Livin' On A Prayer – English Lyrics

• By: Bon Jovi
• Album: 2020

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the language of perseverance and hope with Bon Jovi's iconic hit, "Livin' on a Prayer." This song, rich with imagery of working-class struggles and unwavering love, offers a powerful lesson in sticking together through tough times. Discover how simple yet evocative lyrics can create a timeless anthem that resonates across generations.

[English]

♪♪♪

♪ ONCE UPON A TIME NOT SO LONG AGO ♪

♪♪♪

♪ TOMMY USED TO WORK ON THE DOCKS ♪

♪ UNION'S BEEN ON STRIKE ♪

♪ HE'S DOWN ON HIS LUCK, IT'S TOUGH ♪

♪ SO TOUGH ♪

♪♪♪

♪ GINA WORKS THE DINER ALL DAY ♪

♪ WORKING FOR HER MAN ♪

♪ SHE BRINGS HOME HER PAY FOR LOVE ♪

♪ OOH, FOR LOVE ♪

♪ SHE SAYS, WE'VE GOTTA HOLD ON TO WHAT WE'VE GOT ♪

♪ IT DOESN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE IF WE MAKE IT OR NOT ♪

♪ WE'VE GOT EACH OTHER AND THAT'S A LOT ♪

♪ FOR LOVE, WE'LL GIVE IT A SHOT ♪

♪ OH, WE'RE HALF-WAY THERE ♪

♪ OH, LIVIN' ON A PRAYER ♪

♪ TAKE MY HAND, WE'LL MAKE IT I SWEAR ♪

♪ OH, LIVIN' ON A PRAYER ♪

♪♪♪

♪ TOMMY'S GOT HIS SIX STRING IN HOCK ♪

♪ NOW HE'S HOLDING IN ♪

♪ WHAT HE USED TO MAKE IT TALK SO TOUGH ♪

♪ OOH, IT'S TOUGH ♪

♪♪♪

♪ GINA DREAMS OF RUNNING AWAY ♪

♪ SHE CRIES IN THE NIGHT, TOMMY WHISPERS ♪

♪ BABY, IT'S OKAY ♪

♪ SOMEDAY ♪

♪ WE'VE GOTTA HOLD ON TO WHAT WE'VE GOT ♪

♪ IT DOESN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE IF WE MAKE IT OR NOT ♪

