Deniro – English Lyrics

• By: Alec Benjamin
• Album: (Un)Commentary

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into Alec Benjamin's 'Deniro' to experience authentic English storytelling through vulnerable lyrics and clever wordplay. This song offers a relatable narrative about ambition and self-worth, making it an engaging listen for language learners to pick up on idiomatic expressions and emotional vocabulary in a contemporary context.

[English]

This is not the role that I auditioned for

Please, tell me who's in charge and I'll give them what for

I don't wanna wear the wardrobe that you gave to me

And how come I don't have a line to read?

I wanna be the one that all the fans adore

Don't wanna be the one that simply holds the door

But if all I get instead's a cameo

Then I will do my best to steal the show

If I'm not the hero

If I'm not the lead

If I'm not De Niro

Then I'll be the hero of the zeroes in the camouflage

The extra doing extra in the entourage

If I'm not the hero

If I'm not the lead

If I'm not De Niro

Then I'll be the hero of the zeroes in the camouflage

The extra doing extra in the entourage

Mm-mm, mm-mm, mm-mm

Might be the only chance, I have to take a shot

And so I'll do my dance because how could I not?

I wanna stand out, not stand on the side

I wanna get in when the stars arrive

If I'm not the hero

If I'm not the lead

If I'm not De Niro

Then I'll be the hero of the zeroes in the camouflage

The extra doing extra in the entourage

If I'm not the hero

If I'm not the lead

If I'm not De Niro

Then I'll be the hero of the zeroes in the camouflage

The extra doing extra in the entourage

Mm-mm, mm-mm, mm-mm

If I'm not the hero

If I'm not the lead

If I'm not De Niro

Then I'll be the hero of the zeroes in the camouflage

The extra doing extra in the entourage

If I'm not the hero

If I'm not the lead

If I'm not De Niro

Then I'll be the hero of the zeroes in the camouflage

The extra doing extra in the entourage

Mm-mm, mm-mm, mm-mm

Mm-mm, mm-mm, mm-mm

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
role /roʊl/ B1	noun - character or part played by a performer
audition /ɔːˈdɪʃən/ B2	verb - perform in order to get a role noun - trial performance to assess suitability
wardrobe /ˈwɔːrdroʊb/ B2	noun - collection of clothes, especially costumes for performers
cameo /ˈkæmioʊ/ C1	noun - brief appearance or role in a film or play
show /ʃoʊ/ A1	noun - a form of entertainment, such as a play or film
hero /ˈhɪəroʊ/ A2	noun - person admired for courage or achievements; main character in a story
lead /liːd/ A2	noun - main part in a play or film
De Niro /də ˈnɪəroʊ/ C2	proper noun - Robert De Niro, famous American actor
zeroes /ˈzɪəroʊz/ B2	noun - people with no importance or status (in this context)
camouflage /ˈkæməflɑːʒ/ B2	noun - disguise or concealment
extra /ˈekstrə/ B1	noun - person in a film or play without a speaking part
entourage /ˈɒntərɑːʒ/ C1	noun - group of attendants or associates
chance /tʃæns/ A2	noun - opportunity
shot /ʃɒt/ A2	noun - attempt or opportunity (in this context)
dance /dæns/ A1	noun - series of movements performed to music verb - move rhythmically to music
stand /stænd/ A1	verb - be in an upright position; be in a particular situation
stars /stɑːrz/ A1	noun - famous performers or celebrities

Key Grammar Structures

• This is not the role that I auditioned for

  ➔ Relative Pronoun ('that')

  ➔ The relative pronoun 'that' is used to introduce a relative clause describing 'the role'.

• Please, tell me who's in charge and I'll give them what for

  ➔ Contraction ('who's') and Conditional ('I'll give them what for')

  ➔ 'Who's' is a contraction of 'who is'. The conditional sentence expresses an action dependent on another action.

• If I'm not the hero

  ➔ Zero Conditional ('If')

  ➔ The zero conditional is used to express a general truth or fact. Here, it implies a recurring situation.

• Then I'll be the hero of the zeroes in the camouflage

  ➔ Future Simple ('I'll be')

  ➔ The future simple tense is used to describe an action that will occur in the future.

• Might be the only chance, I have to take a shot

  ➔ Modal Verb ('Might')

  ➔ The modal verb 'might' expresses possibility or uncertainty.

• I wanna stand out, not stand on the side

  ➔ Infinitive ('to stand')

  ➔ The infinitive form 'to stand' is used after 'not' to contrast with 'stand out'.

• If I'm not the lead

  ➔ First Conditional ('If')

  ➔ The first conditional is used to talk about possible future situations.

• The extra doing extra in the entourage

  ➔ Gerund ('doing')

  ➔ The gerund 'doing' functions as a noun, describing the action of the subject.