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I need a gun to keep myself among 00:57
The poor people are burning in the sun 01:02
But they ain't got a chance, they ain't got a chance 01:07
I need a gun 'cause all I do is dance 01:12
'Cause all I do is dance 01:16
I need a gun to keep myself among 01:41
The poor people are burning in the sun 01:46
But they ain't got a chance, they ain't got a chance 01:51
I need a gun 'cause all I do is dance 01:56
'Cause all I do is dance 02:01
In my backpack, I got my act right 02:46
In case you act quite difficult 02:49
And your result weaken with anger and discontent 02:51
Some are seeking and in search of like Nimoy 02:53
I'm a peace-loving decoy, ready for retaliation 02:56
I change your whole location to a pine box six-under 02:59
Impulsive, don't ask why or wonder 03:02
Orders given to me is strike 03:05
And I'm thunder with lightning-fast reflexes on constant alert 03:07
From the constant hurt that seems limitless with no drop in pressure 03:10
It seems like everybody's out to take ya' 'til they see you break 03:14
You can't conceal the hate that consumes you 03:16
I'm the reason why you fill up your Isuzu 03:19
Chill with your old lady at the tilt, I got a 90-day extension 03:22
And I'm filled with guilt from things that I've seen 03:26
Your water's from a bottle, mine's from a canteen 03:29
At night, I hear the shots ring, so I'm a light sleeper 03:31
The cost of life, it seem to get cheaper 03:33
Out in the desert with my street sweeper 03:36
"The war is over", so said the speaker 03:39
With the flight suit on 03:41
Maybe to him, I'm just a pawn 03:43
So he can advance 03:45
Remember when I used to dance 03:46
Man, all I wanna do is dance 03:49
(Dance) 03:51
(Dance) 03:55
(Dance) 04:02
I need a gun to keep myself among 04:07

Dirty Harry – English Lyrics

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By
Gorillaz
Album
Demon Days
Viewed
195,474,075
Language
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Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the socially conscious world of Gorillaz's "Dirty Harry," a track that brilliantly blends funk, hip-hop, and a children's choir to deliver a potent anti-war message. By exploring its politically charged lyrics, you can learn English vocabulary related to conflict, rhetoric, and social commentary, all set to an infectious, genre-bending beat that showcases the unique, collaborative style of Damon Albarn's virtual band.

[English]
I need a gun to keep myself among
The poor people are burning in the sun
But they ain't got a chance, they ain't got a chance
I need a gun 'cause all I do is dance
'Cause all I do is dance
I need a gun to keep myself among
The poor people are burning in the sun
But they ain't got a chance, they ain't got a chance
I need a gun 'cause all I do is dance
'Cause all I do is dance
In my backpack, I got my act right
In case you act quite difficult
And your result weaken with anger and discontent
Some are seeking and in search of like Nimoy
I'm a peace-loving decoy, ready for retaliation
I change your whole location to a pine box six-under
Impulsive, don't ask why or wonder
Orders given to me is strike
And I'm thunder with lightning-fast reflexes on constant alert
From the constant hurt that seems limitless with no drop in pressure
It seems like everybody's out to take ya' 'til they see you break
You can't conceal the hate that consumes you
I'm the reason why you fill up your Isuzu
Chill with your old lady at the tilt, I got a 90-day extension
And I'm filled with guilt from things that I've seen
Your water's from a bottle, mine's from a canteen
At night, I hear the shots ring, so I'm a light sleeper
The cost of life, it seem to get cheaper
Out in the desert with my street sweeper
"The war is over", so said the speaker
With the flight suit on
Maybe to him, I'm just a pawn
So he can advance
Remember when I used to dance
Man, all I wanna do is dance
(Dance)
(Dance)
(Dance)
I need a gun to keep myself among

Key Vocabulary

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Vocabulary Meanings

gun

/ɡʌn/

B1
  • noun
  • - firearm

dance

/dæns/

A1
  • verb
  • - to move rhythmically to music
  • noun
  • - a social event in which people dance

need

/niːd/

A1
  • verb
  • - to require

keep

/kiːp/

A2
  • verb
  • - to retain or maintain

poor

/pʊər/

A2
  • adjective
  • - lacking wealth

burning

/ˈbɜːrnɪŋ/

B2
  • verb
  • - to be on fire
  • adjective
  • - intensely hot or passionate

chance

/tʃæns/

A2
  • noun
  • - opportunity or possibility

act

/ækt/

A2
  • verb
  • - to perform an action or behave in a certain way

retaliation

/rɪˈtæliˌeɪʃən/

C1
  • noun
  • - revenge or counter‑attack

impulsive

/ˈɪmpʌlsɪv/

C1
  • adjective
  • - acting without thinking

thunder

/ˈθʌndər/

B2
  • noun
  • - the loud rumbling sound during a storm

reflexes

/rɪˈflɛksɪz/

B2
  • noun
  • - automatic responses of the nervous system

conceal

/kənˈsiːl/

B2
  • verb
  • - to hide or keep secret

guilt

/ɡɪlt/

B2
  • noun
  • - feeling of responsibility for a wrongdoing

war

/wɔːr/

A2
  • noun
  • - armed conflict between groups or nations

pawn

/pɔːn/

B2
  • noun
  • - a chess piece; a person used by others for their own purposes

desert

/ˈdɛzərt/

B2
  • noun
  • - a barren, arid region with little precipitation

remember

/rɪˈmɛm.bər/

B1
  • verb
  • - to recall or keep something in mind

What does “gun” mean in the song "Dirty Harry"?

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Key Grammar Structures

  • I need a gun to keep myself among

    ➔ Infinitive of purpose (to + base verb)

    ➔ The phrase "to keep" shows the reason for needing a gun.

  • The poor people are burning in the sun

    ➔ Present continuous for actions happening now

    "are burning" indicates an ongoing situation.

  • But they ain’t got a chance

    ➔ Colloquial negative contraction "ain’t" + present simple "got" (have)

    "ain’t got" is an informal way of saying "do not have".

  • I need a gun ’cause all I do is dance

    ➔ Conjunction ’cause (because) and dummy verb construction "all I do is"

    "’cause" replaces "because", and "all I do is" emphasizes the only activity – "dance".

  • In my backpack, I got my act right

    ➔ Present simple "got" used colloquially for "have"

    "got" here means "possess""I possess my act right".

  • I’m a peace‑loving decoy, ready for retaliation

    ➔ Compound adjective with –ing (peace‑loving) and participial phrase (ready for)

    "peace‑loving" describes the decoy; "ready for" shows preparedness.

  • I change your whole location to a pine box six‑under

    ➔ Infinitive of result (to + noun phrase) indicating purpose of change

    "to a pine box" shows where the location is being changed.

  • Orders given to me is strike

    ➔ Passive participle phrase "given to me" used as adjective before noun

    "given to me" modifies "Orders" and functions like an adjective.

  • I’m thunder with lightning‑fast reflexes on constant alert

    ➔ Prepositional phrase "with lightning‑fast reflexes" indicating accompaniment

    "with lightning‑fast reflexes" describes the manner of being "thunder".