Hydra – English Lyrics

• By: Toto

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the mystical world of Toto's “Hydra,” a progressive rock epic with elements of fantasy. Through vivid storytelling and complex instrumentation, this song provides a gateway to understanding lyrical interpretation and musical composition. Explore how Toto blends genres to create a unique soundscape.

[English]

(slow ominous music)

(slow ominous music)

(mid tempo rock music)

(mid tempo rock music)

♪ There was a man ♪

♪ Who walked alone ♪

♪ Searching for the girl who had just caught his eye ♪

♪ I was a fool he cried ♪

♪ His mind had wandered ♪

♪ He blinked and the sky moved ever so slightly ♪

♪ He searched the city ♪

♪ She was nowhere to be found ♪

♪ Meanwhile she was floating downward, downward ♪

♪ Hey ♪

♪ Do you want your freedom ♪

♪ Do you want my love ♪

♪ Do you want your freedom ♪

♪ From the one you're thinking of ♪

♪ There lied a lady ♪

♪ Naked and yet not knowing ♪

♪ A spell had claimed her heart forever ♪

♪ Preyed upon by the wolves in Time Square ♪

♪ Fell into an abyss of thin air ♪

♪ Innocent and caged in sanctuary ♪

♪ There sat the dragon lord ♪

♪ Playin' solitary ♪

♪ Confined to rule the holy walls 'neath Hell's Kitchen ♪

♪ Dodododo dodododo dodododo do do do ♪

♪ Dodododo dodododo dodododo do do do ♪

♪ Do you want your freedom ♪

♪ Do you want my love ♪

♪ Do you want your freedom ♪

♪ From the man who lives above ♪

(mid tempo rock music)

♪ Suddenly a voice was heard ♪

♪ Flash the brave young man appeared ♪

♪ The dragon whirled and caught him with his tail ♪

♪ Chased him to the stairway ♪

♪ Caught him halfway to the top ♪

♪ Sent him whirling down ♪

♪ Fireball summer solstice ♪

♪ The dragon lord descended down on him ♪

♪ She turned to look but saw only darkness silence ♪

♪ Dodododo dodododo dodododo do do do ♪

♪ Dodododo dodododo dodododo do do do ♪

♪ You don't want your freedom ♪

♪ You don't want my love ♪

♪ You don't want your soul caught ♪

♪ By the Satan I'm thinking of ♪

(electric guitar solo)

(mid tempo rock music fades out)

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
freedom /ˈfriːdəm/ A2	noun - the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - an intense feeling of deep affection. verb - to feel a deep romantic or sexual attachment to (someone).
dragon /ˈdræɡən/ B1	noun - a mythical monster like a giant reptile, typically depicted as a winged, fire-breathing, and scaly creature.
lord /lɔːrd/ B1	noun - someone having power, authority, or influence; a master or ruler.
abyss /əˈbɪs/ B2	noun - a deep or seemingly bottomless chasm.
sanctuary /ˈsæŋktʃuˌɛri/ B2	noun - a place of refuge or safety.
confine /kənˈfaɪn/ B2	verb - to keep or restrict someone or something within certain limits of space, scope, or time. adjective - restricted or limited to a particular place or area.
wander /ˈwɑːndər/ B1	verb - to walk or move in a leisurely, aimless, or casual way.
prey /preɪ/ B2	verb - (of an animal) hunt and kill for food; (figuratively) exploit or harm someone.
claim /kleɪm/ B1	verb - to state or assert that something is true or that one has a right to something.
naked /ˈneɪkɪd/ B1	adjective - without clothes or other covering.
innocent /ˈɪnəsənt/ B1	adjective - not guilty of a crime or offense; pure or naive.
whirl /wɜːrl/ B2	verb - to move rapidly around and around.
descend /dɪˈsɛnd/ B2	verb - to move or fall downwards.
solstice /ˈsɑːlstɪs/ C1	noun - either of the two times in the year when the sun reaches its highest or lowest point in the sky at noon, marked by the longest and shortest days.
soul /soʊl/ B1	noun - the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being or animal, regarded as immortal.
spell /spɛl/ B1	noun - a form of words used as a magical charm or incantation.
brave /breɪv/ A2	adjective - ready to face and endure danger or pain; showing courage.
darkness /ˈdɑːrknəs/ A2	noun - the partial or total absence of light.
cry /kraɪ/ A1	verb - to shed tears, typically as an expression of distress, pain, or sorrow.

Key Grammar Structures

• Searching for the girl who had just caught his eye

  ➔ Present Participle Clause (Adverbial) & Past Perfect

  ➔ ''Searching for'' is a present participle clause modifying the subject of the main clause, indicating a simultaneous action. ''had just caught'' is the past perfect tense, showing an action completed before another past event.

• She was nowhere to be found

  ➔ Passive Infinitive

  ➔ The structure ''to be + past participle'' is used here after ''nowhere'' to indicate that an action could not be performed on the subject. ''to be found'' is the passive infinitive.

• Meanwhile she was floating downward, downward

  ➔ Past Continuous

  ➔ ''was floating'' describes an ongoing action in the past, often setting a scene or indicating an action that was interrupted.

• Do you want your freedom

  ➔ Interrogative Structure with 'Do' (Simple Present)

  ➔ ''Do'' is used as an auxiliary verb to form questions in the simple present tense for most verbs (except 'be' and modals).

• Naked and yet not knowing

  ➔ Present Participle as Adjective/Clause & Conjunction 'Yet'

  ➔ ''not knowing'' acts as a descriptive clause, similar to an adjective, describing the lady's state. ''Yet'' is used here as a conjunction to introduce a contrasting idea.

• Preyed upon by the wolves in Time Square

  ➔ Passive Voice (Past Participle with Phrasal Verb and Agent)

  ➔ ''Preyed upon by'' indicates that the subject (the lady, implied) was the recipient of the action 'prey upon,' and 'the wolves' are the agent performing the action.

• Innocent and caged in sanctuary

  ➔ Past Participle as an Adjective

  ➔ ''caged'' is the past participle of the verb 'to cage,' used here as an adjective to describe the lady's state, meaning she was put into a cage.

• Confined to rule the holy walls 'neath Hell's Kitchen

  ➔ Past Participle as Adjective/Clause & Infinitive of Purpose

  ➔ ''Confined'' (past participle) describes the dragon lord's state, implying he was restricted. ''to rule'' is an infinitive expressing the purpose or consequence of being confined.

• Suddenly a voice was heard

  ➔ Passive Voice (Simple Past)

  ➔ ''was heard'' indicates that the voice received the action of hearing, rather than performing it. The agent (who heard it) is not specified.

• Sent him whirling down

  ➔ Verb + Object + Present Participle (Resultative/Causative)

  ➔ ''Sent him whirling'' means that the action of 'sending' caused 'him' to 'whirl.' The present participle ''whirling'' describes the action he performed as a result.