Be – English Lyrics

• By: Lenny Kravitz
• Album: Blue Electric Light

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the introspective and soulful sound of Lenny Kravitz's "Be." This song offers a great opportunity to explore the English language through its thought-provoking lyrics about identity and self-acceptance. Its fusion of rock and funk provides a unique and engaging musical backdrop for language learners.

[English]

Lord what's the matter?

Am I lost?

This life's a disaster, what is the cause?

Am I a junkie? What is my fate?

Or am I a flunkie who doesn't relate?

Or am I a child so full of hate?

Am I a doctor or even a priest?

Or am I a rapist who needs a release?

A psychotic prancer

Times Square dancer

The mind can see as long as you'll be

For real with yourself

And you'll forever be

Be be, be be

You'll forever be

Be, be be

You'll forever be (you'll be)

You'll forever be

When you're real with yourself

You'll forever be

Lord what's the matter? Am I insane?

This life's an illusion, that's all it remains

Are you listening? Are you boss?

Am I gonna make it up top on that cross?

Believe in your name

And you'll forever be

Be be, be be

You'll forever be

Be, be be

You'll forever be (oh no)

Ever be

Be be, be be

You'll forever be

You'll forever, ever, ev- (be, be)

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
lost /lɔːst/ A1	adjective - unable to find your way or be found
disaster /dɪˈzæstər/ A2	noun - a sudden event that causes great damage or suffering
junkie /ˈdʒʌŋki/ B1	noun - a person addicted to drugs
fate /feɪt/ A2	noun - the development of events outside human control
flunkie /ˈflʌŋki/ B2	noun - a person who is incompetent or subservient
hate /heɪt/ A1	noun - intense dislike or hostility
doctor /ˈdɒktər/ A1	noun - a qualified medical practitioner
priest /priːst/ A2	noun - a person authorized to perform religious ceremonies
rapist /ˈreɪpɪst/ B1	noun - a person who commits rape
release /rɪˈliːs/ A2	noun - the act of freeing from confinement
psychotic /saɪˈkɒtɪk/ C1	adjective - relating to a mental disorder characterized by delusions
prancer /ˈprænsər/ B2	noun - a person or animal that moves in a lively, springy manner
dancer /ˈdɑːnsər/ A1	noun - a person who dances professionally or for enjoyment
real /riːl/ A1	adjective - actually existing as a thing or occurring in fact
believe /bɪˈliːv/ A1	verb - to accept something as true
insane /ɪnˈseɪn/ B1	adjective - in a state of severe mental disorder
illusion /ɪˈluːʒən/ B2	noun - a false idea or belief
listening /ˈlɪsnɪŋ/ A1	verb - to give one's attention to a sound
cross /krɔːs/ A1	noun - a mark or shape formed by two lines intersecting

Key Grammar Structures

• Lord what's the matter?

  ➔ Interrogative sentence using 'what' + verb 'is'.

  ➔ This sentence starts with the interjection 'Lord', setting a tone of questioning. It uses 'what' to ask about the situation. 'What's' is a contraction of 'what is'.

• Am I lost?

  ➔ Inversion of subject and verb in a question. Use of the verb 'to be'.

  ➔ A simple question using the verb 'to be', inverted for the interrogative form ('Am I'). It expresses the speaker's confusion about their state.

• This life's a disaster, what is the cause?

  ➔ Possessive contraction ('life's'), followed by a declarative statement and a question using 'what' and verb 'is'.

  ➔ Combines a statement with a contracted possessive ('life's = life is') and a second question starting with 'what', showcasing the speaker's despair and search for answers.

• Or am I a child so full of hate?

  ➔ Question formed with inversion (Am I) using 'or' to introduce an alternative.

  ➔ This is an alternative question, using 'or' to present another possibility of self-identification. The structure is interrogative ('Am I...'), and the phrase 'so full of hate' describes the speaker's state.

• Or am I a rapist who needs a release?

  ➔ Question with subject-verb inversion (Am I), relative clause ('who needs a release') modifying 'rapist'.

  ➔ Another alternative question, this time with a relative clause to describe the potential identity. The relative clause uses 'who' to refer to the 'rapist'.

• A psychotic prancer

  ➔ Noun phrase (adjective + noun).

  ➔ Simple noun phrase acting as a descriptor, setting a specific image with an adjective ('psychotic') modifying the noun ('prancer').

• The mind can see as long as you'll be

  ➔ Subordinate clause of condition ('as long as'). Modal verb 'can' and future form 'will be'.

  ➔ This sentence contains a conditional clause ('as long as you'll be real') that establishes a condition. It also uses the modal verb 'can' to express ability, and 'will be' to express future condition.

• Believe in your name

  ➔ Imperative sentence (command/instruction).

  ➔ A direct command, omitting the subject ('you'), to convey a message of faith or affirmation. It encourages self-belief.

• This life's an illusion, that's all it remains

  ➔ Declarative sentence with contracted possessive ('life's), apposition ('that's all it remains').

  ➔ A statement of fact, using a contracted form of 'life is' and followed by a second statement of apposition ('that's all it remains') describing the nature of life as an illusion.