Let Me Out – English Lyrics

• By: Gorillaz, Pusha T, Mavis Staples

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the compelling narrative of "Let Me Out" by Gorillaz, featuring Pusha T and Mavis Staples. This track dives deep into themes of social injustice and the yearning for freedom, offering a unique blend of musical styles and thought-provoking lyrics that reflect on a world on the brink. Discover how the artists channel powerful emotions into a call for change, making it an essential listen for those keen on understanding the intersection of music and social commentary.

[English]

Mama Mavis, oh

Mama, they tried my patience

Obama is gone, who is left to save us?

So together we mourn, I'm praying for my neighbors

They say the devil's at work and Trump is calling favors

You say I'm dangerous, I speak for the nameless

I fly with the vultures, I be with them bangers

If change don't come, then the change won't come

If the bands make 'em dance, then the rain gon' come

(Woo!)

Am I passin' into the light?

(Am I looking into mercy's eyes?)

Look into your eyes

All the world is out of your hands

(Then ascending into the dark, let me out)

You got to die a little if you wanna live

Change come to pass

Change come to pass

You'd best be ready for it

Something I've begun to fear is about to change its form

...

Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's a shift in time

But I won't get tired at all

Let me out, let me out

Let me out, let me out

Look into my eyes, mama, tell me what you see

Tell me there's a chance for me to make it off the streets

Tell me that I won't die at the hands of the police

Promise me I won't outlive my nephew and my niece

Promise me my pastor isn't lyin' as he preach

Tell me that they'll listen if it's lessons that I teach

Tell me there's a heaven in the sky where there is peace

But until then, I keep my piece in arm's reach

(Yeah!)

Am I passin' into the light?

(Am I looking into mercy's eyes?)

All the world is out of your hands

(Then ascending into the dark) Another night

You got to die a little if you wanna live

Change coming

You'd best be ready for it

Something I've begun to fear is about to change its form

Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's a shift in times

But I won't get tired at all

Am I passin' into the light?

(Am I looking into mercy's eyes?)

All the world is out of your hands

(Then ascending into the dark) Another night

You got to die a little if you wanna live

Change is coming

You'd best be ready

Be ready, ready for it

Be ready, be ready

Oooh, oooh oooh

...

(Let me out)

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
change /tʃeɪndʒ/ A2	noun - the act or instance of making or becoming different verb - to become different
eyes /aɪz/ A1	noun - organs of sight
light /laɪt/ A2	noun - the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible. adjective - giving off light; bright
world /wɜːld/ A1	noun - the earth and all the people and things on it
hands /hændz/ A1	noun - the end part of the arm beyond the wrist
die /daɪ/ A2	verb - to stop living
fear /fɪər/ A2	noun - an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat. verb - be afraid of (someone or something)
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole.
hands /hændz/ A1	noun - the end part of the arm beyond the wrist
promise /ˈprɒmɪs/ B1	verb - assure that one will do or provide something noun - a declaration assuring that one will do or provide something
streets /striːts/ A1	noun - a public road in a city or town, typically with houses and buildings on one or both sides.
heaven /ˈhevən/ B1	noun - the place regarded in various religions as the abode of God (or the gods) and the angels, and of the good after death.
night /naɪt/ A1	noun - the period of darkness in each 24 hours
vultures /ˈvʌltʃərz/ C1	noun - a bird of prey that feeds on carrion.
danger /ˈdeɪndʒər/ B1	noun - the possibility of suffering harm or injury.
lessons /ˈlesənz/ A2	noun - a period of time in which someone is taught something
police /pəˈliːs/ A1	noun - the civil force of a state, responsible for the prevention and detection of crime and the maintenance of public order.

Key Grammar Structures

• Mama, they tried my patience

  ➔ Past Perfect Tense

  ➔ The phrase 'they tried' uses the Past Perfect Tense to indicate an action completed before another past action (implied by the context of the song).

• If change don't come, then the change won't come

  ➔ Conditional Sentence (Type 1)

  ➔ This is a Type 1 Conditional Sentence, expressing a possible situation and its probable result. 'If change don't come' is the condition, and 'then the change won't come' is the result.

• Am I passin' into the light?

  ➔ Present Continuous Tense with Contraction

  ➔ The phrase 'passin' into' is a contraction of 'passing into,' using the Present Continuous Tense to describe an action happening now. It's a common informal form in spoken English.

• You got to die a little if you wanna live

  ➔ Modal Verb (Informal)

  ➔ 'Got to' is an informal way of expressing necessity, similar to 'have to.' It's a common colloquialism in spoken English.

• Something I've begun to fear is about to change its form

  ➔ Present Perfect Tense

  ➔ 'I've begun' uses the Present Perfect Tense to describe an action that started in the past and continues or is relevant to the present.

• But I won't get tired at all

  ➔ Future with 'will' (Negative Form)

  ➔ The phrase 'won't get tired' uses 'will' in its negative form to express a future action that will not happen.

• Look into my eyes, mama, tell me what you see

  ➔ Imperative Mood

  ➔ 'Look' and 'tell' are in the Imperative Mood, used to give commands or make requests directly.

• Tell me there's a chance for me to make it off the streets

  ➔ Indirect Speech

  ➔ This sentence uses Indirect Speech to report what the speaker wants to be told, without quoting the exact words.