Nightbirds – English Lyrics

• By: Shakatak

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the smooth jazz-funk sounds of Shakatak's iconic 1982 hit, "Nightbirds." This instrumental-heavy track, with its evocative lyrics, offers a perfect gateway to understanding the nuances of English through music, particularly its poetic descriptions of freedom and the urban nightscape. Its catchy melodies and sophisticated harmonies make it a special song for both language learners and music enthusiasts.

[English]

Flying through the night

Floating on the wind

To the city lights

Night birds

With the love they bring

...

Flyin' through the night

Floating on the wind

To the city lights

Night birds

With the love they bring

Slowly they descend

Through the darkened sky

To the night again

Night birds

Kiss the day goodbye

...

Flyin' through the night

Floating on the wind

To the city lights

Night birds

With the love they bring

Slowly they descend

Through the darkened sky

To the night again

Night birds

Kiss the day goodbye

Flyin' through the night

Floating on the wind

To the city lights

Night birds

With the love they bring

Slowly they descend

Through the darkened sky

To the night again

Night birds

Kiss the day goodbye

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
night /naɪt/ A1	noun - the period from sunset to sunrise
wind /wɪnd/ A1	noun - air moving naturally
lights /laɪts/ A1	noun - sources of illumination
birds /bɜːrdz/ A1	noun - warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates with feathers
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - an intense feeling of affection verb - to feel deep affection for (someone)
bring /brɪŋ/ A1	verb - to take or carry (someone or something) to a place
fly /flaɪ/ A1	verb - move through the air using wings
floating /ˈfloʊtɪŋ/ A2	verb - resting or moving on the surface of a liquid or in the air
city /ˈsɪti/ A1	noun - a large town
descend /dɪˈsend/ B2	verb - move or fall downwards
darkened /ˈdɑːrkənd/ B2	adjective - made dark or darker
sky /skaɪ/ A1	noun - the region of the atmosphere and outer space seen from the earth
kiss /kɪs/ A1	verb - touch or caress with the lips
day /deɪ/ A1	noun - the period of light between sunrise and sunset
goodbye /ˌɡʊdˈbaɪ/ A1	noun - an expression of farewell
slowly /ˈsloʊli/ A2	adverb - at a slow speed; not quickly

Key Grammar Structures

• Flying through the night

  ➔ Present Participle as Adverbial Modifier

  ➔ The phrase "Flying" modifies the implied subject, indicating the manner in which the subject (night birds) is moving. It describes *how* they are moving. The subject is moving "through" the night.

• Floating on the wind

  ➔ Present Participle as Adverbial Modifier (similar to above)

  ➔ Similar to "Flying", "Floating" describes *how* the night birds are moving. They are floating "on" the wind.

• To the city lights

  ➔ Prepositional Phrase as Adverbial of Direction

  ➔ The preposition "to" indicates the destination of the movement, the city lights. It specifies *where* the night birds are going.

• With the love they bring

  ➔ Prepositional Phrase as Adverbial of Manner/Accompaniment

  ➔ The preposition "with" indicates *how* or *what* the night birds bring. They bring "with" love. It indicates what they are carrying or what accompanies them.

• Slowly they descend

  ➔ Adverb of Manner modifying a Verb

  ➔ The adverb "Slowly" modifies the verb "descend", describing *how* the descent is happening.

• Through the darkened sky

  ➔ Prepositional Phrase as Adverbial of Place/Direction

  ➔ The preposition "through" indicates the *location* or the *path* of the descent. The birds are descending "through" the darkened sky.

• To the night again

  ➔ Prepositional Phrase as Adverbial of Direction

  ➔ Similar to 'To the city lights', the preposition "to" indicates the destination of the descent, which is the night.

• Kiss the day goodbye

  ➔ Transitive verb with direct object

  ➔ "Kiss" is the transitive verb, and "the day goodbye" is the direct object. It describes the action performed on the object.