Electrolite – English Lyrics

• By: R.E.M.
• Album: New Adventures in Hi-Fi

Lyrics & Translation

Discover R.E.M.'s "Electrolite," a beautifully melancholic song that offers a snapshot of late 20th-century America. Through its evocative lyrics about Hollywood and the passage of time, you can explore themes of nostalgia and change. The song's clear and poetic language makes it a great entry point for learning English, allowing you to appreciate the nuances of Michael Stipe's storytelling while reflecting on a pivotal moment in cultural history.

[English]

Your eyes are burnin' holes through me

I'm gasoline

I'm burnin' clean

20th century, go to sleep

You're plasticine

That is obscene

That is obscene

You are the star tonight

You shine electric outta sight

Your light eclipsed the moon tonight

Electrolite

You're outta sight

If I ever want to fly

Mulholland Drive

I am alive

Hollywood is under me

I'm Martin Sheen

I'm Steve McQueen

I'm Jimmy Dean

You are the star tonight

You shine electric outta sight

Your light eclipsed the moon tonight

Electrolite

You're outta sight

If you ever want to fly

Mulholland Drive

Up in the sky

Stand on a cliff and look down there

Don't be scared

You are alive

You are alive

You are the star tonight

You shine electric outta sight

Your light eclipsed the moon tonight

Electrolite

You're outta sight

20th century, go to sleep

Really deep

We won't blink

Your eyes are burnin' holes through me

I'm not scared

I'm outta here

I'm not scared

I'm outta here

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
eyes /aɪz/ A1	noun - the organs of vision
burn /bɜːn/ B1	verb - to be on fire; to consume by fire
gasoline /ˈɡæsəliːn/ B2	noun - fuel for internal combustion engines
plasticine /ˈplæstɪsiːn/ C1	noun - a modeling material made of wax and oil
obscene /ɪbˈsiːn/ C1	adjective - offensive or disgusting by moral standards
star /stɑːr/ A1	noun - a luminous celestial body
electric /ɪˈlɛktrɪk/ B2	adjective - relating to electricity
light /laɪt/ A1	noun - visible illumination; a source of illumination
eclipse /ɪˈklɪps/ C1	verb - to obscure or hide noun - a celestial event where one body moves into the shadow of another
moon /muːn/ A1	noun - the Earth's natural satellite
fly /flaɪ/ A1	verb - to move through the air using wings
drive /draɪv/ B1	verb - to operate a vehicle; to motivate
Hollywood /ˈhɒliwʊd/ B2	noun - the American film industry centered in Hollywood, Los Angeles
alive /əˈlaɪv/ A2	adjective - living; not dead
scared /skɛəd/ A2	adjective - feeling fear
blink /blɪŋk/ B1	verb - to close and open the eyes quickly
cliff /klɪf/ B1	noun - a steep rock face
sky /skaɪ/ A1	noun - the expanse of air over the earth

Key Grammar Structures

• Your eyes are burnin' holes through me

  ➔ Present Continuous Tense

  ➔ Describes an ongoing action using "are burnin'" (contraction of 'are burning'). Shows something happening right now.

• 20th century, go to sleep

  ➔ Imperative Mood

  ➔ Direct command form "go to sleep" addressing the 20th century. Imperatives give orders or instructions.

• You shine electric outta sight

  ➔ Adverb Placement

  ➔ Adjective "electric" functions as adverb modifying "shine". Poetic usage meaning "shine in an electric way".

• Your light eclipsed the moon tonight

  ➔ Simple Past Tense

  ➔ Completed action expressed with "eclipsed". Indicates an event fully concluded in the past.

• If I ever want to fly

  ➔ First Conditional

  ➔ Real future possibility structure: "If" + present simple ("want") + infinitive ("to fly").

• Stand on a cliff and look down there

  ➔ Coordinated Imperatives

  ➔ Two commands joined by "and": "Stand" (imperative) + "look" (imperative). Common in instructions.

• Don't be scared

  ➔ Negative Imperative

  ➔ Prohibition/advice structure: "Don't" + base verb ("be") + adjective ("scared").

• We won't blink

  ➔ Future Simple Negative

  ➔ Future refusal/prediction: "won't" (will not) + verb ("blink"). Shows firm decision about future action.

• I'm not scared

  ➔ Subject + Be + Adjective (Negative)

  ➔ Emotional state expression: Subject ("I") + negative be verb ("'m not") + emotion adjective ("scared").