Born Free – English Lyrics

• By: Kid Rock
• Album: Born Free

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a powerful tool, and Kid Rock's 'Born Free' offers a great opportunity to explore themes of freedom, gratitude, and perseverance in English. The song's straightforward and heartfelt lyrics make it accessible for learners, while its strong narrative of journey and self-determination provides a rich context for understanding American cultural values. 'Born Free' is special not only for its powerful message but also for its blend of rock, country, and blues, which is a cornerstone of American music.

[English]

Fast

on a rough road riding

High

through the mountains climbing

Twistin', turning, further from my home

Young

like a new moon rising

Fierce

through the rain and lightning

Wandering out into this great unknown

And I don't want no one to cry

But tell 'em if I don't survive

I was born free

I was born free

I was born free

Born free

Free

like a river raging

Strong

as the wind I'm facing

Chasing dreams and racing Father Time

Deep

like the grandest canyon

Wild

like an untamed stallion

If you can't see my heart, you must be blind

You can knock me down and watch me bleed

But you can't keep no chains on me

I was born free

I was born free

I was born free

Born free

And I'm not good at long goodbyes

But look down deep into my eyes

I was born free

Hey, yeah, yeah

Yeah, yeah, yeah

Ooh, ooh

Calm

facin' danger

Lost

like an unknown stranger

Grateful for my time with no regrets

Close

to my destination

Tired, frail and aching

Waiting patiently for the sun to set

And when it's done, believe that I

Will yell it from that mountain high

I was born free

I was born free

I was born free

Born free

And I will bow to the shining seas

And celebrate God's grace on thee

I was born free

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
free /friː/ A1	adjective - not bound; able to act or move without restriction verb - to set free; to release from confinement
born /bɔːrn/ A1	verb - to come into existence; to be given birth to adjective - having been given birth; innate
wild /waɪld/ A2	adjective - untamed; not domesticated or controlled
fierce /fɪəs/ B2	adjective - intensely aggressive or powerful
strong /strɒŋ/ A2	adjective - having great physical power or great ability
unknown /ʌnˈnoʊn/ B1	adjective - not known or familiar noun - something that is not known
wandering /ˈwɒndərɪŋ/ B2	verb - to move about without a fixed destination adjective - moving about without a fixed course
river /ˈrɪvər/ A1	noun - a large natural stream of water flowing toward a sea, lake or another river
mountain /ˈmaʊntən/ A1	noun - a large natural elevation of the earth's surface rising abruptly from the surrounding level
dreams /driːmz/ A2	noun - thoughts, images, or emotions occurring during sleep; aspirations verb - to experience thoughts or images while sleeping
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future verb - to measure or record the duration of something
heart /hɑːrt/ A1	noun - the muscular organ that pumps blood through the circulatory system; also the centre of emotions
chains /tʃeɪnz/ A2	noun - a series of linked metal rings used for fastening or restraining verb - to bind or secure with chains
blind /blaɪnd/ A2	adjective - unable to see; lacking perception or insight verb - to cause someone to be unable to see; to deprive of sight
raging /ˈreɪdʒɪŋ/ B2	verb - to act or proceed with violent intensity adjective - characterized by intense, violent activity
facing /ˈfeɪsɪŋ/ B1	verb - to confront or deal with a challenge or situation
grateful /ˈɡreɪtfəl/ B2	adjective - feeling or showing appreciation for kindness received
canyon /ˈkænjən/ B2	noun - a deep, narrow valley with steep sides, often carved by a river

Key Grammar Structures

• Fast on a rough road riding

  ➔ Present Participle as Adjective

  ➔ The word "riding" is a present participle functioning as an adjective, describing the manner of travel. It modifies "road". It shows an action happening simultaneously with the state of being 'fast'.

• If you can't see my heart, you must be blind

  ➔ First Conditional

  ➔ This is a first conditional sentence expressing a likely outcome. The structure is 'If + present simple, will + base verb'. The 'must' indicates a logical deduction.

• You can knock me down and watch me bleed

  ➔ Modal Verb + Infinitive

  ➔ The use of "can" as a modal verb indicates ability or permission. It's followed by the base form of the verb ('knock' and 'watch'). This structure expresses what someone is capable of doing.

• But you can't keep no chains on me

  ➔ Double Negative

  ➔ The phrase uses a double negative ("can't" and "no"). While grammatically non-standard in formal English, it's common in colloquial speech and emphasizes the assertion of freedom. It effectively means 'you can't keep any chains on me'.

• Waiting patiently for the sun to set

  ➔ Gerund as Object of Preposition

  ➔ "Setting" is a gerund (verb acting as a noun) and functions as the object of the preposition "for". It describes what the subject is waiting *for*.