Low – English Lyrics

• By: R.E.M.
• Album: Out Of Time

Lyrics & Translation

Discover a different side of English expression with R.E.M.'s "Low." This song is a masterclass in conveying complex emotions through subtle language and atmospheric sound. By exploring its lyrics, you can learn how to express nuanced feelings of melancholy and introspection, making it a special and rewarding song for language learners who appreciate lyrical depth.

[English]

Dusk is dawn is day

Where did it go

I've been laughing

Fast and slow

Moving in a still frame

Howling at the moon

Morning found me laughing

Up and down, down

Low, low, low

Night suits me fine

And morning suits me fine

I've been so happy, happy

Way up high, high

In between

Down below

Low, low, low

Low, low, low

I skipped the part about love

It seems so silly and low

Low, low, low

Low, low, low

I said the morning

It isn't your time

Barefoot naked

I can see your lines

It doesn't bother me

If you are right

Your grass is grassy wet

Your light white is bright

Light white, light

I skipped the part about love

It seems so shallow and low

Low, low, low

Low, low, low

You and me

We know about time

We know how things go

They come and go

They live and grow

They pass and go

And glow and glow

Up and down

High and low

Low, low, low

Low, low, low

I skipped the part about love

It seems so silly and low

...

I skipped the part about love

...

It seems so shallow and low

...

Low, low, low

Low, low, low

I like your hands

All full of glory

All full of glory

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
dusk /dʌsk/ B2	noun - the darker stage of twilight
dawn /dɔːn/ B1	noun - first appearance of light in the morning
howling /ˈhaʊlɪŋ/ B1	verb - making a loud, wailing cry
shallow /ˈʃæloʊ/ B2	adjective - lacking depth; superficial
glory /ˈɡlɔːri/ C1	noun - magnificence or great honor
glow /ɡloʊ/ B1	verb - emit steady light without flame noun - a steady radiance of light
barefoot /ˈberfʊt/ B1	adjective - without shoes or socks
grassy /ˈɡræsi/ B2	adjective - covered with or resembling grass
silly /ˈsɪli/ A2	adjective - lacking common sense
bright /braɪt/ A2	adjective - emitting much light

Key Grammar Structures

• I've been laughing

  ➔ Present Perfect Continuous

  ➔ The structure "I've been" + verb-ing shows an action that started in the past and continues to the present, emphasizing duration and temporary nature.

• Up and down, down

  ➔ Parallel Structure

  ➔ Using similar grammatical forms like "up and down" creates rhythm and emphasis. The repetition of "down" adds poetic effect and reinforces the meaning.

• It seems so silly and low

  ➔ Intensifier 'so' with adjectives

  ➔ The word "so" is used as an intensifier before adjectives "silly" and "low" to add emphasis and express a higher degree of the quality.

• Moving in a still frame

  ➔ Gerund Phrase

  ➔ "Moving" is a gerund (verb+ing) functioning as a noun phrase. It describes an ongoing action without specifying who is performing it.

• I skipped the part about love

  ➔ Simple Past with Volitional Meaning

  ➔ While grammatically simple past, "I skipped" implies a conscious choice or decision rather than just reporting a past action. It shows the speaker's volition.

• Your grass is grassy wet

  ➔ Poetic Adjective Usage

  ➔ The unusual combination "grassy wet" uses an adjective as if it were an adverb, modifying another adjective. This poetic device creates vivid imagery and breaks normal grammar rules.

• They come and go

  ➔ Simple Present for General Truths

  ➔ The simple present tense "come and go" expresses a general truth or habitual action, suggesting the cyclical nature of things in life rather than a specific moment.

• I like your hands

  ➔ Simple Present for States

  ➔ The simple present tense "like" expresses a state or feeling rather than an action. It describes the speaker's current emotional state or preference.