No Quarter – English Lyrics

• By: Led Zeppelin
• Album: The Song Remains the Same

Lyrics & Translation

Learning English through Led Zeppelin's "No Quarter" offers a unique opportunity to explore rich, evocative language rooted in mythology and historical phrases. The song's deliberate pace and clear, though stylized, vocals make it easier to follow the narrative of warriors on an arduous quest. What makes "No Quarter" special for language learners is its use of powerful imagery and metaphors, providing a deeper understanding of how English can be used to create a dark and mystical atmosphere.

[English]

Close the door, put out the light

You know they won't be home tonight

The snow falls hard and don't you know

The winds of Thor are blowing cold

They're wearing steel that's bright and true

They carry news that must get through

They choose the path where no one goes

They hold no quarter, they hold no quarter

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
close /kloʊz/ A1	verb - to shut something
snow /snoʊ/ A1	noun - frozen precipitation
steel /stiːl/ B1	noun - strong metal alloy
quarter /ˈkwɔːrtər/ C2	noun - mercy or leniency (idiomatic)
Thor /θɔːr/ C2	noun - Norse god of thunder
bright /braɪt/ A2	adjective - shining strongly
winds /wɪndz/ A2	noun - moving air masses
path /pæθ/ A2	noun - route or trail

Key Grammar Structures

• Close the door, put out the light

  ➔ Imperative Mood

  ➔ Direct commands using base verbs "Close" and "put" without a subject pronoun.

• You know they won't be home tonight

  ➔ Future Simple Negative

  ➔ Contraction "won't" (will not) expresses negative future action "be home".

• The winds of Thor are blowing cold

  ➔ Present Continuous

  ➔ Describes current action using "are blowing" (be + V-ing).

• They're wearing steel that's bright and true

  ➔ Defining Relative Clause

  ➔ "that's bright and true" modifies "steel" by adding essential description.

• They carry news that must get through

  ➔ Modal Verb in Relative Clause

  ➔ Modal verb "must" in relative clause "that must get through" expresses necessity.

• They choose the path where no one goes

  ➔ Relative Adverb 'where'

  ➔ "where" introduces a relative clause modifying place noun "path".

• They hold no quarter

  ➔ Negative Determiner 'no'

  ➔ "no" completely negates the noun "quarter" (meaning mercy/shelter).

• The snow falls hard and don't you know

  ➔ Rhetorical Question

  ➔ "don't you know" isn't seeking information but emphasizing obviousness.

• They carry news that must get through

  ➔ Phrasal Verb

  ➔ "get through" is a phrasal verb meaning 'succeed in delivering'.

• They hold no quarter, they hold no quarter

  ➔ Anaphoric Repetition

  ➔ Repetition of "they hold no quarter" for poetic emphasis and rhythm.