Jubilee Street – English Lyrics

• By: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
• Album: Ghosteen

Lyrics & Translation

Immerse yourself in the evocative storytelling of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds' 'Jubilee Street.' This powerful alternative rock anthem offers a rich lyrical landscape and a slowly building musical intensity, perfect for those looking to explore profound narratives and master poetic English expressions through song.

[English]

On Jubilee street there was a girl named Bee

She had a history but she had no past

When they shut her down the Russians moved in

And I'm too scared, I'm too scared to even walk on past

She used to say all those good people down on Jubilee Street

They ought to practice what they preach

Here they are to practice just what they preach

Those good people on Jubilee Street

And here I come up the hill

I'm pushing my own wheel of love

I got love in my tummy and a tiny little pain

And a ten ton catastrophe on a sixty pound chain

And I'm pushing my wheel of love on Jubilee Streets

Oh look at me now

...

The problem was she had a little black book

And my name was written on every page

Well a girl's gotta make ends meet even down Jubilee Street

I was out of place and time and over the hill

And out of my mind on Jubilee Street

I ought to practice what I preach

These days I go downtown in my tie and tails

I got a foetus on a leash

I am alone now

I am beyond recriminations

Curtains are shut

The furniture is gone

I'm transforming, I'm vibrating

I'm glowing, I'm flying

Look at me now

I'm flying

Look at me now

Key Grammar Structures

• On Jubilee street there **was** a girl named Bee

  ➔ Past Simple: 'was'

  ➔ Uses the past simple tense 'was' to describe a past state or existence.

• She **had** a history but she **had** no past

  ➔ Past Simple: 'had'

  ➔ Uses 'had' (past simple) to describe possession or a state in the past.

• And I'm too scared, I'm too scared **to even walk on past**

  ➔ Infinitive of purpose: 'to walk'

  ➔ The infinitive 'to walk' expresses purpose: the reason why the speaker is scared.

• She **used to say** all those good people down on Jubilee Street

  ➔ Used to + Verb: Habitual past action

  ➔ 'Used to say' describes a repeated action or state in the past.

• They **ought to practice** what they preach

  ➔ Modal verb 'ought to': Advice or suggestion

  ➔ 'Ought to' conveys a sense of moral obligation or recommendation.

• Here they **are** to practice just what they preach

  ➔ Present simple (to be) - action in general

  ➔ 'are' (to be) is in present simple, describing a general truth or a habitual action.

• And here **I come** up the hill

  ➔ Present simple: (I come) - actions happening now

  ➔ Present simple 'I come' used to express an action happening now (present, even though it sounds like a habitual action).

• Well a girl's gotta **make ends meet** even down Jubilee Street

  ➔ Idiom: 'make ends meet'

  ➔ The idiom 'make ends meet' means to have enough money to live on.

• **I am** alone now

  ➔ Present Simple (to be)

  ➔ Present simple to describe a current state (being alone).

• I **am** beyond recriminations

  ➔ Present Simple (to be)

  ➔ Used to describe a current state or condition (being beyond recriminations).