Higher Ground – English Lyrics

• By: Martin Garrix, John Martin

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a powerful tool, and 'Higher Ground' by Martin Garrix and John Martin is an excellent choice. The lyrics tell a clear and inspiring story of overcoming challenges, using straightforward and emotionally resonant vocabulary. By exploring the song's message of hope, you can learn to express feelings of struggle and resilience, making your language learning journey both meaningful and motivating.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - a measured period during which something happens
fading /ˈfeɪdɪŋ/ B1	verb - to become gradually less strong, bright, or clear adjective - gradually losing intensity or color
trapped /træpt/ B2	adjective - caught and unable to escape
afraid /əˈfreɪd/ B1	adjective - feeling fear or anxiety
darkness /ˈdɑːrk.nəs/ B1	noun - the state of having little or no light
mind /maɪnd/ A2	noun - the part of a person that thinks, feels, and remembers
soul /soʊl/ B2	noun - the spiritual or immaterial part of a being
searching /ˈsɜːrtʃɪŋ/ B1	verb - looking carefully for something
something /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/ A2	pronoun - an unspecified object, event, or fact
knees /niːz/ A2	noun - the joints between the thigh and the lower leg
dust /dʌst/ A2	noun - fine particles of matter that settle on surfaces
scream /skriːm/ B1	verb - to shout loudly, especially in pain or fear noun - a loud, high-pitched cry
lungs /lʌŋz/ B2	noun - the pair of organs in the chest used for breathing
higher /ˈhaɪər/ B1	adjective - situated at a greater height
ground /ɡraʊnd/ A2	noun - the solid surface of the earth
alive /əˈlaɪv/ B1	adjective - living; not dead
deep /diːp/ B1	adjective - extending far down from the top or surface
bones /boʊnz/ B2	noun - the hard parts that form the skeleton of a vertebrate
voice /vɔɪs/ A2	noun - the sound made by the vocal cords; a means of expression
breaking /ˈbreɪkɪŋ/ B1	verb - to cause to separate into pieces; to shatter adjective - in the process of being broken

Key Grammar Structures

• Keeps fading

  ➔ Present simple + present participle (verb‑ing) for a continuous action

  ➔ The verb "keeps" is followed by the gerund ""fading"" to show that the fading is ongoing.

• Feeling trapped inside

  ➔ Present participle used as an adjective (a participial phrase)

  ➔ The participle ""Feeling"" modifies the implied subject, describing a state of being "trapped inside".

• It’s been a long time coming

  ➔ Present perfect (has/have + past participle) with a present participle phrase

  ➔ ""It’s"" = "it is"; ""been"" is the past participle of "be" forming the present perfect, and ""coming"" (present participle) shows the action that has been ongoing for a long time.

• But it wasn’t for nothing

  ➔ Past simple negative (was + not) with a prepositional phrase

  ➔ ""wasn’t"" is the contracted form of "was not", the past simple of "be" used to deny that the action was "for nothing".

• I’m down on my knees in the dust

  ➔ Present simple (be + adjective) indicating a state

  ➔ ""I’m"" = "I am"; ""down"" functions as an adjective describing the speaker’s position "on my knees in the dust".

• I’ll find my way back to a higher ground

  ➔ Future simple with "will" + base verb

  ➔ ""I’ll"" = "I will"; the modal "will" expresses a future intention, followed by the base verb "find".

• Yeah I just want to feel alive

  ➔ Present simple with infinitive (want + to + verb)

  ➔ ""want"" is a verb of desire followed by the infinitive "to feel"; the whole clause expresses a present desire.

• Try to speak but my voice keeps breaking

  ➔ Imperative verb + infinitive; conjunction "but" linking two clauses; present simple + gerund

  ➔ ""Try"" is an imperative urging action, followed by the infinitive "to speak". The conjunction "but" introduces a contrast with the second clause where "keeps" (present simple) is followed by the gerund "breaking".

• So many smiles you have seen me faking

  ➔ Present perfect (have + past participle) + object + present participle

  ➔ ""have seen"" is present perfect, indicating experience up to now; "faking" is a present participle describing how the smiles were produced.