Cold War – English Lyrics

• By: Janelle Monae
• Album: The ArchAndroid

Lyrics & Translation

[English]

So you think I'm alone?

But being alone's the only way to be

When you step outside

You spend life fighting for your sanity

This is a cold war

You better know what you're fighting for

This is a cold war

Do you know what you're fighting for?

If you want to be free

Below the ground's the only place to be

'Cause in this life

You spend time running from depravity

This is a cold war

Do you know what you're fighting for?

This is a cold war

You better know what you're fighting for

This is a cold war

You better know what you're fighting for

This is a cold war

Do you know what you're fighting for?

Bring wings to the weak and bring grace to the strong

Make all evil stumble as it flies in the world

All the tribes comes and the mighty will crumble

We must brave this night and have faith in love

I'm trying to find my peace

I was made to believe there's something wrong with me

And it hurts my heart

Lord have mercy, ain't it plain to see?

That this is a cold war

Do you know what you're fighting for

This is a cold war

You better know what you're fighting for

This is a cold...

This is a cold war

You better know what you're fighting for

Do you know? Is a cold...

Do you?

Do you?

Do you?

Is a cold ...

You better know what you're fighting for

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
fighting /ˈfaɪtɪŋ/ A1	verb - to engage in a physical or verbal conflict
cold /koʊld/ A1	adjective - low in temperature
war /wɔr/ A1	noun - a state of armed conflict between different countries or groups
free /friː/ A1	adjective - not imprisoned or enslaved
running /ˈrʌnɪŋ/ A1	verb - to move swiftly on foot
depravity /dɪˈprævɪti/ C1	noun - moral corruption or wickedness
sanity /ˈsænɪti/ B2	noun - the state of being mentally healthy
brave /breɪv/ A2	adjective - courageous and fearless
faith /feɪθ/ A2	noun - strong belief or trust
evil /ˈiːvəl/ A2	adjective - morally wrong or bad
crumble /ˈkrʌmbl/ B1	verb - to break into small fragments
grace /ɡreɪs/ B1	noun - smooth elegance or refinement of movement
mighty /ˈmaɪti/ B1	adjective - having great power or strength
peace /piːs/ A1	noun - freedom from disturbance; tranquility
stumble /ˈstʌmbl/ B1	verb - to trip or nearly fall
tribes /traɪbz/ A2	noun - a social division in a traditional society

Key Grammar Structures

• So you think I'm alone?

  ➔ Tag Question

  ➔ The phrase "So you think I'm alone?" uses a **tag question** to seek confirmation or challenge an assumption.

• But being alone's the only way to be

  ➔ Contraction

  ➔ The word **alone's** is a **contraction** of "alone is," which is common in informal or poetic language.

• This is a cold war

  ➔ Present Simple Tense

  ➔ The phrase **This is a cold war** uses the **present simple tense** to state a fact or a recurring situation.

• Do you know what you're fighting for?

  ➔ Present Continuous Tense

  ➔ The phrase **you're fighting** uses the **present continuous tense** to describe an action happening now.

• Below the ground's the only place to be

  ➔ Contraction + Inversion

  ➔ The phrase **Below the ground's** is a **contraction** of "Below the ground is," and the sentence uses **inversion** for emphasis.

• Bring wings to the weak and bring grace to the strong

  ➔ Parallel Structure

  ➔ The phrase uses **parallel structure** with "bring... and bring..." to create balance and rhythm.

• We must brave this night and have faith in love

  ➔ Modal Verb (must)

  ➔ The word **must** is a **modal verb** used to express necessity or obligation.

• I was made to believe there's something wrong with me

  ➔ Passive Voice

  ➔ The phrase **I was made to believe** uses the **passive voice** to emphasize the action rather than the doer.