Little Dark Age – English Lyrics

• By: MGMT

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a linguistic and cultural journey with MGMT's "Little Dark Age." This synth-pop anthem, with its gothic undertones, offers a unique window into contemporary anxieties and political commentary. By exploring the lyrics, you'll not only enhance your English vocabulary with evocative and metaphorical language but also gain insight into the socio-political climate of the late 2010s. The song's layered meanings, touching on personal struggles and societal critiques, make it a rich text for discussion and deeper understanding of modern English expression.

[English]

Breathing in the dark, lying on its side

...

The ruins of the day painted with a scar

And the more I straighten out, the less it wants to try

...

The feelings start to rot, one wink at a time

...

Oh-oh, forgiving who you are, for what you stand to gain

Just know that if you hide, it doesn't go away

When you get out of bed, don't end up stranded

Horrified with each stone on the stage, my little dark age

...

Picking through the cards, knowing what's nearby

...

The carvings on the face say they find it hard

...

And the engine's failed again, all limits of disguise

The humor's not the same, coming from denial

...

Oh-oh, I grieve in stereo, the stereo sounds strange

I know that if you hide, it doesn't go away

If you get out of bed and find me standing all alone

Open-eyed, burn the page, my little dark age

...

I grieve in stereo, the stereo sounds strange

You know that if it hides, it doesn't go away

If I get out of bed, you'll see me standing all alone

Horrified on the stage, my little dark age

...

Giddy with delight, seeing what's to come

...

The image of the dead, dead ends in my mind

Policemen swear to God, love seeping from their guns

I know my friends and I would probably turn and run

If you get out of bed, come find us heading for the bridge

Bring a stone, all the rage, my little dark age

I grieve in stereo, the stereo sounds strange

I know that if you hide, it doesn't go away

If you get out of bed and find me standing all alone

Open-eyed, burn the page, my little dark age

...

All alone, open-eyed, burn the page, my little dark age

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
breath /ˈbrɛθ/ B1	noun - the air taken into or expelled from the lungs
dark /dɑrk/ A2	adjective - having little or no light
gain /ɡeɪn/ B1	verb - to obtain or increase something
stand /stænd/ A2	verb - to be in an upright position
stone /stoʊn/ A2	noun - a hard solid nonmetallic mineral matter
age /eɪdʒ/ A1	noun - the length of time that a person has lived or a thing has existed
grieve /ɡriːv/ B2	verb - to feel deep sorrow or distress
delight /dɪˈlaɪt/ B2	noun - a feeling of great pleasure
image /ˈɪmɪdʒ/ A2	noun - a representation of the external form of a person or thing
policeman /ˈpoʊlɪsˌmæn/ B1	noun - a member of a police force
rage /reɪdʒ/ B2	noun - violent, uncontrollable anger
stranded /ˈstrændɪd/ B2	adjective - left without the means to move from somewhere
failed /feɪld/ B1	verb - to be unsuccessful in achieving something
horrified /ˈhɔːrɪfaɪd/ B2	adjective - filled with horror; shocked

Key Grammar Structures

• The feelings start to rot, one wink at a time

  ➔ Use of 'to' + base verb to indicate purpose or action direction

  ➔ 'to' + verb indicates purpose or the direction of an action

• Horrified with each stone on the stage, my little dark age

  ➔ Use of preposition 'with' to show the instrument or way in which something is experienced

  ➔ 'with' indicates the instrument, manner, or means by which something is done or experienced

• Open-eyed, burn the page, my little dark age

  ➔ Use of the imperative mood to give commands or instructions

  ➔ The imperative mood is used to give direct commands, requests, or instructions

• I know that if it hides, it doesn't go away

  ➔ Use of the first conditional structure ('if' + present simple, + 'will'/'does not') to express a possible future condition

  ➔ 'if' clause in present simple + main clause with 'will' or negative 'will not' expresses a real or possible future condition

• Bring a stone, all the rage, my little dark age

  ➔ Imperative sentence structure used for commands or suggestions

  ➔ Imperative sentences give direct commands, requests, or suggestions to the listener

• The ruins of the day painted with a scar

  ➔ Use of passive voice to emphasize the action being received by the subject

  ➔ Passive voice shifts the focus from the doer of the action to the receiver of the action

• Policemen swear to God, love seeping from their guns

  ➔ Use of the present continuous tense 'seeping' to describe ongoing action

  ➔ 'Seeping' is the present participle used to describe the continuous flow or leakage of love