Before I Forget – English Lyrics

• By: Slipknot
• Album: Vol. 3 (The Subliminal Verses)

Lyrics & Translation

Delve into Slipknot's Grammy-winning hit, "Before I Forget," a powerful metal anthem about self-identity and resilience. Discover how this song blends aggressive riffs with profound lyrics, offering listeners a lesson in standing firm and staying true to themselves, all while mastering the raw energy of metal music.

[English]

Go

Stapled shut, inside an outside world and I'm

Sealed in tight, bizarre but right at home

Claustrophobic, closing in and I'm

Catastrophic, not again

I'm smeared across the page, and doused in gasoline

I wear you like a stain, yet I'm the one who's obscene

Catch me upon all your sordid little insurrections

I've got no time to lose and I'm just caught up in all the cattle

Fray the strings

Throw the shapes

Hold your breath

And listen

I am a world before I am a man

I was a creature before I could stand

I will remember before I forget

Before I forget that

I am a world before I am a man

I was a creature before I could stand

I will remember before I forget

Before I forget that

I'm ripped across the ditch, and settled in the dirt and I

I wear you like a stitch, yet I'm the one who's hurt

Pay attention to your twisted little indiscretions

I've got no right to win, I'm just caught up all the battles

Locked in clutch

Pushed in place

Hold your breath

And listen

I am a world before I am a man

I was a creature before I could stand

I will remember before I forget

Before I forget that

I am a world before I am a man

I was a creature before I could stand

I will remember before I forget

Before I forget that

My end

It justifies my means

All I ever do is delay

My every attempt to evade

The other road in my head

It justifies my means

All I ever do is delay

My every attempt to evade

The end of the road

I am a world before I am a man

I was a creature before I could stand

I will remember before I forget

Before I forget that

I am a world before I am a man

I was a creature before I could stand

I will remember before I forget

Before I forget that

I am a world before I am a man

I was a creature before I could stand

I will remember before I forget

Before I forget that

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Yeah, yeah, yeah, oh

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
world /wɜːrld/ A1	noun - the earth, together with all of its countries, people, and natural features
home /hoʊm/ A1	noun - the place where one lives
man /mæn/ A1	noun - an adult male human being
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole
lose /luːz/ A2	verb - to be deprived of something
dirt /dɜːrt/ A2	noun - soil or earth
caught /kɔːt/ A2	verb - past tense of catch, to capture
stand /stænd/ A2	verb - to be in or rise to an upright position, supported by one's feet
breath /breθ/ B1	noun - the air inhaled or exhaled in respiration
road /roʊd/ B1	noun - a way or route between two places
remember /rɪˈmembər/ B1	verb - to have in or be able to bring to one's mind an awareness of (someone or something from the past)
forget /fərˈɡet/ B1	verb - to fail to remember
attempt /əˈtempt/ B2	noun - an effort to accomplish something
justify /ˈdʒʌstɪfaɪ/ B2	verb - to show or prove to be right or reasonable
means /miːnz/ B2	noun - a method, course of action, or instrument by which something can be accomplished
creature /ˈkriːtʃər/ B2	noun - an animal, especially a nonhuman one; a person
evade /ɪˈveɪd/ C1	verb - to escape or avoid, especially by cleverness or trickery
obscene /əbˈsiːn/ C1	adjective - offensive or disgusting by accepted standards of morality and decency
sordid /ˈsɔːrdɪd/ C1	adjective - involving ignoble actions and motives; arousing moral distaste and contempt; foul or run-down
catastrophic /ˌkætəˈstrɒfɪk/ C1	adjective - involving or causing sudden great damage or suffering

Key Grammar Structures

• I am a world before I am a man

  ➔ Present simple tense

  ➔ The phrase "I am" indicates a state of being in the present.

• I will remember before I forget

  ➔ Future simple tense

  ➔ The phrase "I will remember" indicates an action that will happen in the future.

• I'm smeared across the page

  ➔ Present continuous tense

  ➔ The phrase "I'm smeared" indicates an ongoing action in the present.

• Pay attention to your twisted little indiscretions

  ➔ Imperative mood

  ➔ The phrase "Pay attention" is a command or request.

• My end justifies my means

  ➔ Present simple tense

  ➔ The phrase "My end justifies" indicates a belief or principle in the present.

• I'm just caught up in all the battles

  ➔ Present continuous tense

  ➔ The phrase "I'm caught up" indicates a current state of being involved.

• I'm ripped across the ditch

  ➔ Present continuous tense

  ➔ The phrase "I'm ripped" indicates an ongoing state of being torn.