Elephant Gun – English Lyrics

• By: Beirut

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a captivating journey, and Beirut's 'Elephant Gun' offers a unique opportunity to delve into the poetic and metaphorical side of English. The song's ambiguous yet powerful lyrics, filled with imagery of escape and confronting inner demons, provide a rich ground for interpretation and discussion. What makes 'Elephant Gun' special is its blend of world-weary vocals and a vibrant, Balkan-inspired sound, creating a timeless piece that encourages you to not just learn the words, but to feel their emotional depth.

[English]

If I was young, I'd flee this town

I've buried my dreams underground

As did I, we drink to die

We drink tonight

Far from home, elephant guns

Let's take them down one by one

We'll lay it down, it's not been found

It's not around

Let the seasons begin

Where all was right, wrong

Let the seasons begin

Take the big game down

Let the seasons begin

Where all was right, wrong

Let the seasons begin

Take the big game down

...

Oh-oh

Oh, yeah-yeah-yeah

Oh-oh

Oh, yeah-yeah-yeah

Oh-oh, yeah

Oh, yeah-yeah-yeah

Oh-oh

Oh, yeah-yeah-yeah

...

And it rips through the silence of our camp at night

And it rips through the night, all eyes, our eyes

It rips through the silence of our camp at night

It rips through the silence

All that is left is all that I

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
flee /fliː/ B2	verb - to run away from a place or person because you are afraid of possible danger
buried /ˈberiːd/ B1	verb - to put a dead body into the ground
dreams /driːmz/ A2	noun - a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep
underground /ˈʌndərɡraʊnd/ B1	noun - beneath the surface of the ground
drink /drɪŋk/ A1	verb - to swallow liquid
home /hoʊm/ A1	noun - the place where one lives
elephant /ˈelɪfənt/ A2	noun - a very large animal with thick grey skin, large ears, and a long trunk
guns /ɡʌnz/ A2	noun - a weapon incorporating a metal tube from which bullets, shells, or other missiles are fired by explosive force
found /faʊnd/ A1	verb - discover (something or someone) unexpectedly or while looking for something else
seasons /ˈsiːzənz/ A2	noun - each of the four divisions of the year (spring, summer, autumn, and winter) marked by particular weather patterns and daylight hours
right /raɪt/ A1	adjective - morally good or justifiable
wrong /rɒŋ/ A1	adjective - not correct or true; incorrect
game /ɡeɪm/ A1	noun - an activity or sport usually involving skill, knowledge, or chance, in which you follow fixed rules and try to win against an opponent or solve a puzzle
rips /rɪps/ B1	verb - to tear (something) quickly or forcibly
silence /ˈsaɪləns/ B1	noun - the complete absence of sound
camp /kæmp/ A2	noun - a place where people live temporarily, often in tents
eyes /aɪz/ A1	noun - the organ of sight
young /jʌŋ/ A1	adjective - having lived or existed for only a short time