Combination – English Lyrics

• By: Aerosmith

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the raw energy of 70s rock with Aerosmith's 'Combination.' This song offers a great opportunity to learn English through its vivid and sometimes gritty lyrics, which paint a picture of a specific time and lifestyle. The direct and honest storytelling in the song provides a unique window into the rock and roll scene of that era, making it a compelling piece for language learners.

[English]

The street is cold, the dawn is grey

My heart says no but my head says stay

My work is finished, or so I've been told

Can't part the three of us, once we got a hold

I forgot the name

I took a shot on the chin

I'm rearranging my game

Tell by the shape I'm in

In the line of fire, you know what to say

They gave us no choices, just one shade of grey

My legs keep moving, I don't seem to stray

But I know each step we take, they're one step away

I found the secret, the key to the vault

We walked in darkness, kept hittin' the walls

I took the time, to feel for the door

I found the secret, the key to it all

I got the nouveau riche

And dragged it home to bed

I traded you for me

I took it all and said

I find my own fun, sometimes for free

I got to pay it to come looking for me

Walking on Gucci, wearin' Yves Saint Laurent

Barely stay on, 'cause I'm so goddamn gaunt

I found the secret, the key to the vault

We walked in darkness, kept hittin' the walls

I took the time, to feel for the door

I found the secret, the key to it all

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
run /rʌn/ A1	verb - to move quickly on foot
stay /steɪ/ A1	verb - to remain in a place
finished /ˈfɪnɪʃt/ A2	adjective - completed or ended
hold /hoʊld/ A1	verb - to grasp or carry something
rearranging /riːəˈreɪndʒɪŋ/ B1	verb - to organize something in a new way
secret /ˈsiːkrɪt/ A2	noun - something kept hidden
key /kiː/ A1	noun - a metal instrument for opening locks
darkness /ˈdɑːrknɪs/ A2	noun - absence of light
nouveau /nuːˈvoʊ/ B2	adjective - newly rich or fashionable
gaunt /ɡɔːnt/ C1	adjective - very thin and bony
stray /streɪ/ B1	verb - to move away from the correct path
vault /vɔːlt/ B1	noun - a secure room for storing valuables
shape /ʃeɪp/ A1	noun - the form of an object
trade /treɪd/ A2	verb - to exchange goods or services
Gucci /ˈɡuːtʃi/ B1	noun - a luxury fashion brand

Key Grammar Structures

• My heart says no but my head says stay

  ➔ Present Simple vs. Present Simple (Contrast)

  ➔ The use of two present simple verbs, "says" and "says", highlights the internal conflict, with one part of the speaker opposing the other.

• Can't part the three of us, once we got a hold

  ➔ Modal Verb 'can't' and Past Perfect 'got'

  ➔ The modal verb "can't" expresses inability. "Got" uses the past perfect tense reflecting an action completed before another past action (implied).

• I'm rearranging my game

  ➔ Present Continuous

  ➔ The present continuous "I'm rearranging" indicates an action happening now or around the present time.

• Tell by the shape I'm in

  ➔ Imperative and the simple present.

  ➔ The imperative "Tell" gives a command or instruction, and the simple present "I'm in" describes the current state. The word “by” introduces the means.

• I took a shot on the chin

  ➔ Past Simple

  ➔ Uses of past simple to describe a completed action in the past.

• I found the secret, the key to the vault

  ➔ Past Simple with Noun Phrases

  ➔ The use of "found" (past simple) to describe a completed action, followed by two noun phrases: "the secret" and "the key to the vault", creating a sense of discovery.

• I got the nouveau riche

  ➔ Past Simple with Noun phrase

  ➔ Using past simple to describe an action completed in the past, with the noun phrase "the nouveau riche" as the object of the verb.

• Walking on Gucci, wearin' Yves Saint Laurent

  ➔ Present Participles acting as Adjectives

  ➔ "Walking" and "wearin'" function as adjectives, describing the state or activity of the subject.