Hammer To Fall – English Lyrics

• By: Queen
• Album: The Works

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into Queen's electrifying "Hammer To Fall" to experience a masterclass in hard rock with profound lyrical depth. This song, with its powerful riffs and energetic vocals, is an excellent way to grasp English vocabulary related to existential themes, historical events like the Cold War, and expressions of defiance and urgency. Listen closely to Freddie Mercury's dynamic delivery and Brian May's impactful lyrics to deepen your understanding of English through the raw emotion of rock.

[English]

Here we stand or here we fall

History won't care at all

Make the bed light the light

Lady mercy won't be home tonight yeah

You don't waste no time at all

Don't hear the bell but you answer the call

It comes to you as to us all

We're just waiting

For the Hammer To Fall

...

Oh ev'ry night and every day

A little piece of you is falling away

But lift your face the western way

Build your muscles as your body decays yeah

Toe your line and play their game yeah

Let the anaesthetic cover it all

Till one day they call your name

You know it's time for the Hammer To Fall

...

Rich or poor or famous

For your truth it's all the same (oh no oh no)

Lock your door the rain is pouring

Through your window pane (oh no)

Baby now your struggle's all in vain

...

For we who grew up tall and proud

In the shadow of the mushroom cloud

Convinced our voices can't be heard

We just wanna scream it louder and louder louder

What the hell we fighting for?

Just surrender and it won't hurt at all

You just got time to say your prayers

While your waiting for the hammer to Hammer To Fall

...

It's gonna fall

Hammer, you know, Hammer To Fall

...

While you're waiting for the Hammer To Fall

...

Give it to me one more time

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
stand /stænd/ A2	verb - to be in an upright position
fall /fɔːl/ A2	verb - to move downward freely noun - an act of falling
care /keər/ A2	verb - to think about and be concerned for someone or something
light /laɪt/ A2	adjective - having little weight or not heavy noun - the brightness that makes things visible verb - to illuminate
answer /ˈænsər/ A2	verb - to reply to a question or communication
build /bɪld/ B1	verb - to construct or assemble
decay /dɪˈkeɪ/ B2	noun - the process of decline or decomposition
muscle /ˈmʌsəl/ B1	noun - tissue in the body that can contract to produce movement
game /ɡeɪm/ A2	noun - a competitive activity or sport
name /neɪm/ A1	noun - a word by which a person or thing is known
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - a period during which something happens
hurt /hɜːrt/ A2	verb - to cause pain or injury
prayers /ˈpreərz/ B2	noun - words or phrases expressing devotion or requests to a deity
wait /weɪt/ A2	verb - to stay in one place until a particular time or event

Key Grammar Structures

• Here we stand or here we fall

  ➔ Conjunctions with 'or' to offer alternatives

  ➔ The word '**or**' connects two options, indicating a choice.

• History won't care at all

  ➔ Use of modal 'won't' (will not) to express future negation

  ➔ 'Won't' is a contraction of 'will not', used to indicate that something will not happen in the future.

• Make the bed light the light

  ➔ Imperative form used for commands or instructions

  ➔ The verb phrase 'Make the bed light the light' uses imperative mood to give commands.

• It comes to you as to us all

  ➔ Use of 'as' to mean 'like' or 'similar to'

  ➔ 'As' here means 'like' or 'similar to', comparing the coming of something to everyone.

• Build your muscles as your body decays yeah

  ➔ Use of 'as' to indicate simultaneous actions or comparison

  ➔ 'As' here shows that building muscles happens simultaneously as the body decays, or it draws a comparison.

• While your waiting for the Hammer to Fall

  ➔ Use of 'while' to express ongoing action during another action

  ➔ 'While' introduces an ongoing action happening at the same time as another event.