Build – English Lyrics

• By: The Housemartins

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the language of social commentary through The Housemartins' "Build," a poignant critique of urban development. This indie-pop gem offers a unique blend of catchy melodies and thought-provoking lyrics, perfect for those looking to expand their vocabulary and understand socio-political themes in music.

[English]

Clambering men in big bad boots

Dug up my den, dug up my roots

Treated us like plasticine town

They build us up and knocked us down

...

From Meccano to Legoland

Here they come with a brick in their hand

Men with heads filled up with sand

It's build

It's build a house where we can stay

(Build)

Add a new bit, everyday

(Build)

It's build a road for us to cross

(Build)

Build us lots and lots and lots and lots and lots

(Build)

Whistling men in yellow vans

They came and drew us diagrams

Showed us how it all worked out

And wrote it down, in case of doubt

...

Slow, slow, and quick, quick, quick

It's wall to wall and brick to brick

They work so fast it makes you sick

It's build

It's build a house where we can stay

(Build)

Add a new bit, everyday

(Build)

It's build a road for us to cross

(Build)

Build us lots and lots and lots and lots and lots

(Build)

Oh, build

It's build

It's build

...

Down with sticks and up with bricks

In with boots and up with roots

It's in with suits and new recruits

It's build

It's build a house where we can stay

(Build)

Add a new bit, everyday

(Build)

It's build a road for us to cross

(Build)

Build us lots and lots and lots and lots

(Build)

It's build a house where we can stay

(Build)

Add a new bit, everyday

(Build)

It's build a road for us to cross

(Build)

Build us lots and lots and lots and lots and lots

(Build)

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
build /bɪld/ A2	verb - to construct something by putting parts together
men /mɛn/ A1	noun - adult human males
boots /buːts/ A1	noun - heavy shoes that cover the ankle
road /roʊd/ A1	noun - a wide way leading from one place to another
house /haʊs/ A1	noun - a building for human habitation
sand /sænd/ A2	noun - small grains of rock found on beaches and in deserts
brick /brɪk/ A2	noun - a small rectangular block used for building
draw /drɔː/ B1	verb - to produce a picture or diagram by making lines on paper
fast /fæst/ B1	adjective - moving or capable of moving at high speed
stay /steɪ/ A2	verb - to remain in a place
new /njuː/ A1	adjective - not existing before; made, introduced, or discovered recently
add /æd/ A1	verb - to join something to something else
doubt /daʊt/ B2	noun - a feeling of uncertainty or lack of conviction
quick /kwɪk/ A2	adjective - done with speed; fast
stick /stɪk/ B1	noun - a thin piece of wood
root /ruːt/ B2	noun - the part of a plant that attaches it to the ground
recruit /rɪˈkruːt/ B2	noun - a person newly enlisted in the armed forces