Neighborhood #3 (Power Out) – English Lyrics

• By: Arcade Fire
• Album: Funeral

Lyrics & Translation

Discover Arcade Fire's powerful "Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)," a song born from a real-life Montreal ice storm that explores themes of community, neglect, and resilience. Dive into the song's metaphorical lyrics and driving instrumentals to enhance your English comprehension while understanding the deeper societal messages embedded within this indie rock classic.

[English]

作曲 : Regine Chassagne/Timothy Kingsbury/Howard Bilerman/Josh Deu/Win Butler/Richard Reed Parry

I woke up with the power out

Not really something to shout about

Ice has covered up my parents' hands

Don't have any dreams, don't have any plans

I went out into the night

I went out to find some light

Kids are swinging from the power lines

Nobody's home, so nobody minds

I woke up on the darkest night

Neighbors all were shouting that they found the light (We found the light!)

Shadows jumping all over my walls

Some of them big, some of them small

I went out into the night

I went out to pick a fight with anyone

Light a candle for the kids

Jesus Christ, don't keep it hid!

Ice has covered up my parents' hands

Don't have any dreams, don't have any plans

Growing up in some strange storm

Nobody's cold, nobody's warm

I went out into the night

I went out to find some light

Kids are dying out in the snow

Look at them go, look at them go!

And the power's out in the heart of man

Take it from your heart, put in your hand

What's the plan?

What's the plan?

Is it a dream? Is it a lie?

I think I'll let you decide

Just light a candle for the kids

Jesus Christ, don't keep it hid!

Because nothing's hid, from us kids!

You ain't fooling nobody with the lights out!

And the power's out in the heart of man

Take it from your heart, put in your hand

And there's something wrong in the heart of man

You take it from your heart and put it in your hand!

Where'd you go?

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
woke /woʊk/ A2	verb - past tense of wake; to stop sleeping
power /ˈpaʊər/ B1	noun - the ability or capacity to do something or act in a particular way; electrical energy
ice /aɪs/ A1	noun - frozen water
dream /driːm/ B1	noun - a series of thoughts, images, or emotions occurring during sleep; a hope or aspiration verb - to experience thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep; to hope or aspire
plan /plæn/ A2	noun - a detailed proposal for doing or achieving something verb - to decide on and arrange in advance
night /naɪt/ A1	noun - the period of darkness between sunset and sunrise
light /laɪt/ A1	noun - the natural agent that makes things visible verb - to make something start burning; to illuminate
kids /kɪdz/ A1	noun - children
shout /ʃaʊt/ B1	verb - to say something very loudly noun - a loud call or cry
cover /ˈkʌvər/ B1	verb - to put something on top of or in front of something else
strange /streɪndʒ/ B1	adjective - unusual or surprising
cold /koʊld/ A1	adjective - having a low temperature
warm /wɔːrm/ A1	adjective - having a moderate degree of heat
heart /hɑːrt/ A2	noun - the organ that pumps blood in the body; symbol of emotion or courage
shadows /ˈʃædoʊz/ B1	noun - dark shapes produced when an object blocks light
fight /faɪt/ B1	verb - to take part in a battle or struggle noun - a battle or struggle
candle /ˈkændl/ A2	noun - a stick of wax with a wick that produces light when burned

Key Grammar Structures

• I woke up with the power out

  ➔ Present Perfect (have/has + past participle)

  ➔ This describes an action that started in the past and continues up to the present.

• Ice has covered up my parents' hands

  ➔ Present Simple (base form of verb)

  ➔ This is a basic, everyday action or state of being.

• I went out into the night

  ➔ Simple Past (past tense of go)

  ➔ This describes an action that happened in the past and is completed.

• Kids are swinging from the power lines

  ➔ Present Continuous (be + -ing form of verb)

  ➔ This indicates an action that is currently happening.

• I went out to find some light

  ➔ Simple Past (past tense of go)

  ➔ Similar to the previous example, this describes an action in the past.

• Kids are dying out in the snow

  ➔ Present Simple (base form of verb)

  ➔ This describes a general truth or a habitual action.

• And the power's out in the heart of man

  ➔ Present Simple (base form of verb)

  ➔ This emphasizes the state or condition of something.

• Take it from your heart, put in your hand

  ➔ Present Simple (base form of verb)

  ➔ This is a direct command or instruction.

• What's the plan?

  ➔ Present Simple (base form of verb)

  ➔ This is a direct question, asking for information.