Duel of the Fates – English Lyrics

• By: John Williams, London Symphony Orchestra
• Album: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace

Lyrics & Translation

"Duel of the Fates" by John Williams and the London Symphony Orchestra is an iconic and intensely dramatic piece that can uniquely enhance your language learning journey. Its powerful choral lyrics, surprisingly in Sanskrit and adapted from an ancient Welsh poem, offer a fascinating linguistic and cultural intersection. Immerse yourself in the epic narrative of this song, and explore how its grand orchestration and profound meaning enrich the Star Wars saga, making it a truly special and memorable musical experience.

[English]

At last, we will reveal ourselves to the Jedi,

At last, we will have revenge.

Their communications disruption can mean only one thing,

Invasion.

I will not condone a course of action that will lead us to war.

There is something else behind all this, your highness.

They will kill you if you stay.

You refer to the prophey of the one who will bring balance to the force.

You belive it's this... boy?

He can see things before they happen.

Are you sure about this?

Trusting our fate to a boy we hardly know?

He can help you.

The force is unusally strong with him.

He was meant to help you.

Fear... fear attracks the fearful.

The strong.

The federation has gone to far

The weak.

You must contact me.

The innocent.

Our people are dying, senator,

We must do something quickly.

Anakin

Fear is my ally

I can only protect you,

I can't fight a war for you.

This is a battle I do not think that you can win.

I will sign no treaty.

Wipe them out,

All of them.

Noooooooo

I sense much fear in you.

Fear is the path to the dark side.

Fear leads to anger,

Anger leads to hate.

Hate leads to suffering.

Get to your ships.

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
reveal /rɪˈviːl/ B2	verb - to make known something that was previously secret or unknown
revenge /rɪˈvɛndʒ/ B2	noun - the action of inflicting hurt or harm on someone for an injury or wrong suffered at their hands verb - to inflict revenge on behalf of (oneself or someone else)
disruption /dɪsˈrʌpʃən/ C1	noun - disturbance or problems which interrupt an event, activity, or process
invasion /ɪnˈveɪʒən/ B2	noun - an instance of invading a country or region with an armed force
condone /kənˈdoʊn/ C1	verb - accept and allow (behavior that is considered morally wrong or offensive) to continue
lead /liːd/ A2	verb - to guide or direct
war /wɔːr/ A2	noun - a state of armed conflict between different countries or groups within a country
kill /kɪl/ A1	verb - to cause the death of (a person, animal, or plant)
trust /trʌst/ B1	verb - to believe in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of (someone or something) noun - firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something
fate /feɪt/ B2	noun - the development of events outside a person's control, regarded as predetermined by a supernatural power
strong /strɒŋ/ A2	adjective - having the power to move heavy weights or perform other physically demanding tasks
fear /fɪər/ A2	noun - an unpleasant emotion caused by the perception of danger, real or imagined verb - to be afraid of (someone or something)
attract /əˈtrækt/ B1	verb - to cause to come to a place or person; appeal to
dying /ˈdaɪɪŋ/ B1	adjective - in or approaching death verb - to cease living
protect /prəˈtɛkt/ B1	verb - to keep safe from harm or injury
battle /ˈbætəl/ B1	noun - a sustained fight between opposing forces verb - to struggle or contend forcefully for something
anger /ˈæŋɡər/ B1	noun - a strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure, or hostility
hate /heɪt/ B1	noun - intense dislike; hatred verb - feel intense dislike or hatred for (someone or something)
suffering /ˈsʌfərɪŋ/ B2	noun - the state of undergoing pain, distress, or hardship

Key Grammar Structures

• At last, we will reveal ourselves to the Jedi.

  ➔ Future Simple (will + base form)

  ➔ Uses "will" to express a future intention or prediction. The subject "we" is declaring their intent to reveal themselves.

• Their communications disruption can mean only one thing, Invasion.

  ➔ Modal verb (can) indicating possibility or deduction.

  ➔ "can" suggests that the communication disruption strongly implies that an invasion is occurring. It's a logical deduction.

• I will not condone a course of action that will lead us to war.

  ➔ Relative clause (that will lead us to war) modifying "a course of action".

  ➔ The relative clause "that will lead us to war" provides specific information about the type of "course of action" the speaker disapproves of.

• They will kill you if you stay.

  ➔ First conditional (if + present simple, will + base form)

  ➔ Expresses a likely future outcome based on a condition. "If" you stay, there is a high probability that "they" will kill you.

• Trusting our fate to a boy we hardly know?

  ➔ Gerund phrase ("Trusting our fate...") used as the subject of the question, expressing doubt or hesitation.

  ➔ The use of the gerund phrase emphasizes the act of trusting and raises a question about its wisdom, suggesting a sense of uncertainty.

• He was meant to help you.

  ➔ "Be meant to" expresses a pre-ordained or intended purpose.

  ➔ This implies that it was someone's destiny or plan for "him" to help "you".

• Fear is the path to the dark side.

  ➔ Simple present tense expressing a general truth or a universal concept.

  ➔ The present tense ("is") indicates that this statement is timeless and consistently true within the Star Wars universe.

• Hate leads to suffering.

  ➔ Simple present tense used to describe cause and effect, a general truth.

  ➔ The present simple "leads" indicates a consistent and predictable outcome of "hate" - "suffering".