Glory And Gore – English Lyrics

• By: Lorde
• Album: Pure Heroine

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the dark and atmospheric world of Lorde with 'Glory and Gore.' This song is a fantastic resource for learners to explore sophisticated English vocabulary related to conflict, competition, and societal critique, all delivered through Lorde's unique and commanding vocal style.

[English]

There's a humming in the restless summer air

And we're slipping off the course that we prepared

But in all chaos, there is calculation

Dropping glasses just to hear them break

You've been drinking like the world was gonna end (it didn't)

Took a shiner from the fist of your best friend (go figure)

It's clear that someone's gotta go

We mean it, but I promise we're not mean

And the cry goes out (oh)

They lose their minds for us

And how it plays out (oh)

Now we're in the ring, and we're coming for blood

(Oh, oh) you could try and take us

(Oh, oh) but we're the gladiators

(Oh, oh) everyone a rager

(Oh, oh) but secretly they're saviors

Glory and gore go hand in hand

That's why we're making headlines

(Oh, oh) you could try and take us

(Oh, oh) but victory's contagious

...

Delicate in every way but one (the swordplay)

God knows we like archaic kinds of fun (the old ways)

Chance is the only game I play with, baby

We let our battles choose us

And the cry goes out (oh)

They lose their minds for us

And how it plays out (oh)

Now we're in the ring, and we're coming for blood

(Oh, oh) you could try and take us

(Oh, oh) but we're the gladiators

(Oh, oh) everyone a rager

(Oh, oh) but secretly they're saviors

Glory and gore go hand in hand

That's why we're making headlines

(Oh, oh) you could try and take us

(Oh, oh) but victory's contagious

No-one 'round here's good at keeping their eyes closed

The sun's starting to light up when we're walking home

Tired little laughs, gold-lie promises

We'll always win at this, I don't ever think about death

It's alright if you do, it's fine

We gladiate, but I guess we're really fighting ourselves

Roughing up our minds, so we're ready when the kill time comes

Wide awake in bed, words in my brain

"Secretly you love this, do you even wanna go free?"

Let me in the ring, I'll show you what that big word means

(Oh, oh) you could try and take us

(Oh, oh) but we're the gladiators

(Oh, oh) everyone a rager

(Oh, oh) but secretly they're saviors

Glory and gore go hand in hand

That's why we're making headlines

(Oh, oh) you could try and take us

(Oh, oh) but victory's contagious

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
restless /ˈrestləs/ B2	adjective - unable to rest or relax as a result of anxiety or boredom
chaos /ˈkeɪɒs/ B2	noun - complete disorder and confusion
calculation /ˌkælkjuˈleɪʃn/ B2	noun - a mathematical determination of the size or number of something
shiner /ˈʃaɪnər/ C2	noun - a black eye
gladiators /ˈɡlædieɪtərz/ C1	noun - a person, typically a professional combatant, who performed at public games
rager /ˈreɪdʒər/ C1	noun - a person who is angry or aggressive
saviors /ˈseɪvjərz/ B2	noun - a person who saves someone or something from danger
glory /ˈɡlɔːri/ B2	noun - high renown or honor won by notable achievements
gore /ɡɔːr/ C1	noun - blood that has been shed, especially as a result of violence
headlines /ˈhedlaɪnz/ A2	noun - headings at the top of an article or page in a newspaper or magazine
victory /ˈvɪktəri/ B1	noun - an act of defeating an enemy or opponent
contagious /kənˈteɪdʒəs/ B2	adjective - spread from one person or organism to another
delicate /ˈdelɪkət/ B2	adjective - very fine in texture or structure; of intricate workmanship
archaic /ɑːrˈkeɪɪk/ C2	adjective - very old or old-fashioned
gladiate /ˈɡlædieɪt/ C2	verb - to fight as a gladiator

Key Grammar Structures

• You've been drinking like the world was gonna end

  ➔ Present Perfect Continuous

  ➔ Used "have been drinking" to describe an action that started in the past and has present consequences.

• You could try and take us

  ➔ Modal verb for possibility

  ➔ "Could" indicates a hypothetical possibility or a challenge to the listener.

• We're the gladiators

  ➔ Defining relative structure

  ➔ The verb "are" links the subject "we" to the noun "gladiators" as a state of being.

• Secretly they're saviors

  ➔ Adverb modifying an adjective

  ➔ "Secretly" modifies the implied state of being "saviors".

• No-one 'round here's good at keeping their eyes closed

  ➔ Gerund after a preposition

  ➔ "Keeping" is a gerund functioning as the object of the preposition "at".

• The sun's starting to light up when we're walking home

  ➔ Adverbial clause of time

  ➔ "When we're walking home" establishes the timeframe for the main action.

• I don't ever think about death

  ➔ Negative with "ever"

  ➔ "Don't ever" is used for emphasis to mean "not at any time".

• Let me in the ring, I'll show you what that big word means

  ➔ Imperative and Noun Clause

  ➔ "Let me" is an imperative, while "what that big word means" acts as a noun clause (the object of "show").