Losers
Lyrics:
[English]
Last callers, last chancers
9-to-5ers, truckers, dancers
Couple chucks, urns, and chandlers
With a whole lot of prayers unanswered
Whiskey by noon and beer before that
Southbound train on a hellbound track
Might just put two middle fingers up
And throw one back for all the people who ain't never felt at home
Just spinnin' on a rock and gettin' stoned
Yeah, this one's for the losers
The outcasts, and the sinners
The ain't-never-been-no-winners
Let's hear it for the losers
Ain't got nowhere to fit in
There's a place you can always get in, oh
You might be lonely, but you're never alone
You're right here where you're supposed to be
Right here with all the losers
The ones like you and the ones like me
My therapist is a good bartender
Heartbreakers and two month benders
Bad times that we can't forget
Good times that we won't remember
We raise 'em up when we hear a sad song
Love the cry of the steel guitar
No way to change the way we are
This one's for the losers
The outcasts, and the sinners
The ain't-never-been-no-winners
Let's hear it for the losers
Ain't got nowhere to fit in
There's a place you can always get in (oh, oh)
You might be lonely, but you're never alone
You're right here where you're supposed to be
Right here with all the losers
The ones like you and the ones like me
If you're livin' like you got nothin' to lose
There's a spot for you beside me on this stool
Come kick it with the losers (oh)
The outcasts, and the sinners
The ain't-never-been-no-winners (never-been-no-winners)
Let's hear it for the losers (hear it for the losers)
Ain't got nowhere to fit in
There's a place you can always get in (yeah, oh)
You might be lonely, but you're never alone
You're right here where you're supposed to be
Right here with all the losers
The ones like you and the ones like me (ooh, ooh)
...
Vocabulary in this song:
Vocabulary | Meanings |
---|---|
losers /ˈluːzərz/ B1 |
|
sinners /ˈsɪnərz/ B2 |
|
outcasts /ˈaʊtkæsts/ C1 |
|
home /hoʊm/ A1 |
|
rock /rɒk/ A1 |
|
stoned /stoʊnd/ B2 |
|
prayers /preərz/ B1 |
|
whiskey /ˈwɪski/ A2 |
|
train /treɪn/ A1 |
|
hellbound /ˈhelbaʊnd/ C1 |
|
therapist /ˈθerəpɪst/ B2 |
|
bartender /ˈbɑːrtendər/ B1 |
|
heartbreakers /ˈhɑːrtbreɪkərz/ B2 |
|
sad /sæd/ A1 |
|
change /tʃeɪndʒ/ A1 |
|
Grammar:
-
Whiskey by noon and beer before that
➔ Ellipsis
➔ The sentence uses ellipsis to omit implied words. It means 'Whiskey by noon and beer *before* noon.' Ellipsis makes the sentence more concise and informal, common in spoken language and song lyrics. It assumes the listener understands the missing context.
-
Southbound train on a hellbound track
➔ Compound Adjectives
➔ The phrases “southbound” and “hellbound” are compound adjectives, formed by combining “south”/“hell” and “bound.” “Southbound” describes the train's direction. “Hellbound” describes the track’s destination, implying a negative or destructive path. This creates vivid imagery.
-
Ain't got nowhere to fit in
➔ Double Negative (Non-Standard)
➔ “Ain’t got nowhere” is a double negative. In standard English, it should be “doesn’t have anywhere” or “has nowhere.” The use of double negatives is common in informal speech and some dialects to emphasize the negative sentiment. Here, it strongly emphasizes feeling of not belonging.
-
You might be lonely, but you're never alone
➔ Contrastive Conjunction
➔ The conjunction “but” shows a contrast. It connects two ideas that seem contradictory: feeling lonely vs. never being alone. It highlights the idea that despite feeling isolated, one is not truly alone, possibly because of shared experiences or community.
-
Right here where you're supposed to be
➔ Relative Clause with an implied antecedent.
➔ The phrase uses 'where' as a relative pronoun. The antecedent of 'where' is implied - it refers to a place, specifically the place where the listener belongs. It suggests a sense of acceptance and belonging, even if the listener feels like they don't fit in elsewhere.
-
My therapist is a good bartender
➔ Metaphor/Juxtaposition
➔ This line is a metaphor. It implies that the speaker finds solace and understanding in a bartender, similar to what one would expect from a therapist. It juxtaposes two seemingly unrelated figures to create a humorous and relatable image.
-
Love the cry of the steel guitar
➔ Transitive Verb with a direct object.
➔ “Love” is a transitive verb because it takes a direct object: “the cry of the steel guitar.” The sentence shows the speaker's affection for the sound of the steel guitar.
-
If you're livin' like you got nothin' to lose
➔ Conditional Clause (Type 2 - Hypothetical)
➔ This is a type 2 conditional, expressing a hypothetical situation. “If you’re livin’ like you got nothin’ to lose” describes an unreal or unlikely scenario. This implies a sense of freedom and recklessness.