Calypso – English Lyrics

• By: John Denver

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a powerful and enjoyable experience, and John Denver's "Calypso" offers a wonderful opportunity to connect with English through its poetic lyrics and inspiring story. The song's clear narrative about exploration and nature can help you build vocabulary related to the sea and the environment. Its uplifting melody and heartfelt delivery make it a memorable and engaging way to practice your English comprehension and appreciation for environmental advocacy.

[English]

作词 : John Denver

作曲 : John Denver

To sail on a dream on a crystal clear ocean

To ride on the crest of a wild raging storm

...

To work in the service of life and the living

In search of the answers to questions unknown

...

To be part of the movement and part of the growing

Part of beginning to understand

Aye, calypso, the places youve been to

The things that youve shown us

The stories you tell

Aye, calypso, I sing to your spirit

The men who have served you

So long and so well

...

Like the dolphin who guides you

You bring us beside you

To light up the darkness and show us the way

For though we are strangers in your silent world

...

To live on the land we must learn from the sea

...

To be true as the tide

And free as the wind-swell

Joyful and loving in letting it be

Aye, calypso, the places youve been to

The things that youve shown us

The stories you tell

Aye, calypso, I sing to your spirit

The men who have served you

So long and so well

Aye, calypso, the places youve been to

The things that youve shown us

The stories you tell

Aye, calypso, I sing to your spirit

The men who have served you

So long and so well

...

Key Grammar Structures

• To sail on a dream on a crystal clear ocean

  ➔ Infinitive of Purpose

  ➔ The infinitive 'to sail' is used to express the purpose of the action, indicating the reason for the dream.

• Part of beginning to understand

  ➔ Gerund as Part of a Noun Phrase

  ➔ The gerund 'beginning' functions as part of a noun phrase, acting as a noun to describe being part of the process of understanding.

• Aye, calypso, the places youve been to

  ➔ Relative Pronoun in Object Position

  ➔ The relative pronoun 'you've been to' is used in the object position to refer back to 'Calypso', specifying the places it has visited.

• To be true as the tide

  ➔ Simile with 'as'

  ➔ The simile 'as the tide' compares the quality of being true to the consistent nature of the tide, emphasizing reliability.

• Joyful and loving in letting it be

  ➔ Participle Phrase as Adjective

  ➔ The participle phrase 'joyful and loving' functions as an adjective, describing the manner of 'letting it be'.