Hangar 18 – English Lyrics

• By: Megadeth
• Album: Rust In Peace

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the electrifying world of Megadeth with "Hangar 18," a thrash metal anthem packed with complex guitar solos and a compelling narrative. This song offers a fascinating entry point for language learners to explore English vocabulary related to conspiracy theories and science fiction, all while experiencing the genre's powerful, aggressive, and highly technical musical expression. Its intricate lyrics and dynamic shifts make it a captivating listen that encourages deeper engagement with both the music and its message.

[English]

(space ship whirring)

(drum beat)

(space ship whirring)

- [Skelton Man] Scan reports

(space ship whirring)

(music drowns out speaker)

(space ship whirring)

(drum beat)

(space ship whirring)

(steam)

(wailing)

(device scanning)

- [Officer] Return to hanger

(helicopter blades)

(truck engine)

(metal music begins)

(metal music continues)

♪ Welcome to our fortress tall ♪

♪ I'll take some time to show you around ♪

♪ Impossible to break these walls ♪

♪ For, you see, the steel is much too strong ♪

♪ Computer banks to rule the world ♪

♪ Instruments to sight the stars ♪

♪ Possibly I've seen too much ♪

♪ Hanger 18, I know too much ♪

(guitar rift)

(metal music continues)

(guitar rift continues)

(metal music continues)

♪ Foreign life forms, inventory ♪

♪ Suspended state of cryogenics ♪

♪ Selective amnesia's the story ♪

♪ Believed, foretold, but who would suspect? ♪

♪ The military intelligence ♪

♪ Two words combined that can't make sense ♪

♪ Possibly I've seen too much ♪

♪ Hangar 18, I know too much ♪

(guitar rift)

(metal music continues)

(guitar rift continues)

(metal music continues)

(guitar rift continues)

(guitar rift continues)

(metal music continues)

(guitar rift continues)

(metal music continues)

(drum & bass solo)

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
fortress /ˈfɔːrtrəs/ C1	noun - a large strong building used for defense against attacks
steel /stiːl/ B2	noun - a strong, hard metal made from iron and carbon
computer /kəmˈpjuːtər/ A2	noun - an electronic machine that stores and processes data
instrument /ˈɪnstrʊmənt/ B2	noun - a tool or device used for a particular purpose, especially scientific or musical
world /wɜːrld/ A1	noun - the earth and all the people and things on it
star /stɑːr/ A1	noun - a bright point in the night sky that is a large distant ball of burning gas
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the state of being alive
form /fɔːrm/ B1	noun - a particular type or shape of something
inventory /ˈɪnvənˌtɔːri/ C1	noun - a detailed list of items in stock or possession
state /steɪt/ B1	noun - a condition or situation at a particular time
cryogenics /ˌkraɪəˈdʒɛnɪks/ C2	noun - the science of very low temperatures and their effects
amnesia /æmˈniːʒə/ C1	noun - a condition in which someone is unable to remember things
suspect /səˈspekt/ B2	verb - to think that something is probably true or that someone has done something wrong noun - a person thought to be guilty of something
military /ˈmɪlɪˌteri/ B1	adjective - relating to soldiers or armed forces noun - the armed forces of a country
intelligence /ɪnˈtɛlɪdʒəns/ B2	noun - the ability to learn and understand; also information gathered secretly
foreign /ˈfɒrɪn/ A2	adjective - from a country that is not your own
rule /ruːl/ A2	verb - to control or govern a country or people
believe /bɪˈliːv/ A1	verb - to accept something as true
suspect /ˈsʌspɛkt/ B2	adjective - not to be trusted or reliable

Key Grammar Structures

• Welcome to our fortress tall

  ➔ Imperative + prepositional phrase

  ➔ "Welcome" is an imperative verb used to greet or invite; "to our fortress tall" shows the destination.

• I'll take some time to show you around

  ➔ Future with 'will' + infinitive complement

  ➔ "I'll" = "I will" shows intention; "to show you around" is an infinitive phrase explaining purpose.

• Impossible to break these walls

  ➔ Adjective + infinitive phrase

  ➔ "Impossible to break" = something cannot be done; the infinitive shows what is impossible.

• For, you see, the steel is much too strong

  ➔ Explanatory clause with interjection and comparative intensifier

  ➔ "For, you see" introduces a reason; "much too strong" uses 'much' to intensify 'too'.

• Computer banks to rule the world

  ➔ Noun phrase + infinitive of purpose

  ➔ "to rule" expresses the computers’ purpose; the phrase describes their function.

• Possibly I've seen too much

  ➔ Adverb of degree + present perfect tense

  ➔ "Possibly" shows uncertainty; "I've seen" is present perfect, implying past experience relevant now.

• Foreign life forms, inventory

  ➔ Noun phrase in apposition

  ➔ The second noun 'inventory' renames or clarifies the first noun phrase 'foreign life forms'.

• Selectively amnesia's the story

  ➔ Inversion with noun complement

  ➔ The normal order 'The story is amnesia' is inverted for emphasis.

• Believed, foretold, but who would suspect?

  ➔ Past participles + rhetorical question with modal

  ➔ ‘Believed, foretold’ are past participles describing prior knowledge; ‘who would suspect?’ questions possibility.

• The military intelligence, two words combined that can't make sense

  ➔ Relative clause and irony in apposition

  ➔ ‘that can't make sense’ is a defining relative clause modifying ‘two words’; irony contrasts meaning.