Lyrics & Translation
Delve into the compelling lyrics of Eminem's "Lose Yourself," a song deeply intertwined with his semi-autobiographical film *8 Mile*. This track is an excellent resource for language learners, offering a masterclass in vivid storytelling and powerful motivational language. You can learn about English slang and expressions related to perseverance, ambition, and overcoming challenges. The song's intensity, raw honesty, and autobiographical elements make it a unique and impactful piece, allowing listeners to connect with its universal message of seizing the moment and defying expectations.
[English]
Look, if you had one shot or one opportunityTo seize everything you ever wanted in one moment
Would you capture it or just let it slip?
Yo
His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy
There's vomit on his sweater already, mom's spaghetti
He's nervous, but on the surface, he looks calm and ready
To drop bombs, but he keeps on forgetting
What he wrote down, the whole crowd goes so loud
He opens his mouth, but the words won't come out
He's chokin', how? Everybody's jokin' now
The clock's run out, time's up, over, blaow
Snap back to reality, ope, there goes gravity
Ope, there goes Rabbit, he choked, he's so mad
But he won't give up that easy, no, he won't have it
He knows his whole back's to these ropes, it don't matter
He's dope, he knows that, but he's broke, he's so stagnant
He knows when he goes back to this mobile home, that's when it's
Back to the lab again, yo, this old rhapsody
Better go capture this moment and hope it don't pass him
You better lose yourself in the music
The moment, you own it, you better never let it go (go)
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime-
You better lose yourself in the music
The moment, you own it, you better never let it go (go)
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime-
You better-
His soul's escaping through this hole that is gaping
This world is mine for the taking, make me king
As we move toward a new world order
A normal life is boring, but superstardom's
Close to post-mortem, it only grows harder
Homie grows hotter, he blows, it's all over
These hoes is all on him, coast-to-coast shows
He's known as the Globetrotter, lonely roads
God only knows he's grown farther from home, he's no father
He goes home and barely knows his own daughter
But hold your nose 'cause here goes the cold water
These hoes don't want him no mo', he's cold product
They moved on to the next schmoe who flows
He nose-dove and sold nada, and so the soap opera
Is told, it unfolds, I suppose it's old, partner
But the beat goes on, da-da-dom, da-dom-
You better lose yourself in the music
The moment, you own it, you better never let it go (go)
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime-
You better lose yourself in the music
The moment, you own it, you better never let it go (go)
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime-
You better-
No more games, I'ma change what you call rage
Tear this motherfuckin' roof off like two dogs caged
I was playin' in the beginning, the mood all changed
I've been chewed up and spit out and booed off stage
But I kept rhymin' and stepped right in the next cypher
Best believe somebody's payin' the Pied Piper
All the pain inside amplified by the
Fact that I can't get by with my nine-to-
Five and I can't provide the right type of life for my family
'Cause, man, these goddamn food stamps don't buy diapers
And there's no movie, there's no Mekhi Phifer, this is my life
And these times are so hard, and it's gettin' even harder
Tryna feed and water my seed, plus teeter-totter
Caught up between bein' a father and a prima donna
Baby-mama drama, screamin' on her, too much for me to wanna
Stay in one spot, another day of monotony's gotten me
To the point I'm like a snail, I've got
To formulate a plot or end up in jail or shot
Success is my only motherfuckin' option, failure's not
Mom, I love you, but this trailer's got to go
I cannot grow old in Salem's Lot
So here I go, it's my shot
Feet, fail me not
This may be the only opportunity that I got
You better lose yourself in the music
The moment, you own it, you better never let it go (go)
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime-
You better lose yourself in the music
The moment, you own it, you better never let it go (go)
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime-
You better-
You can do anything you set your mind to, man
Key Vocabulary
| Vocabulary | Meanings |
|---|---|
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shot /ʃɒt/ A2 |
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capture /ˈkæptʃər/ B2 |
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slip /slɪp/ B1 |
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heavy /ˈhevi/ A2 |
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nervous /ˈnɜːrvəs/ B1 |
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calm /kɑːm/ A2 |
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drop /drɒp/ A2 |
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crowd /kraʊd/ A2 |
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choke /tʃoʊk/ B2 |
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gravity /ˈɡrævəti/ B2 |
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mad /mæd/ A2 |
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dop /doʊp/ B2 |
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stagnant /ˈstæɡnənt/ C1 |
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rhapsody /ˈræpsədi/ C1 |
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soul /soʊl/ B1 |
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gape /ɡeɪp/ B2 |
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bore /bɔːr/ B1 |
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rage /reɪdʒ/ C1 |
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rhyme /raɪm/ B1 |
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fail /feɪl/ A2 |
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Do you remember what “shot” or “capture” means in "Lose Yourself"?
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Key Grammar Structures
-
If you had one shot or one opportunity To seize everything you ever wanted in one moment Would you capture it or just let it slip?
➔ Second Conditional (Hypothetical Situations)
➔ The sentence uses the structure "If + past simple, would + infinitive" to describe a hypothetical situation. "If you *had*", indicates it is not a real situation and the consequence is expressed using "would capture" or "would let" showing a possible result.
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His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy There's vomit on his sweater already, mom's spaghetti
➔ Simple Present Tense (Describing states or conditions)
➔ Uses the simple present tense "are", "is" to describe the current physical state of the character. The simple present conveys a sense of immediacy and reality.
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He's nervous, but on the surface, he looks calm and ready To drop bombs, but he keeps on forgetting What he wrote down, the whole crowd goes so loud
➔ Present Continuous (Describing an ongoing action/state that may change) and Contrasting Conjunctions ('but')
➔ "He *looks* calm" uses the simple present to describe the superficial appearance. The conjunction "but" indicates a contrast between his outward appearance and his internal state of nervousness. "He keeps *on* forgetting" emphasizes the continuous nature of his forgetting.
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Snap back to reality, ope, there goes gravity Ope, there goes Rabbit, he choked, he's so mad
➔ Imperative mood (Snap back to reality)
➔ "Snap back" is an imperative verb, indicating a direct command or instruction to return to a state of awareness.
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But he won't give up that easy, no, he won't have it He knows his whole back's to these ropes, it don't matter He's dope, he knows that, but he's broke, he's so stagnant
➔ Future Simple (Will not give up), Contractions (back's, don't), Adjectives (dope, broke, stagnant)
➔ "won't give up" uses the future simple to indicate a future intention not to surrender. The use of contractions like "back's" and "don't" is common in informal speech and adds to the authenticity of the lyrics. The adjectives describe his state.
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You better lose yourself in the music The moment, you own it, you better never let it go (go)
➔ "Had better" (giving strong advice)
➔ "You better lose yourself" is a shortened form of "You had better lose yourself". "Had better" expresses a strong recommendation or advice; there is often a negative consequence if the advice is not followed. It is similar to saying "You should lose yourself", but with more urgency.
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This opportunity comes once in a lifetime- You better-
➔ Simple Present Tense (General Truth), Ellipsis
➔ "Comes" in the simple present tense expresses a general truth or a fact that is always true. The ellipsis indicates an unfinished thought or a trailing off of speech, creating suspense.
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All the pain inside amplified by the Fact that I can't get by with my nine-to- Five and I can't provide the right type of life for my family
➔ Passive Voice (amplified), Relative Clause (that I can't get by...)
➔ "amplified" is in the passive voice, meaning the pain is acted upon rather than acting. The relative clause "that I can't get by..." provides additional information about the fact amplifying the pain.
