BURN IT DOWN

• By: Linkin Park
• Album: From Zero (Deluxe Edition)

Lyrics:

Vocabulary in this song:

Vocabulary	Meanings
burn /bɜːrn/ A1	verb - to be damaged or destroyed by fire
down /daʊn/ A1	adjective - sad or depressed
ground /ɡraʊnd/ A2	noun - the surface of the earth
cycle /ˈsaɪkl/ B1	noun - a series of events that are regularly repeated in the same order
explosion /ɪkˈsploʊʒən/ B2	noun - a violent bursting or shattering caused by the rapid expansion of gases
sky /skaɪ/ A1	noun - the region of the atmosphere and outer space seen from the earth
thing /θɪŋ/ A1	noun - an object that one need or wants
turn /tɜːrn/ A2	noun - an opportunity or chance to do something verb - to change direction
building /ˈbɪldɪŋ/ A2	noun - a structure with walls and a roof verb - to construct or create
break /breɪk/ A1	verb - to separate into pieces
colors /ˈkʌl.ɚz/ A1	noun - a property possessed by an object of producing different sensations on the eye
flames /fleɪmz/ B1	noun - a hot bright stream of burning gas from something that is burning
clouds /klaʊdz/ A2	noun - a visible mass of condensed watery vapor floating in the atmosphere
fix /fɪks/ A2	verb - to repair or mend
lie /laɪ/ A2	noun - a false statement made with deliberate intent to deceive verb - to speak falsely with the intent to deceive

Grammar:

• All that I needed / Was the one thing I couldn't find

  ➔ Cleft sentence with "all"

  ➔ This sentence structure emphasizes "the one thing I couldn't find". It breaks the sentence into two parts: "All that I needed" and "Was the one thing I couldn't find". Using "all" as the subject highlights the importance of that specific missing element.

• We're building it up to break it back down

  ➔ Phrasal verb "build up" and "break down" with object insertion

  ➔ "Build up" means to accumulate or construct, and "break down" means to dismantle or destroy. The object "it" is inserted between the verb and the particle because it is a pronoun. Correct usage is "build it up" rather than "build up it".

• You told me yes, you held me high / And I believed when you told that lie

  ➔ Past simple tense and subordinate clause with "when".

  ➔ Simple past tense describes completed actions in the past. The "when" clause shows the timing of belief, indicating that the speaker believed *at the time* the lie was told.

• I played soldier, you played king / And struck me down when I kissed that ring

  ➔ Past simple tense, metaphorical language, "when" clause.

  ➔ This uses simple past tense. "Played soldier" and "played king" are metaphors for roles in a relationship. The "when" clause indicates that the act of kissing the ring immediately preceded the action of being struck down.

• You lost that right to hold that crown

  ➔ Past Simple tense with the modal verb "to"

  ➔ Lost is in simple past tense. "to hold that crown" is infinitive of purpose which express the purpose of the losing.

• I built you up but you let me down

  ➔ Past simple tense, contrasting conjunction "but", phrasal verb "let down"

  ➔ "Built" and "let" are in simple past tense. "But" connects two contrasting ideas: the speaker supported the other person, but the other person disappointed the speaker. "Let down" is a phrasal verb meaning to disappoint or fail to support.

• So when you fall, I'll take my turn / And fan the flames as your blazes burn

  ➔ Future simple tense (I'll = I will), adverbial clause of time (when), adverbial clause of manner (as)

  ➔ "I'll take" is future simple, indicating a future action. The "when" clause sets the condition for that action. The "as" clause describes *how* the speaker will fan the flames – while the blazes are burning.