Immigrant Song – English Lyrics

• By: Led Zeppelin
• Album: Led Zeppelin III

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a powerful tool, and Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song" offers a unique and energetic entry point into English. The song's lyrics, though concise, are packed with vivid imagery and storytelling rooted in Norse mythology and historical adventure. By exploring the vocabulary of conquest and ancient landscapes, you can expand your English skills in a dynamic and memorable way. The song's driving rhythm and powerful vocals make it an unforgettable piece of rock history that can inspire your language learning journey.

[English]

Ah! Ah!

Ah! Ah!

We come from the land of the ice and snow

From the midnight sun, where the hot springs flow

The hammer of the gods will drive our ships to new land

To fight the horde and sing, and cry

Valhalla, I am coming

...

On we sweep with with threshing oar

Our only goal will be the western shore

...

Ah! Ah!

Ah! Ah!

We come from the land of the ice and snow

From the midnight sun, where the hot springs flow

How soft your fields, so green

Can whisper tales of gore

Of how we calmed the tides of war

We are your overlords

...

On we sweep with threshing oar

Our only goal will be the western shore

...

So now you'd better stop and rebuild all your ruins

For peace and trust can win the day, despite of all your losing

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
come /kʌm/ A1	verb - to move or travel towards a place
land /lænd/ A1	noun - the part of the earth's surface that is not covered by water, as opposed to the sea or the air
ice /aɪs/ A1	noun - frozen water
snow /snoʊ/ A1	noun - atmospheric water vapor frozen into ice crystals and falling in light white flakes or lying on the ground as a white layer
sun /sʌn/ A1	noun - the star that provides light and heat to Earth
hot /hɒt/ A1	adjective - having a high degree of heat or a high temperature
springs /sprɪŋz/ A2	noun - a place where water naturally flows out of the ground
hammer /ˈhæmər/ A2	noun - a tool with a heavy metal head and a handle, used for driving nails, breaking things, etc.
gods /ɡɒdz/ A2	noun - a supernatural being or deity
drive /draɪv/ A2	verb - to operate and control the direction and speed of a motor vehicle verb - to force to move in a specified direction
ships /ʃɪps/ A2	noun - a large boat for transporting people or goods by sea
fight /faɪt/ A2	verb - take part in a violent struggle involving physical force or weapons
sing /sɪŋ/ A1	verb - to make musical sounds with your voice
cry /kraɪ/ A1	verb - to shed tears, typically as an expression of distress, pain, or sorrow
sweep /swiːp/ B1	verb - to clean (an area) by brushing away dirt or litter verb - move swiftly and smoothly
goal /ɡoʊl/ A2	noun - the object of a person's ambition or effort; an aim or desired result
shore /ʃɔːr/ A2	noun - the land along the edge of a sea, lake, or other large body of water
soft /sɒft/ A1	adjective - easy to mold, cut, compress, or fold; not hard or firm to the touch.
fields /fiːldz/ A1	noun - an area of open land, especially one planted with crops or pasture, typically surrounded by hedges or fences.
green /ɡriːn/ A1	adjective - of the color between blue and yellow in the spectrum; colored like grass or emeralds.
whisper /ˈwɪspər/ B1	verb - speak very softly using one's breath, without vibration of the vocal cords.
tales /teɪlz/ B1	noun - a fictitious or true narrative or story, especially one that is imaginatively recounted
gore /ɡɔːr/ B2	noun - blood that has been shed, especially as the result of violence
calmed /kɑːmd/ B1	verb - make (someone) tranquil and quiet
tides /taɪdz/ B1	noun - the periodic rise and fall of the sea level
war /wɔːr/ A2	noun - a state of armed conflict between different nations or groups within a nation
overlords /ˈoʊvərlɔːrdz/ C1	noun - a person who has power over another
stop /stɒp/ A1	verb - to bring to an end; put a halt to
rebuild /riːˈbɪld/ B1	verb - build (something) again after it has been damaged or destroyed.
ruins /ˈruːɪnz/ B1	noun - the physical destruction or disintegration of something or the state of disintegrating or being destroyed.
peace /piːs/ A2	noun - freedom from disturbance; tranquility.
trust /trʌst/ B1	noun - firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.
win /wɪn/ A1	verb - be successful or victorious in (a contest or conflict).
losing /ˈluːzɪŋ/ A2	noun - the fact of losing something or someone

Key Grammar Structures

• We come from the land of the ice and snow

  ➔ Simple Present Tense: Used to describe habitual actions, general truths, or states of being. The verb 'come' is in its base form because the subject is 'we'.

  ➔ This sentence states a fact about the origin of the speakers. The simple present is appropriate because it's a statement of belonging. The phrase "the land of the ice and snow" is a descriptive noun phrase.

• The hammer of the gods *will* drive our ships to new land

  ➔ Future Simple Tense (using 'will'): Expresses a future intention or prediction. 'Will' + base form of the verb ('drive').

  ➔ This sentence predicts the action of the gods' hammer driving the ships. The use of "will" makes it a future statement. Note the possessive "gods'" indicating the hammer belongs to the gods.

• To fight the horde *and* sing, and cry

  ➔ Infinitive of Purpose + Coordination: 'To fight' is an infinitive expressing purpose. 'And' is a coordinating conjunction connecting the infinitives 'sing' and 'cry'. Note the implicit 'to' before 'sing' and 'cry'.

  ➔ This describes the actions they will take upon arriving: fighting, singing, and crying. The infinitives add a sense of intention.

• Valhalla, I am coming

  ➔ Present Continuous Tense: Used to express an action happening now or in the near future. 'Am' (form of 'to be') + present participle ('coming').

  ➔ This expresses the speaker's imminent arrival at Valhalla. The present continuous implies a plan or arrangement. Valhalla is a proper noun.

• Our only goal *will be* the western shore

  ➔ Future Simple Tense (using 'will be'): Expresses a future state of being. 'Will be' + noun phrase (the western shore).

  ➔ This declares their future objective. "Will be" establishes a certainty about their destination. "The western shore" is a definite noun phrase.

• How soft *your* fields, so green

  ➔ Inversion (Emphasis) + Possessive Adjective: The typical order is 'How soft *are* your fields'. The subject is 'fields', which is plural, so the verb 'are' would be used. The use of 'your' is a possessive adjective modifying 'fields'. The sentence uses inversion to emphasize the softness.

  ➔ The sentence is an exclamation about the softness of the fields. It can also be seen as a poetic form.

• So now you'd better stop *and* rebuild all your ruins

  ➔ Modal Verb ('had better') + Coordination: 'You'd better' is a contraction of 'you had better', which is a modal verb expressing strong advice or a warning. 'And' is a coordinating conjunction connecting 'stop' and 'rebuild'.

  ➔ This is a strong suggestion that the listener should stop what they are doing and rebuild. The phrase "all your ruins" refers to the damage caused by the speakers.