♪ WE'VE GOT EACH OTHER AND THAT'S A LOT ♪

♪ FOR LOVE, WE'LL GIVE IT A SHOT ♪

♪ OH, WE'RE HALF-WAY THERE ♪

♪ OH, LIVIN' ON A PRAYER ♪

♪ TAKE MY HAND AND WE'LL MAKE IT I SWEAR ♪

♪ OH, LIVIN' ON A PRAYER ♪

♪ LIVIN' ON A PRAYER ♪

♪♪♪

♪ OOH ♪

♪ WE'VE GOTTA HOLD ON READY OR NOT ♪

♪ YOU LIVE FOR THE FIGHT WHEN THAT'S ALL THAT YOU'VE GOT ♪

♪ WHOA, WE'RE HALF-WAY THERE ♪

♪ WHOA, LIVIN' ON A PRAYER ♪

♪ TAKE MY HAND AND WE'LL MAKE IT, I SWEAR ♪

♪ WHOA, LIVIN' ON A PRAYER ♪

♪ WHOA, WE'RE HALF-WAY THERE ♪

♪ WHOA, LIVIN' ON A PRAYER ♪

♪ TAKE MY HAND AND WE'LL MAKE IT, I SWEAR ♪

♪ WHOA, LIVIN' ON A PRAYER ♪

♪ WHOA, WE'RE HALF-WAY THERE ♪

♪ WHOA, LIVIN' ON A PRAYER ♪

♪ TAKE MY HAND AND WE'LL MAKE IT, I SWEAR ♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
work /wɜːrk/ A1	verb - to perform an activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result. noun - activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result.
strike /straɪk/ B2	noun - a refusal to work organized by a body of employees as a form of protest, typically in order to gain a concession or concessions from their employer. verb - to hit or attack someone or something forcefully.
luck /lʌk/ A2	noun - success or failure apparently brought by chance rather than through one's own actions.
tough /tʌf/ B1	adjective - difficult; needing effort and determination.
diner /ˈdaɪnər/ B1	noun - a small, usually inexpensive restaurant.
home /hoʊm/ A1	noun - the place where one lives permanently, especially as a member of a family or household.
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - an intense feeling of affection.
hold /hoʊld/ A2	verb - grasp, carry, or support (something) with one's hands.
shot /ʃɑːt/ B1	noun - an attempt to do or achieve something.
hand /hænd/ A1	noun - the end part of a person's arm beyond the wrist, including the fingers and thumb.
swear /swer/ B1	verb - make a solemn statement or promise undertaking to do something or affirming that something is the case.
string /strɪŋ/ B1	noun - material consisting of threads of cotton, hemp, or other material twisted together to form a thin length.
dreams /driːmz/ A2	noun - a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep. verb - to contemplate the possibility of doing something or that something might be the case
whispers /ˈwɪspər/ B2	verb - speak very softly using one's breath rather than one's throat, especially for secrecy. noun - a soft, muffled sound, especially one made by someone speaking quietly.
fight /faɪt/ A2	verb - take part in a violent struggle involving the exchange of physical blows or the use of weapons. noun - a violent confrontation or struggle.

Key Grammar Structures

• TOMMY USED TO WORK ON THE DOCKS

  ➔ Used to + infinitive

  ➔ Expresses a past habit or state that is no longer true. "Used to work" indicates Tommy doesn't work on the docks anymore.

• UNION'S BEEN ON STRIKE

  ➔ Present Perfect Continuous (been + -ing implied)

  ➔ Implies the strike started in the past and is still ongoing. The "been" signifies an action that has continued up to the present. Although the -ing form is not explicitly present, the context implies a continuous action.

• SHE SAYS, WE'VE GOTTA HOLD ON TO WHAT WE'VE GOT

  ➔ "Gotta" (Got to) - Informal Contraction

  ➔ "Gotta" is an informal contraction of "got to", which is a less formal way of saying "have to" or "must". It expresses necessity or obligation. "What we've got" is a noun clause acting as the object of the preposition "to".

• IT DOESN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE IF WE MAKE IT OR NOT

  ➔ Conditional Clause with 'if'

  ➔ This sentence contains a conditional clause using "if". The clause 'if we make it or not' expresses a condition, and the main clause 'It doesn't make a difference' expresses the consequence regardless of the condition.

• TAKE MY HAND, WE'LL MAKE IT I SWEAR

  ➔ Future Simple with "will" (contracted to "'ll") and Interjection

  ➔ "We'll make it" uses the future simple tense to express a promise. "I swear" is an interjection used to emphasize the promise and add sincerity.

• TOMMY'S GOT HIS SIX STRING IN HOCK

  ➔ "Got" as an auxiliary verb expressing possession or obligation (informal)

  ➔ "Tommy's got" is an informal way of saying "Tommy has got" or "Tommy has". In this context, it indicates possession. The "six string" refers to his guitar. "In hock" means pawned or pledged as security for a loan.

• NOW HE'S HOLDING IN WHAT HE USED TO MAKE IT TALK SO TOUGH

  ➔ Relative Clause and "Used to"

  ➔ "What he used to make it talk so tough" is a relative clause acting as the object of "holding in". "Used to" expresses a past habit or capability that Tommy no longer possesses.

• GINA DREAMS OF RUNNING AWAY

  ➔ Gerund as object of Preposition

  ➔ "Running" is a gerund (verb acting as a noun) and it is the object of the preposition "of".