Dead Women – English Lyrics

• By: Mitski
• Album: Nothing’s About to Happen to Me

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the profound and unsettling world of Mitski's "Dead Women." This song is a powerful journey into the complexities of identity, objectification, and societal narratives surrounding women, especially after their demise. Through its stark lyrics and haunting melodies, you can explore nuanced English vocabulary related to social commentary, emotion, and metaphor, while gaining a deeper appreciation for Mitski's unique storytelling and unflinching artistic voice. What makes this song special is its raw honesty and its ability to provoke thought on how stories are owned and retold, making it an engaging piece for language learners to uncover layers of meaning.

[English]

Would you have liked me better if I'd

died

so you could tell my story

the way it ought to be

you'd find my parents and ask to see my

things

right

through it all. Fill the blanks with

what you need

do.

If I'd died,

you'd have taken it nice. If I'd sewn

rocks in a dress, gone with grace into a

lake.

But since I'm alive, you'll have to

break in as I sleep. When you find my

love beside me, choke him dead for

having me.

I dream of flying stab me 27 times.

and sack the house for what your auction

what you keep.

Then bomb me up cuz you're hosting the

viewing

saying she gave her life so we could

have her in our dreams.

She gave her life so we could her

as we please.

Heat. Heat.

Heat

up here.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
died dɑɪd A1	verb - to stop living
story ˈstɔri A1	noun - a narrative, either true or fictitious
parents ˈpɛrənts A1	noun - a father or mother
things θɪŋz A1	noun - objects or items
sewn soʊn A2	verb - past participle of sew; to join or attach by stitches
rocks rɒks A1	noun - solid mineral material forming part of the surface of the earth
dress drɛs A1	noun - a woman's outer garment
lake leɪk A1	noun - a large body of water surrounded by land
break breɪk A1	verb - to separate into pieces
sleep sliːp A1	verb - to rest in a state of sleep
choke tʃoʊk A2	verb - to have difficulty breathing because of smoke, food, or pressure on the throat
flying ˈflaɪɪŋ A1	verb - to move through the air with wings
stab stæb A2	verb - to pierce with a sharp pointed object
auction ˈɔkʃən B1	noun - a public sale in which goods or property are sold to the highest bidder
bomb bɒm A2	verb - to attack or kill with bombs
hosting ˈhoʊstɪŋ B1	verb - to organize and provide the venue for an event
viewing ˈvjuɪŋ A2	noun - the action of seeing or watching something
grace ɡreɪs A2	noun - smooth elegance or beauty of movement
heat hiːt A1	noun - the quality of being hot

Key Grammar Structures

• Would you have liked me better if I'd died

  ➔ Third Conditional

  ➔ This uses the third conditional to speculate about a past unreal situation. 'Would have liked' is the result clause, and 'if I'd died' (if I had died) is the condition. It expresses a hypothetical scenario that didn't happen.

• If I'd sewn rocks in a dress, gone with grace into a lake.

  ➔ Past Perfect Continuous (implied) & Infinitive Phrase

  ➔ The phrase 'gone with grace' functions as an infinitive phrase modifying 'sewn rocks'. The implied perfect continuous aspect ('having been sewing') suggests a prolonged action leading to the act of going into the lake.

• I dream of flying stab me 27 times.

  ➔ Imperative Mood & Numerical Specificity

  ➔ The phrase 'stab me 27 times' is a direct command (imperative). The specific number '27' is striking and adds a brutal, precise detail to the violent imagery.