Many Rivers To Cross

• By: Jimmy Cliff
• Album: Wonderful World, Beautiful People

Lyrics:

Vocabulary in this song:

Vocabulary	Meanings
rivers /ˈrɪvərz/ A1	noun - large natural stream of water flowing in a channel to the sea, a lake, or another such stream
cross /krɒs/ A2	verb - to go from one side of something to the other noun - a mark or shape consisting of two lines that cross each other
way /weɪ/ A1	noun - a road, track, path, or street for travelling along
wandering /ˈwɒndərɪŋ/ B1	verb - moving from place to place without a fixed plan or purpose
lost /lɒst/ A2	adjective - unable to find one's way; not knowing one's whereabouts
travel /ˈtrævl/ A2	verb - make a journey, typically of some length or abroad
cliffs /klɪfs/ B1	noun - a steep rock face, especially at the edge of the sea
white /waɪt/ A1	adjective - of the colour of milk or fresh snow, due to the reflection of all wavelengths of visible light; the opposite of black.
will /wɪl/ B1	noun - the faculty by which a person decides on and initiates action
keeps /kiːps/ A2	verb - continue or cause to continue in a specified condition, position, course, etc.
alive /əˈlaɪv/ A2	adjective - living; not dead
years /jɪərz/ A1	noun - the time taken by the earth to make one revolution round the sun
survive /səˈvaɪv/ B1	verb - continue to live or exist, especially in spite of danger or hardship
pride /praɪd/ B2	noun - a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's own achievements, the achievements of one's close associates, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired
loneliness /ˈləʊnlinəs/ B2	noun - sadness because one has no friends or company.
leave /liːv/ A1	verb - to go away from
begin /bɪˈɡɪn/ A1	verb - to start
crime /kraɪm/ B1	noun - an action or omission which constitutes an offence and is punishable by law
dreadful /ˈdredfl/ B2	adjective - extremely bad or serious

Grammar:

• Many rivers to cross

  ➔ Infinitive of purpose

  ➔ The phrase "to cross" is an infinitive used to express the purpose of the "many rivers". It indicates what one needs to do with the rivers.

• But I can't seem to find my way over

  ➔ "Seem to" structure

  ➔ The phrase "can't seem to" expresses uncertainty or difficulty in doing something. It implies that the speaker is trying to find their way, but is having trouble.

• Wandering, I am lost

  ➔ Participle Clause

  ➔ "Wandering" acts as a participle, modifying the subject "I". It is equivalent to saying "Because I am wandering, I am lost."

• And it's only my will that keeps me alive

  ➔ Cleft sentence with 'that'

  ➔ This is a cleft sentence, emphasizing "my will". Instead of saying "My will keeps me alive", the sentence is restructured to put emphasis on "my will" as the only thing keeping him alive.

• I've been licked, washed up for years

  ➔ Past Participle as Adjective/Passive Voice

  ➔ "Licked" and "washed up" are past participles acting as adjectives to describe the speaker's state. "I've been licked" is also a passive construction implying he's been defeated or overcome.

• It's such a drag to be on your own

  ➔ Exclamatory 'such a' structure and infinitive phrase as subject

  ➔ "It's such a drag" is an exclamatory phrase showing strong negative feeling. "To be on your own" is an infinitive phrase acting as the subject of the sentence.

• But just where to begin? I'm playing for time

  ➔ Embedded question/Indirect question

  ➔ "But just where to begin?" is an embedded question. It is like saying "I don't know where to begin", but phrased as a direct question to emphasize the speaker's uncertainty.

• Thinking of committing some dreadful crime

  ➔ Gerund phrase

  ➔ "Thinking of committing some dreadful crime" is a gerund phrase, with "thinking" as the gerund. The whole phrase acts as a noun, describing what the speaker is considering.