my sisters by my side) uh-huh, I got all my sisters by my side

(Couldn't wipe this black off if I tried) oh, black off if I tried

(That's why I lift my head with pride)

Uh-huh, now we're sitting on top of the world again, huh

I got a million miles on me (me)

They want to see how far I'll go (they want to see how far I'll go)

The path was never paved with gold (gold)

We fought and built this on our own

(We fought and built this on our own, own)

And, and can't nobody knock it if they tried (no)

This is hustle personified

Look how we've been fighting to stay alive

So when we win, we will have pride

Do you know how much we have cried?

How hard we had to fight?

...

(It feels so good to be alive) it feels so good, so good

(Got all my family by my side)

And we gon' sit on top of the world again

(Couldn't wipe this black off if I tried) and I wouldn't trade nothing

And I wouldn't trade nothing (that's why I lift my head with pride)

So baby, lift your head, yeah

(It feels so good to be alive)

Darling, it's a celebration for you, yeah

(I got the tribe all by my side)

You're doing everything they said you couldn't do

(Couldn't wipe this black off if I tried)

(That's why I lift my head with pride) lift your head, yeah

Ooh

(Ooh, I tried, oh)

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
alive /əˈlaɪv/ A2	adjective - living, not dead
family /ˈfæməli/ A1	noun - a group of people related by blood, marriage, or adoption
side /saɪd/ A1	noun - a surface or edge of an object
black /blæk/ A1	adjective - of the darkest color; of or relating to people of African origin
head /hed/ A1	noun - the part of the body above the neck
pride /praɪd/ B1	noun - a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired.
miles /maɪlz/ A1	noun - plural of mile (a unit of length)
path /pæθ/ B1	noun - a way or track laid down for walking or made by continual treading
gold /ɡoʊld/ A1	noun - a yellow precious metal
hustle /ˈhʌsl/ B2	noun - energetic activity; busy movement verb - to proceed or work rapidly or energetically.
fighting /ˈfaɪtɪŋ/ A2	verb - Taking part in a violent struggle involving physical force or weapons.
win /wɪn/ A2	verb - to achieve victory noun - an instance of winning a game or competition
sisters /ˈsɪstərz/ A1	noun - plural of sister
tribe /traɪb/ B2	noun - a social group comprising numerous families, clans, or generations together with their domestic animals, equipment, etc.
celebration /ˌselɪˈbreɪʃn/ B1	noun - the action of celebrating; a joyful occasion for special festivities to mark some happy event.

Key Grammar Structures

• It feels so good to be alive

  ➔ Infinitive of Purpose/Result

  ➔ The infinitive phrase "to be alive" explains *why* it feels good. The structure 'It feels + adjective + to + verb' is a common way to express feelings about an action.

• Couldn't wipe this black off if I tried

  ➔ Second Conditional (Hypothetical)

  ➔ This line uses the second conditional structure: "If + past simple, would/could/might + infinitive". It describes a hypothetical situation - even *if* she tried, she couldn't erase her black identity.

• That's why I lift my head with pride

  ➔ Cause and Effect (That's why)

  ➔ "That's why" indicates a cause-and-effect relationship. The inability to erase her blackness is the *reason* she lifts her head with pride.

• They want to see how far I'll go

  ➔ Indirect Question with Future Tense

  ➔ "How far I'll go" is an indirect question embedded within the larger sentence. "I'll go" is the future tense (will + verb).

• The path was never paved with gold

  ➔ Passive Voice

  ➔ This sentence uses the passive voice: "was paved". The subject (the path) *receives* the action, rather than performing it. The active form would be: "Someone never paved the path with gold."

• And, and can't nobody knock it if they tried

  ➔ Double Negative/Non-Standard English

  ➔ "Can't nobody" is a double negative, which is grammatically incorrect in standard English. However, it is common in some dialects. In standard English, it would be "can anybody".

• Look how we've been fighting to stay alive

  ➔ Present Perfect Continuous with 'How' Clause

  ➔ The sentence uses the Present Perfect Continuous ('have/has been + verb-ing') to emphasize the duration of the fighting. 'How' introduces a clause describing the *manner* or *extent* of the fighting. It highlights the length and intensity of the struggle to survive.