Mother Nature – English Lyrics

• By: MGMT
• Album: Loss Of Life

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the evocative world of MGMT's 'Mother Nature,' a song that beautifully blends introspective lyrics with a rich, layered musical landscape. Learning English through this track offers a unique opportunity to explore nuanced expressions of self-discovery, change, and human connection, making complex themes accessible through its comforting psychedelic folk-pop sound.

[English]

I put the groceries down on the front lawn

And think maybe the children just want recognition

I wrote the fairy tale on a midnight drive

Wanting to know if I'm more than alive

I torched the fields again and killed an honest man

Now I understand Mother Nature

Watch me run in head-first into the thorns

It's like the lights are off, but somebody's home

Unwrap that tourniquet 'round the sun

Turn those subtle reds into neon

You'll see the difference when it's done

But I understand your hesitation

Come take a walk with me down billionaire's row

Trying to keep our balance over zero

We'll write the fairy tale for the rest of our lives

Throwing the trash away one more time

Holding on to love like a stone

Melting down today for tomorrow

Covenant of the heart, you know it's turbulent from the start

And I understand it's not your nature

But you need a friend

To take you home

You've gotta begin again

To open castle gates and let me go inside

And taste the bitter tea that won't let you hide

Then we can take away as much as we can steal

Break all the precious bones before the guards appear

Before the fantasy is cast into the fire

And strike the temple bell to resonate the-

Covenant of the heart, you know what comes right after the dark

But I understand your hesitation

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
groceries /ˈɡroʊsəriːz/ A2	noun - food and other items bought at a store
children /ˈtʃɪldrən/ A1	noun - young human beings below the age of puberty
recognition /ˌrekəɡˈnɪʃən/ C1	noun - the act of identifying or acknowledging something or someone
fairy /ˈfeəri/ A2	noun - a small, magical creature, often depicted with wings
midnight /ˈmɪdnaɪt/ B1	noun - 12 a.m.; the middle of the night adjective - occurring at or relating to midnight
torched /tɔːrʧt/ B2	verb - to set fire to something adjective - burned or set on fire
fields /fiːldz/ A2	noun - open land used for agriculture or as a natural area
honest /ˈɒnɪst/ B1	adjective - truthful and trustworthy; not lying or cheating
nature /ˈneɪʧər/ A2	noun - the physical world and its phenomena; the inherent qualities of something
thorns /θɔːrnz/ B2	noun - sharp, pointed projections on a plant, often causing pain if touched
tourniquet /ˈtɜːrnɪkɛt/ C1	noun - a device used to apply pressure to a limb to restrict blood flow, often in emergencies
neon /ˈniːɒn/ C1	noun - a chemical element (symbol Ne) used in lighting, especially bright signs adjective - relating to neon light; bright and vivid
hesitation /ˌhezɪˈteɪʃən/ C1	noun - the act of pausing before doing something because of uncertainty or doubt
billionaire /ˌbɪljəˈnɛər/ C1	noun - a person whose wealth equals at least one billion units of currency
balance /ˈbæl.əns/ B2	noun - a state of equilibrium where opposing forces are equal verb - to keep or bring into a state of equilibrium
covenant /ˈkʌvənənt/ C1	noun - a formal agreement or promise between parties verb - to make a formal agreement or promise (rare usage)
turbulent /ˈtɜːrbjʊlənt/ C1	adjective - characterized by disorder, confusion, or violent movement
castle /ˈkæsəl/ A2	noun - a large fortified building or group of buildings, historically used as a residence for royalty or nobility
bitter /ˈbɪtər/ B1	adjective - having a sharp, pungent taste; also used metaphorically for harsh or resentful feelings
temple /ˈtɛmpəl/ A2	noun - a building dedicated to worship or religious activities

Key Grammar Structures

• I put the groceries down on the front lawn

  ➔ Past Simple Tense

  ➔ The verb 'put' is in the past simple tense, indicating a completed action in the past.

• Wanting to know if I'm more than alive

  ➔ Present Participle as Gerund

  ➔ 'Wanting' is a present participle used as a gerund, functioning as the subject of the sentence.

• Now I understand Mother Nature

  ➔ Present Simple Tense with Adverb

  ➔ The verb 'understand' is in the present simple tense, and 'now' is an adverb indicating current time.

• It's like the lights are off, but somebody's home

  ➔ Present Simple Tense in Comparative Structure

  ➔ The verbs 'are' and 'is' are in the present simple tense, used in a comparative structure with 'like'.

• You'll see the difference when it's done

  ➔ Future Simple Tense with Contraction

  ➔ 'You'll' is a contraction of 'you will', indicating future simple tense.

• But I understand your hesitation

  ➔ Present Simple Tense with Conjunction

  ➔ The verb 'understand' is in the present simple tense, and 'but' is a conjunction connecting two clauses.

• Melting down today for tomorrow

  ➔ Present Continuous Tense for Future Action

  ➔ 'Melting down' is in the present continuous tense, used to describe an action happening now for a future purpose.

• And I understand it's not your nature

  ➔ Present Simple Tense with Contraction

  ➔ 'It's' is a contraction of 'it is', and 'understand' is in the present simple tense.