Izabella / Machine Gun – English Lyrics

• By: Jimi Hendrix

Lyrics & Translation

Delve into the poignant world of Jimi Hendrix with "Izabella / Machine Gun," where love and war intertwine. Discover how Hendrix's innovative guitar work and heartfelt lyrics captured the spirit of an era, offering a unique lens through which to understand the complexities of the Vietnam War and the emotions it stirred. Perfect for those learning about the history and language of protest through music.

[English]

(upbeat 60's rock music)

♪Soon, I'll be holding you ♪

♪ Instead of this machine gun ♪

♪ Hey. Instead of this machine gun ♪

♪ Hey-Ay! Instead of this machine gun. Oh ♪

♪ Instead of this machine gun ♪

♪ Oh-Oh-Oh ♪

(upbeat 60's rock music continues)

(slower smooth rock music)

(smooth rock music continues)

(smooth rock music continues)

♪ Machine gun ♪

♪ Tearin' my body all apart ♪

(instruments imitating gunfire)

♪ Machine gun ♪

♪ Oh! They're tearin' my body all apart ♪

♪ Evil man make me. Kill you ♪

♪ Evil man make me kill you ♪

♪ Even though we're miles apart ♪

♪ Only families apart ♪

(smooth rock music continues)

♪ Take a weight off our families ♪

♪ Yeah. Yeah. Yeah ♪

♪ Take a weight off our helpless child ♪

(smooth rock music continues)

♪ Yes, Sir, take the weight off our families ♪

♪ Off of my mother's child ♪

(smooth rock music continues)

♪ 'til we goin' insane. 'til we goin' insane. Oh, go wild ♪

(smooth rock music continues)

♪ OooooOoooo ♪

♪ Ooooo ♪ (guitar solo begins)

♪ OooooOooooOoooo ♪ (dissonant harmony)

♪ OooooOooooOoooo ♪ (dissonant harmony)

♪ OooooOooooOoooo ♪ (dissonant harmony)

♪ Ooooo Ooooo Ooooo ♪ (dissonant harmony)

♪ OooooOoooo Ooooo ♪ (dissonant harmony)

♪ Oo ♪

♪ Way over yonder from the mother ♪

♪ Some are ghosts and some are fighting the war ♪

(music fades) (drumsticks rattle)

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
machine /məˈʃiːn/ B1	noun - a device that uses power to perform a task
gun /ɡʌn/ A2	noun - a firearm that shoots bullets
tear /tɪər/ (verb) , /tɛər/ (noun) A2	verb - to pull something apart or into pieces
body /ˈbɒdi/ A1	noun - the physical structure of a person or animal
evil /ˈiːvəl/ B2	adjective - morally wrong or wicked
man /mæn/ A1	noun - an adult male human
kill /kɪl/ B1	verb - to cause the death of a living thing
families /ˈfæmɪliz/ A2	noun - groups of related people, especially parents and children
weight /weɪt/ B1	noun - the heaviness of an object
helpless /ˈhɛlpləs/ B2	adjective - unable to help oneself or act without assistance
child /tʃaɪld/ A1	noun - a young human being below the age of puberty
mother /ˈmʌðər/ A1	noun - a female parent
insane /ɪnˈseɪn/ B2	adjective - showing a lack of reason or sound judgment; mad
wild /waɪld/ B1	adjective - untamed, uncontrolled, or not domesticated
ghosts /ɡoʊsts/ B2	noun - spirits of dead people, often imagined as apparitions
war /wɔːr/ B1	noun - armed conflict between nations or groups
fighting /ˈfaɪtɪŋ/ B2	verb - engaging in combat or struggle
miles /maɪlz/ B1	noun - a unit of distance equal to 5,280 feet
make /meɪk/ A1	verb - to create, produce, or cause something to exist

Key Grammar Structures

• Instead of this machine gun

  ➔ Preposition + noun phrase

  ➔ The phrase "instead of" indicates a substitution or alternative.

• Evil man make me kill you

  ➔ Subject + verb + object

  ➔ This structure shows a clear action performed by the subject on the object.

• Take a weight off our families

  ➔ Imperative verb form

  ➔ The imperative form is used to give commands or requests.

• Only families apart

  ➔ Adverb + noun phrase

  ➔ The adverb "only" modifies the noun phrase, emphasizing exclusivity.

• 'til we goin' insane

  ➔ Colloquial contraction

  ➔ The contraction "'til" is a colloquial form of "until".

• Way over yonder from the mother

  ➔ Adverbial phrase

  ➔ The phrase "way over yonder" indicates a distant location.