Highway to Hell – English Lyrics

• By: AC/DC

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language can be an exciting journey, and what better way to dive into English than with a classic rock anthem like AC/DC's 'Highway to Hell.' This song is a fantastic tool for learners because of its clear, repetitive chorus and straightforward rock and roll vocabulary. The rebellious lyrics offer a glimpse into the cultural context of the late 1970s rock scene and the life of a touring band. It's a song that's not just about the music; it's a piece of rock history that embodies a spirit of freedom and defiance, making it a special and powerful way to engage with the English language.

[English]

(upbeat music)

♪ Livin' easy ♪

♪ Lovin' free ♪

♪ Season ticket on a one way ride ♪

♪ Askin' nothin' ♪

♪ Leave me be ♪

♪ Takin' everythin' in my stride ♪

♪ Don't need reason ♪

♪ Don't need rhyme ♪

♪ Ain't nothin' that I'd rather do ♪

♪ Goin' down ♪

♪ Party time ♪

♪ My friends are gonna be there too ♪

♪ I'm on the highway to hell ♪

♪ On the highway to hell ♪

♪ Highway to hell ♪

♪ I'm on the highway to hell ♪

♪ No stop signs ♪

♪ Speed limit ♪

♪ Nobody's gonna slow me down ♪

♪ Like a wheel ♪

♪ Gonna spin it ♪

♪ Nobody's gonna mess me around ♪

♪ Hey Satan ♪

♪ Payin' my dues ♪

♪ Playin' in a rockin' band ♪

♪ Hey mamma ♪

♪ Look at me ♪

♪ I'm on the way to the promised land ♪

♪ I'm on the highway to hell ♪

♪ Highway to hell ♪

♪ I'm on the highway to hell ♪

♪ Highway to hell ♪

♪ Don't stop me ♪

♪ Ah ah ah ♪

♪ I'm on the highway to hell ♪

♪ On the highway to hell ♪

♪ I'm on the highway to hell ♪

♪ Highway to hell ♪ ♪ I'm on the highway to hell ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ Highway to hell ♪

♪ I'm on the highway to hell ♪

♪ Highway to hell ♪

♪ Highway to hell ♪

♪ Highway to hell ♪

♪ Ah highway to hell ♪

♪ Highway to hell ♪

♪ And I'm goin' down ♪

♪ All the way ♪

♪ I'm on the highway to hell ♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
highway /ˈhaɪˌweɪ/ A2	noun - a main road, especially one connecting major towns or cities
hell /hel/ B1	noun - a place regarded as extremely unpleasant or bad
ride /raɪd/ A1	noun - a journey on a horse, bicycle, motorcycle, etc. verb - to sit on and control the movement of a horse, bicycle, motorcycle, etc.
leave /liːv/ A1	verb - to go away from
stride /straɪd/ B2	noun - a long, decisive step verb - to walk with long, decisive steps
reason /ˈriːzən/ A2	noun - a cause, explanation, or justification for an action or event
rhyme /raɪm/ B1	noun - correspondence of sound between words or the endings of words, especially when these are used at the ends of lines of poetry. verb - have or end with a sound that corresponds to another
party /ˈpɑːrti/ A1	noun - a social gathering for pleasure or celebration
friends /frendz/ A1	noun - a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically exclusive of sexual or family relations.
stop /stɒp/ A1	verb - bring or come to an end noun - an act of stopping
signs /saɪnz/ A1	noun - an object, quality, or event whose presence or occurrence indicates the probable presence or occurrence of something else.
speed /spiːd/ A2	noun - the rate at which someone or something is able to move or operate.
limit /ˈlɪmɪt/ A2	noun - a point or level beyond which something does not or may not extend. verb - set a limit to.
wheel /wiːl/ A1	noun - a circular object that revolves on an axle and is fixed below a vehicle or other object to enable it to move easily over the ground.
Satan /ˈseɪtən/ B2	noun - the devil; the supreme spirit of evil.
band /bænd/ A2	noun - a group of musicians who play together.
promised /ˈprɒmɪst/ B1	adjective - relating to something promised. verb - assure someone that one will definitely do, give, or arrange something; undertake or declare with certainty.
land /lænd/ A1	noun - the part of the earth's surface that is not permanently covered by water, as opposed to the sea or the air.

Key Grammar Structures

• Livin' easy

  ➔ Present Participle as Adjective (Ellipsis)

  ➔ This is a shortened form of "living easy". The full sentence would be something like "I am living easy." The present participle "living" functions as an adjective describing the implied subject's lifestyle. The auxiliary verb "am" is omitted for a more casual, rhythmic effect.

• Season ticket on a one way ride

  ➔ Noun Phrase (Prepositional Phrase)

  ➔ This is a noun phrase that describes the commitment to a path of no return. "Season ticket" is the core noun, and "on a one way ride" is a prepositional phrase acting as an adjective, modifying "season ticket". It implies a commitment without the possibility of turning back.

• Askin' nothin'

  ➔ Gerund (Ellipsis)

  ➔ This is a shortened form of "asking nothing". The full sentence would be something like "I am asking nothing." The gerund "asking" functions as the verb. The auxiliary verb "am" is omitted for a more casual, rhythmic effect, and the final 'g' is dropped to fit the song's rhythm.

• Ain't nothin' that I'd rather do

  ➔ Double Negative (Informal)

  ➔ "Ain't" is a contraction for "am not", "is not", or "are not." "Nothin'" is a non-standard version of "nothing." While grammatically incorrect in formal English, double negatives are common in some dialects and informal speech. The intended meaning is "There is nothing that I would rather do."

• Goin' down

  ➔ Present Participle (Ellipsis)

  ➔ This is a shortened form of "going down". The full sentence is likely "I am going down." The 'g' at the end is dropped for a more colloquial and rhythmic effect. Similar to the previous example, the auxiliary verb 'am' is implied but not explicitly stated.

• Nobody's gonna slow me down

  ➔ Future with 'gonna'

  ➔ 'Gonna' is a colloquial contraction of 'going to'. It's used to express a future intention or prediction. The structure is: Subject + 'is/are/am' + gonna + base form of the verb.

• Payin' my dues

  ➔ Present Participle as Verb (Informal)

  ➔ Similar to "Livin' easy", this is a shortened form, likely "I am paying my dues". The auxiliary verb 'am' is omitted for brevity and a more conversational tone. "Paying my dues" is an idiom that means enduring hardship to earn something.