Fight the Power, Pts. 1 & 2 – English Lyrics

• By: The Isley Brothers

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the raw energy of "Fight the Power, Pts. 1 & 2" by The Isley Brothers! This iconic funk and rock track offers a unique opportunity to explore direct and powerful English expressions used to challenge authority and social norms. Learn how The Isley Brothers crafted a hit that spoke to a generation, including the controversial use of a word that made it stand out. Discover the urgency and impact of its lyrics, and how a song can become a timeless anthem for change.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
fight /faɪt/ A2	verb - to take part in a violent struggle involving physical force or weapons verb - to struggle to overcome, eliminate, or prevent something adverse
power /ˈpaʊər/ B1	noun - the ability to control people or events
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole.
wasting /ˈweɪstɪŋ/ B2	verb - using carelessly or extravagantly
guarantee /ˌɡærənˈtiː/ B2	noun - a formal assurance (typically in writing) that certain conditions will be fulfilled, especially that a product will be repaired or replaced if not of a specified quality.
smile /smaɪl/ A1	noun - an expression of happiness or amusement verb - to form one's features into a smile
forces /ˈfɔːrsɪz/ B1	noun - strength or energy as an attribute of physical action or movement
scene /siːn/ A2	noun - the place where an incident in real life or fiction occurs or occurred.
faces /ˈfeɪsɪz/ A1	noun - the front part of the head, from the forehead to the chin.
pain /peɪn/ A2	noun - physical suffering or discomfort caused by illness or injury.
music /ˈmjuːzɪk/ A1	noun - vocal or instrumental sounds (or both) combined in such a way as to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion.
loud /laʊd/ A2	adjective - (of sound) easily audible.
ground /ɡraʊnd/ A1	noun - the solid surface of the earth
answers /ˈænsərz/ A2	noun - a thing said, written, or done to deal with or as a reaction to a question, statement, or situation.
satisfaction /ˌsætɪsˈfækʃən/ B2	noun - fulfilment of one's wishes, expectations, or needs, or the pleasure derived from this.

Key Grammar Structures

• Time is truly wastin'

  ➔ Present Continuous (with implied auxiliary verb)

  ➔ The lyrics use colloquial language. "Wastin'" is a shortened form of "wasting." The sentence implies the auxiliary verb "is" as in "Time is truly wasting" but is shortened for stylistic reasons. This is common in informal speech and song lyrics to create a more casual and rhythmic feel.

• There's no guarantee, yeah

  ➔ Existential "There is/are"

  ➔ The phrase "There's no guarantee" uses the existential "there is" to express the absence of a certainty. "Guarantee" is a noun referring to something being certain or assured.

• Smile's in the makin'

  ➔ Noun Phrase as Subject (elliptical)

  ➔ The phrase "Smile's in the makin'" is a shortened and informal way of saying "A smile is in the making." The 's is a contraction of "is" and "makin'" is a colloquial form of "making". The full sentence would use the present continuous tense.

• You gotta fight the powers that be

  ➔ "Gotta" (contraction of "got to"), Relative Clause with "that"

  ➔ "Gotta" is a contraction of "got to", meaning "have to" or "must". "The powers that be" is an idiom referring to those in authority. The relative clause "that be" modifies "the powers", identifying which powers are being referenced.

• Stayin' on the scene, yeah

  ➔ Present Participle as Adjective (elliptical)

  ➔ "Stayin' on the scene" likely implies something like "They are staying on the scene" where "staying" functions as a present participle in the present continuous tense, describing an action that's ongoing. The auxiliary verb is omitted.

• Faces full of pain

  ➔ Adjective Phrase

  ➔ "Faces full of pain" is an adjective phrase describing the faces. "Full of pain" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "faces."

• I try to play my music, they say my music's too loud

  ➔ Simple Present Tense, Possessive Adjective, Adjective of Degree

  ➔ The first clause, "I try to play my music", uses the simple present tense to describe a habitual action. "My" is a possessive adjective modifying "music". In the second clause, "they say my music's too loud", "too" is an adjective of degree, intensifying the adjective "loud".

• An' when I rolled with the punches, I got knocked on the ground

  ➔ Past Simple Tense, Passive Voice

  ➔ "I rolled with the punches" is in the simple past tense, describing a completed action in the past. "I got knocked on the ground" uses the passive voice, indicating that the subject (I) received the action rather than performing it. The verb "got" is used as an auxiliary verb here to form the passive voice with "knocked."