Campfire – English Lyrics

• By: Shelley FKA DRAM, Neil Young
• Album: Bright: The Album

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the unexpected fusion of hip-hop and folk in "Campfire," a collaboration between Shelley FKA DRAM and the legendary Neil Young. This song offers a unique opportunity to explore conversational English storytelling through its narrative verses, while also being inspired by the universally understood message of perseverance. The blend of two distinct musical worlds makes this a special track for any music lover and language learner.

[English]

Never let 'em tell you no

Sat by the beach and was kept warm by the fire

I had started this camp because I had the desire to spread good vibes

And it changed lives for the better, better

Know that I've been changin' at the same time

Sand in my toes, with my head to the sky

I gaze upon the stars and I simply reply

That with this same thing, that's what we think

But you don't gotta look nowhere near for to reach me

Off of the shore and into the waves of the water

I spotted souls that were drowning but didn't want to be bothered

It's just like watchin' a man that's 'bout to jump to his death

You gotta stop him from takin' that last step

I spotted them by the buoy, not knowin' what they were doin'

I jumped right in, swam to them and put 'em onto the movement

Back at the beach, we warmed them up with the fire

And drowned their sorrow with love and waves of thoughts that's inspired

Stand up from down

Turn up your sound

Never let them tell you no

Never let them tell you no

I met a man at the end of his road

His pockets were broke, he was addicted to dope

When asked his worth, he couldn't give me a quote

Not 'cause he thought he was priceless, just that his price was too low

I said, "My brother from another mother

You gotta free yourself from this jail

Free yourself from whatever you're under

'Cause you know you got a story to tell"

Stand up from down

Turn up your sound

Never let them tell you no

Times when profound

No one's around

Never let them tell you no

Never let them tell you no

I met a woman at the end of her wits

She had taken some scars and she was swingin', she missed

She tried workin' so hard that she was ready to quit

And when I asked her her worth, her reply made me sick

I said, "My sister, I'm tryin' to get with ya

Fuck a job, I feel you as well

Just change your focus and still keep workin'

You just gotta be a boss by yourself"

Stand up from down

Turn up your sound

Never let them tell you no

Times when profound

No one's around

Never let them tell you no

Never let them tell you no

Key Grammar Structures

• Never let 'em tell you no

  ➔ Negative Imperative

  ➔ Uses "Never let" to give a strong prohibition. "'em" = them (informal contraction)

• was kept warm by the fire

  ➔ Passive Voice (Simple Past)

  ➔ Passive structure: [was/were] + past participle ("kept"). Focuses on the action's recipient, not the doer.

• I had started this camp because I had the desire

  ➔ Past Perfect Tense

  ➔ Shows an action completed before another past action ("had started" happened before "had the desire").

• souls that were drowning but didn't want to be bothered

  ➔ Relative Clause + Passive Infinitive

  ➔ "that" introduces a relative clause describing "souls". "to be bothered" is passive infinitive showing unwillingness.

• You gotta stop him from takin' that last step

  ➔ Phrasal Verb (stop from) + Gerund

  ➔ "stop from" prevents an action. Followed by gerund ("takin'") as the prevented action.

• I jumped right in, swam to them and put 'em onto the movement

  ➔ Phrasal Verbs (jump in, put onto) + Coordinated Actions

  ➔ Phrasal verbs show physical actions ("jump in" = enter quickly, "put onto" = introduce). Commas and "and" coordinate three sequential actions.

• he couldn't give me a quote

  ➔ Modal Verb (couldn't) for Past Ability

  ➔ "Couldn't" expresses inability in the past. Used here for lack of capacity to provide an answer.

• Free yourself from whatever you're under

  ➔ Reflexive Pronoun + Preposition Stranding

  ➔ "Yourself" reflects action back to subject. Preposition "under" ends clause (informal) instead of "under whatever you are".