Not For Nothing – English Lyrics

• By: Nico & Vinz
• Album: Cornerstone

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the powerful message behind Nico & Vinz's "Not For Nothing," a song that blends catchy pop melodies with poignant social commentary. By diving into the lyrics, you'll gain insight into contemporary issues and improve your understanding of English idioms and expressions.

[English]

Why does a rose need water

and a whole lot of sunshine

(one more time)

why does a rose need water and whole lot of sunshine

why does the night need moonlight tell me

oh not for nothing

not for nothing

why do the wheels keep rollin'

medle down to the floor yea (tell me)

Why do we stop at a red light (oh why)

not for nothing

oh not for nothing

oh na na na na na na

oh na na na na na x3

Freedom fighters fighting a silence

oh

but no for nothing

oh not for nothing

why do the hands keep ticking around the clock

like the sand in an hourglass

so slow but so fast

why are we born in a sinen just to be born again

not for nothing x3

oh no

oh not for nothing

oh not for nothing

when you see my hands up and i say i can't breath

that's not for nothing

oh no no no no x4

when my hands are up high and i say i can't breath!

it's not for nothing

it's not for nothing

oh not for nothing

oh not for nothing

...

Key Grammar Structures

• Why does a rose need water

  ➔ Interrogative sentence structure with auxiliary 'does'

  ➔ This is a question in the simple present tense. The auxiliary verb "does" is used because the subject "a rose" is singular and third person. It comes before the subject, and the main verb "need" is in its base form.

• not for nothing

  ➔ Double negative for affirmation; idiomatic expression

  ➔ This phrase uses a double negative ("not" and "nothing") to convey a positive meaning: "for a reason" or "it has a purpose." It's an idiom meaning something is significant or has a valid cause.

• Why do the wheels keep rollin'

  ➔ Verb pattern 'keep + -ing' (gerund)

  ➔ The verb "keep" is followed by a gerund ("rollin'", which is an informal spelling of "rolling") to express a continuous or repeated action. It means the wheels continue to roll.

• Freedom fighters fighting a silence

  ➔ Present participle acting as an adjective or part of a reduced relative clause

  ➔ The word "fighting" is a present participle modifying "Freedom fighters." It describes what kind of fighters they are or what they are doing, similar to "Freedom fighters who are fighting a silence."

• around the clock

  ➔ Idiomatic prepositional phrase indicating continuous action

  ➔ The phrase "around the clock" is an idiom meaning continuously, all day and all night, without stopping. It emphasizes the constant nature of the hands ticking.

• like the sand in an hourglass so slow but so fast

  ➔ Simile using 'like'; contrasting intensifiers 'so... but so...'

  ➔ The phrase uses "like" to create a simile, comparing the passage of time to the flow of sand in an hourglass. The intensifiers "so slow but so fast" highlight a paradox, emphasizing the subjective perception of time.

• why are we born in a sinen just to be born again

  ➔ Passive voice; 'just to + infinitive' for purpose/consequence

  ➔ The phrase "are we born" uses the passive voice, indicating that the action (being born) is done to the subject. "Just to be born again" uses "just to + infinitive" to express the ultimate purpose or ironic consequence of the initial action.

• when you see my hands up and i say i can't breath

  ➔ Temporal clause with 'when'; modal verb 'can't' for inability

  ➔ The "when" clause introduces a condition or a moment in time: "when you see my hands up". The modal verb "can't" (cannot) expresses an inability or impossibility, specifically the inability to breathe.