Here Comes the Night Time – English Lyrics

• By: Arcade Fire

Lyrics & Translation

[English]

When the sun goes down

When the sun goes down, you head inside

'Cause the lights don't work

Yeah, nothing works, they say you don't mind

Here comes the night time

Here comes the night time

Here comes the night time

And the missionaries, they tell us we will be left behind

Been left behind a thousand times, a thousand times

If you want to be righteous

If you want to be righteous, get in line

'Cause here comes the night time

...

Here comes the night time

Here comes the night time

Here comes the night time

Here comes the night time

Here comes the night

Here comes the night time

Look out, here comes the night time!

They say heaven's a place

Yeah, heaven's a place, and they know where it is

But you know where it is?

It's behind the gate, they won't let you in

And when they hear the beat coming from the street

They lock the door

But if there's no music up in heaven, then what's it for?

When I hear the beat

My spirit's on me like a live-wire

A thousand horses running wild in a city on fire

But it starts in your feet, then it goes to your head

And, if you can't feel it, then the roots are dead

And if you're the judge, then what is our crime?

Here comes the night time

...

Here comes the night time

Here comes the night time

Here comes the night time, yeah

Here comes the night time

Here comes the night!

Here comes the night!

Look out, here comes the night!

Here comes the night!

Here comes the night!

Here comes the night, the night, the night, the night time!

...

Now, the preachers they talk, up on the satellite

If you're looking for hell, just try looking inside

Here comes the night time, the night time

Here comes the night time, the night time

Here comes the night time, the night time

Here comes the night time, the night time

Here comes the night time, the night time

When you look in the sky, just try looking inside

God knows what you might find

When you look in the sky, just try looking inside

God knows what you might find

Here comes the night time

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
night /naɪt/ A1	noun - the period of darkness between sunset and sunrise
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - a measurable period during which actions occur
sun /sʌn/ A1	noun - the star at the center of our solar system
heaven /ˈhɛvən/ B1	noun - the place where deities are believed to dwell; an ideal state
hell /hɛl/ B1	noun - a place of eternal punishment in some religions
spirit /ˈspɪrɪt/ B2	noun - the non‑physical part of a person, often regarded as their true self
beat /biːt/ B1	noun - a rhythmic unit in music; the basic pulse of a song verb - to strike repeatedly; to hit
gate /ɡeɪt/ A2	noun - a movable barrier that opens or closes an entrance
missionary /ˈmɪʃəneri/ C1	noun - a person sent on a religious mission to promote a faith
preacher /ˈpriːtʃər/ B2	noun - someone who delivers a sermon or religious lecture
satellite /ˈsætəlaɪt/ B2	noun - an artificial object placed in orbit around a planet
righteous /ˈraɪtʃəs/ C1	adjective - morally right or justifiable; virtuous
fire /faɪər/ A1	noun - the phenomenon of combustion that produces heat and light
horse /hɔːrs/ A1	noun - a large, domesticated hoofed animal used for riding and work
city /ˈsɪti/ A1	noun - a large and permanent settlement, typically larger than a town
music /ˈmjuːzɪk/ A1	noun - organized sound, especially vocal or instrumental sounds combined to produce a composition
judge /dʒʌdʒ/ B2	noun - a public official appointed to decide cases in a court of law verb - to form an opinion or conclusion about something or someone
crime /kraɪm/ B1	noun - an act that is illegal and punishable by law
roots /ruːts/ B2	noun - the part of a plant that attaches it to the ground; also, the origin or basis of something

Key Grammar Structures

• When the sun goes down

  ➔ Present Perfect (went down)

  ➔ The Present Perfect is used to describe an action that started in the past and continues up to the present.

• you head inside

  ➔ Present Simple (head)

  ➔ The Present Simple is used for habitual actions or general truths.

• the lights don't work

  ➔ Present Simple (don't work)

  ➔ The Present Simple is used for general truths or facts.

• they say you don't mind

  ➔ Present Simple (don't mind)

  ➔ The Present Simple is used for opinions or feelings.

• Here comes the night time

  ➔ Present Simple (comes)

  ➔ The Present Simple is used for general truths or facts.

• If you want to be righteous

  ➔ Present Simple (want)

  ➔ The Present Simple is used for desires or wishes.

• get in line

  ➔ Present Simple (get)

  ➔ The Present Simple is used for actions that are happening now or are habitual.

• Here comes the night

  ➔ Present Simple (comes)

  ➔ The Present Simple is used for general truths or facts.

• Look out, here comes the night time!

  ➔ Present Simple (comes)

  ➔ The Present Simple is used for actions that are happening now or are habitual.