California & The Slipping Of The Sun – English Lyrics

• By: Gorillaz
• Album: The Fall

Lyrics & Translation

[English]

If you have any checked bags

They will be brought to the front of the station

To get to the front, walk

Down to the south end of the platform

And cross at the crosswalk

That'll put you right in front of the depot

Look for a sign that says 'Baggage Claim'

You should have your bag check handy to show the clerk

Give them a few minutes to get your bags to the front

If anyone is in need of a ride to the front of the station

Red Cap service will be provided on the platform

We do have one group that is going to go first

If you do need Red Cap service to arrive at the front

They will come back and pick you up on the platform

And take you to the front of the station

Taxi cabs are located on the center boulevard in front of the depot

California

Oh ocean, now I come again before you

Rode along with you

In the slipping of the sun

Sun on dreamers

Repeat the faithful once again

Like water on the mountains and

It's the slipping of the sun

Money is pouring

Three days to go

This autumn begins to focus

North claims the imperial totem

Fantastic

Trees, lakes

Mountains

Fantastic

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
ocean /ˈoʊʃən/ A1	noun - a very large area of sea
sun /sʌn/ A1	noun - the star that provides light and heat to Earth
slipping /ˈslɪpɪŋ/ B1	verb - to slide out of position or fall gradually
dreamers /ˈdriːmərz/ A2	noun - people who dream or have ideals
faithful /ˈfeɪθfəl/ B1	adjective - remaining loyal and steadfast
water /ˈwɔːtər/ A1	noun - a clear liquid that forms rivers, lakes, and seas
mountains /ˈmaʊntənz/ A1	noun - a very large hill
money /ˈmʌni/ A1	noun - a medium of exchange for goods and services
pouring /ˈpɔːrɪŋ/ B1	verb - to flow rapidly in a large quantity
autumn /ˈɔːtəm/ A1	noun - the season between summer and winter
focus /ˈfoʊkəs/ B1	verb - to concentrate on something
imperial /ɪmˈpɪəriəl/ B2	adjective - relating to an empire or emperor
totem /ˈtoʊtəm/ C1	noun - a symbol representing a family or clan
fantastic /fænˈtæstɪk/ A2	adjective - extremely good or impressive
trees /triːz/ A1	noun - a large plant with a wooden trunk
lakes /leɪks/ A1	noun - a large body of water surrounded by land

Key Grammar Structures

• If you have any checked bags

  ➔ Conditional Sentence Type 1 (Implicit Consequence)

  ➔ This is the 'if' clause of a first conditional sentence. It describes a real or very probable situation in the present or future, with an implied consequence (which is stated in the next line: "They will be brought..."). The structure is "If + Simple Present".

• They will be brought to the front of the station

  ➔ Future Simple Passive Voice

  ➔ This sentence uses the future simple tense in the passive voice. The action ("bringing") is performed on the subject ("bags", referred to as "They"), rather than by the subject. The structure is "will + be + past participle".

• To get to the front, walk

  ➔ Infinitive of Purpose

  ➔ The infinitive phrase "to get to the front" explains the purpose or reason for the action "walk". It answers the question "Why walk?".

• Look for a sign that says 'Baggage Claim'

  ➔ Defining Relative Clause

  ➔ The clause "that says 'Baggage Claim'" is a defining relative clause. It provides essential information about the noun "sign", specifying which sign to look for. It cannot be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence.

• You should have your bag check handy to show the clerk

  ➔ Modal Verb "should" for Advice/Recommendation

  ➔ The modal verb "should" is used here to give advice or make a recommendation. It suggests an action that is desirable or advisable, but not strictly obligatory.

• We do have one group that is going to go first

  ➔ Emphatic "do" + Future "going to"

  ➔ "Do" is used here for emphasis, stressing the fact that "we have" a group. "Is going to go" expresses a future plan or intention that has already been decided.

• In the slipping of the sun

  ➔ Gerund as a Noun (part of a prepositional phrase)

  ➔ "Slipping" is a gerund (verb + -ing form) functioning as a noun. It is preceded by the definite article "the" and followed by the preposition "of", indicating it acts as a noun within the prepositional phrase "in the slipping of the sun".

• Money is pouring

  ➔ Present Continuous Tense

  ➔ The present continuous tense is used here to describe an action that is happening at the moment of speaking or around the present time. It emphasizes the ongoing nature of the action.

• This autumn begins to focus

  ➔ Verb + Infinitive

  ➔ Some verbs, like "begin", can be followed by an infinitive (to + verb) to express an action. This structure indicates the start of an action or state.