Empire – English Lyrics

• By: Of Monsters and Men
• Album: Beneath The Skin

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into "Empire" by Of Monsters and Men, a song rich with evocative imagery and profound themes of resilience and connection. Its poetic lyrics, sung by Ragnar Þórhallsson and Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir, offer a unique opportunity to explore English vocabulary related to nature, emotion, and metaphorical storytelling. Learn how the band crafts a powerful narrative of building something enduring from adversity, making it a compelling piece for language learners seeking depth and inspiration.

[English]

♪

♪ FEEL THE OCEAN AS IT BREATHES ♪

♪ SHIVERING TEETH ♪

♪ SEE THE MOUNTAINS WHERE THEY MEET ♪

♪ SMOTHERING ME ♪

♪ AS THE WIND FENDS OFF THE WAVES ♪

♪ I COUNT DOWN THE DAYS ♪

♪ HEAVY STONES FEAR NO WEATHER ♪

♪ I FIND COMFORT IN THE SOUND ♪

♪ AND THE SHAPE OF THE HEART ♪

♪ HOW IT ECHOES THROUGH THE CHEST ♪

♪ FROM UNDER THE GROUND ♪

♪ AS THE HILLS TURN INTO HOLES ♪

♪ I FILL THEM WITH GOLD ♪

♪ HEAVY STONES FEAR NO WEATHER ♪

♪ AND FROM THE RAIN ♪

♪ COMES A RIVER RUNNING WILD THAT WILL CREATE ♪

♪ AN EMPIRE FOR YOU ILLUMINATE! ♪

♪ THERE'S A RIVER RUNNING WILD THAT WILL CREATE ♪

♪ AN EMPIRE FOR YOU ♪

♪ AN EMPIRE FOR TWO ♪

♪ AN EMPIRE FOR YOU ♪

♪ AN EMPIRE FOR TWO ♪

♪ AND I PAINT YOUR BODY BLACK ♪

♪ I HIDE IN YOUR HAIR ♪

♪ AND YOU'RE STARING BACK AT ME ♪

♪ LIKE I WASN'T THERE ♪

♪ AS OUR BODIES BECOME STILLS ♪

♪ WE WELCOME THE FEAR ♪

♪ HEAVY STONES FEAR NO WEATHER ♪

♪ AND FROM THE RAIN ♪

♪ COMES A RIVER RUNNING WILD THAT WILL CREATE ♪

♪ AN EMPIRE FOR YOU ILLUMINATE! ♪

♪ THERE'S A RIVER RUNNING WILD THAT WILL CREATE ♪

♪ AN EMPIRE FOR YOU ♪

♪ AN EMPIRE FOR TWO ♪

♪ AN EMPIRE FOR YOU ♪

♪ AN EMPIRE FOR TWO ♪

♪ AND FROM THE RAIN ♪

♪ COMES A RIVER RUNNING WILD THAT WILL CREATE ♪

♪ AN EMPIRE FOR YOU ILLUMINATE! ♪

♪ THERE'S A RIVER RUNNING WILD THAT WILL CREATE ♪

♪ AN EMPIRE FOR YOU ♪

♪ AN EMPIRE FOR TWO ♪

♪ AN EMPIRE FOR YOU ♪

♪ AN EMPIRE FOR TWO ♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
EMPIRE /ˈɛm.pɪər/ B2	noun - a large territory or group of states under a single authority or government
RIVER /ˈrɪ.vər/ A2	noun - a large natural stream of water flowing toward the sea
RUNNING /ˈrʌ.nɪŋ/ B1	noun - the act of moving swiftly on foot verb - the act of moving swiftly on foot; to operate or function
CREATE /kriˈeɪt/ B1	verb - to bring something into existence; to cause to exist
ILLUMINATE /ɪˈluː.mɪ.neɪt/ C1	verb - to light up; to make something clear or easier to understand
OCEAN /ˈoʊ.ʃən/ B1	noun - the vast body of salt water that covers much of the Earth's surface
MOUNTAINS /ˈmaʊnˌtənz/ B1	noun - a large natural elevation of the Earth's surface rising above the surrounding land
WIND /wɪnd/ A2	noun - the natural movement of air
WAVES /weɪvz/ A2	noun - a long body of water that moves up and down
RAIN /reɪn/ A1	noun - water that falls from clouds
GOLD /ɡoʊld/ A2	noun - the yellow precious metal; a chemical element
HEART /hɑrt/ A2	noun - the organ that pumps blood; the core or centre of something
STONES /stoʊnz/ B1	noun - pieces of rock
FEAR /fɪr/ A2	noun - an unpleasant emotion caused by danger or threat
WEATHER /ˈwɛðər/ B1	noun - the state of the atmosphere at a place and time
COMFORT /ˈkɒm.fər/ B1	noun - a state of physical ease and relief; consolation
SOUND /saʊnd/ A2	noun - vibration that can be heard; noise
WILD /waɪld/ A2	adjective - not domesticated or tamed; in a natural state

Key Grammar Structures

• FEEL THE OCEAN AS IT BREATHES

  ➔ Imperative mood + relative clause

  ➔ The phrase "FEEL THE OCEAN" uses the imperative to give a command, and "AS IT BREATHES" is a relative clause explaining the ocean.

• I COUNT DOWN THE DAYS

  ➔ Present Simple tense expressing habitual action

  ➔ "I COUNT DOWN THE DAYS" indicates a repeated or habitual action in the present.

• AND THE SHAPE OF THE HEART HOW IT ECHOES THROUGH THE CHEST

  ➔ Noun phrase + embedded question (indirect question)

  ➔ "HOW IT ECHOES" functions as an embedded (indirect) question describing "THE SHAPE OF THE HEART".

• HEAVY STONES FEAR NO WEATHER

  ➔ Present Simple tense + negative object (idiomatic expression)

  ➔ "FEAR NO WEATHER" is an idiomatic phrase meaning 'are not afraid of any weather conditions', with "NO" negating "WEATHER".

• AND FROM THE RAIN COMES A RIVER RUNNING WILD THAT WILL CREATE AN EMPIRE FOR YOU

  ➔ Inversion after prepositional phrase + relative clause + future simple tense

  ➔ "AND FROM THE RAIN COMES" shows inversion where the verb precedes the subject for emphasis. "THAT WILL CREATE" is a relative clause with future tense.

• AND I PAINT YOUR BODY BLACK

  ➔ Present Simple tense with causative verb

  ➔ "PAINT" here is a causative verb showing the subject causes the action on the object.

• LIKE I WASN'T THERE

  ➔ Past subjunctive mood used for hypothetical or contrary-to-fact situations

  ➔ "LIKE I WASN'T THERE" uses past subjunctive "WASN'T" to express a situation contrary to reality or hypothetical.