Neighborhood #2 (Laika) – English Lyrics

• By: Arcade Fire

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the raw emotional landscape of Arcade Fire's "Neighborhood #2 (Laika)," a compelling indie rock track that invites you to explore its rich narrative and unique sound. Through its evocative lyrics, you can uncover themes of ambition, sacrifice, and the often-harsh realities of growing up. Its dynamic instrumentation, featuring accordions and urgent strings, makes it a powerful and engaging way to experience the storytelling power of music.

[English]

Alexander, our older brother

Set out for a great adventure

He tore our images out of his pictures

He scratched our names out of all his letters

Our mother should have just named you Laika

Come on Alex, you can do it

Come on Alex, there's nothing to it

If you want something, don't ask for nothing

If you want nothing, don't ask for something

Our mother should have just named you Laika

It's for your own good

It's for the neighborhood

The neighborhood

Our older brother bit by a Vampire!

For a year we caught his tears in a cup

And now we're gonna make him drink it

Come on Alex, don't die or dry up!

Our mother should have just named you Laika

It's for your own good

It's for the neighborhood!

The neighborhood

When daddy comes home you always start a fight

So the neighbors can dance in the police disco lights

The police disco lights

Now the neighbors can dance

Now the neighbors can dance

Now the neighbors can dance

Now the neighbors can dance

Look at them dance

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
brother /ˈbrʌðər/ A1	noun - a male sibling
adventure /ədˈvɛntʃər/ A2	noun - an exciting or unusual experience
tore /tɔːr/ A2	verb - past tense of tear; to pull apart forcefully
images /ˈɪmɪdʒɪz/ A2	noun - visible impressions obtained by a camera or other device
scratched /skrætʃt/ A2	verb - past tense of scratch; to scrape or mark a surface
names /neɪmz/ A1	noun - a word or phrase by which someone or something is known
letters /ˈlɛtərz/ A1	noun - a message written or printed on paper
mother /ˈmʌðər/ A1	noun - a female parent
named /neɪmd/ A2	verb - past tense of name; to give a title or label
Laika /ˈlaɪkə/ B1	noun - a Soviet space dog; also a proper noun
neighborhood /ˈneɪbərˌhʊd/ A2	noun - a district or area, especially with regard to its inhabitants
bit /bɪt/ A1	verb - past tense of bite; to use the teeth to cut into something
Vampire /ˈvæmpaɪr/ B1	noun - a mythical being that feeds on blood
caught /kɔːt/ A2	verb - past tense of catch; to capture or seize
drink /drɪŋk/ A1	verb - to take liquid into the mouth and swallow
dance /dæns/ A1	verb - to move rhythmically to music
disco /ˈdɪskoʊ/ B1	noun - a nightclub for dancing to recorded music
lights /laɪts/ A1	noun - a source of illumination

Key Grammar Structures

• Come on Alex, you can do it

  ➔ Modal verb + bare infinitive (ability / permission)

  ➔ The word "can" shows ability: "you **can** do it".

• If you want something, don't ask for nothing

  ➔ Zero conditional (if + present simple, imperative)

  ➔ "If" introduces a general truth; "don't" is the negative imperative.

• If you want nothing, don't ask for something

  ➔ Zero conditional with opposite meaning; inversion of nouns

  ➔ "nothing" and "something" are swapped to show contrast; "don't" remains the negative imperative.

• Our mother should have just named you Laika

  ➔ Modal perfect (should have + past participle) for past regret/advice

  ➔ "should have" + "named" shows a suggestion that was not fulfilled in the past.

• It's for your own good

  ➔ Contraction + prepositional phrase (for + noun) expressing purpose

  ➔ "It's" = "it is"; "for your own good" explains the reason or benefit.

• Our older brother bit by a Vampire!

  ➔ Past participle used as adjective (bit) in a reduced passive clause

  ➔ "bit" describes the state of the brother, implying "was bitten".

• For a year we caught our tears in a cup

  ➔ Simple past with time expression (for + duration) indicating completed action

  ➔ "For a year" sets the time frame; "caught" is the past simple verb.

• Now the neighbors can dance

  ➔ Modal verb "can" + bare infinitive for ability/possibility in present

  ➔ "can" shows that dancing is possible now: "neighbors **can** dance".

• When daddy comes home you always start a fight

  ➔ Adverbial clause of time (when + present simple) + adverb of frequency (always)

  ➔ "When" introduces the time; "always" (highlighted) shows habitual action.

• So the neighbors can dance in the police disco lights

  ➔ "So" as a result clause connector; modal "can" + infinitive; prepositional phrase "in the police disco lights"

  ➔ "So" shows cause‑effect; "can dance" expresses possibility; "in the police disco lights" tells where.