Dirty Harry – English Lyrics

• By: Gorillaz
• Album: Demon Days

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

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

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".