Lyrics & Translation
Dive into Rise Against’s “Nowhere Generation,” a compelling punk rock anthem that speaks directly to the frustrations and hopes of a modern era. This song is an excellent way to engage with English through its clear, passionate lyrics that tackle themes of social inequality and generational struggle. By exploring its powerful message and impactful vocabulary, you can gain a deeper understanding of contemporary societal concerns while enhancing your English listening and comprehension skills.
Key Vocabulary
| Vocabulary | Meanings |
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generation /ˌdʒɛnəˈreɪʃən/ A2 |
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nowhere /ˈnoʊˌwɛər/ A2 |
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threat /θrɛt/ B1 |
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credible /ˈkrɛdəbəl/ B2 |
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rules /ruːlz/ A2 |
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alarmed /əˈlɑːrmd/ B1 |
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language /ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/ A1 |
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walls /wɔːlz/ A1 |
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doors /dɔːrz/ A1 |
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roads /roʊdz/ A1 |
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spiraling /ˈspaɪrəlɪŋ/ C1 |
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cracks /kræks/ B1 |
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map /mæp/ A2 |
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land /lænd/ A1 |
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promised /ˈprɒmɪst/ B1 |
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burning /ˈbɜːrnɪŋ/ A2 |
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promises /ˈprɒmɪsɪz/ A2 |
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ignored /ɪɡˈnɔːrd/ B1 |
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climb /klaɪm/ A2 |
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hammers /ˈhæmərz/ A2 |
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Key Grammar Structures
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WE ARE THE KIDS THAT NO ONE WANTS
➔ Relative Clause (defining)
➔ “That no one wants” is a relative clause that modifies “the kids”, providing essential information about them. The pronoun “that” refers to “the kids” and acts as the object of the verb “wants”.
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A CAUSE TO BE ALARMED
➔ Infinitive of Purpose/Result (Passive Form)
➔ The infinitive “to be alarmed” expresses the purpose or result of “a cause”. It's in the passive form because “a cause” is what makes someone else feel alarm, not an active alarm itself.
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WE ARE NOT THE NAMES THAT WE'VE BEEN GIVEN
➔ Present Perfect Passive
➔ “We've been given” (short for “we have been given”) is in the present perfect passive voice. It indicates an action that happened in the past (someone gave them names) but has a direct result or relevance to the present (they still carry those names, but they are not them).
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BUT RIGHT NOW WE ARE SPIRALING DOWN
➔ Present Continuous for ongoing action/trend
➔ “We are spiraling down” uses the present continuous tense to describe an action that is happening at the moment of speaking and is ongoing, often implying a current trend or state.
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AND THE LONGER WE WAIT, THE FURTHER WE GO
➔ Double Comparative (The + Comparative, The + Comparative)
➔ This structure, “the + comparative adjective/adverb, the + comparative adjective/adverb,” shows that one thing depends on another. As one thing increases or decreases, the other also changes in proportion.
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NO PLACE LEFT ON YOUR MAP NOW TO CALL HOME?
➔ Past Participle as an Adjective/Reduced Relative Clause + Infinitive of Purpose
➔ “Left” is a past participle acting as an adjective, modifying “place” (similar to “no place that is left”). “To call home” is an infinitive of purpose, indicating what one would do with a home.
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FOR YOUR SWEAT, YOU'LL BE REWARDED
➔ Future Simple Passive
➔ “You'll be rewarded” (short for “you will be rewarded”) is in the future simple passive voice. It indicates an action that will be done to the subject in the future, without specifying who performs the action (the “rewarder”).
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BUT THE FINISH LINE KEPT MOVING
➔ 'Keep + -ing' (Continuous Action in the Past)
➔ The structure “kept moving” (from “keep + verb-ing”) indicates an action that continued or repeated over a period in the past. It emphasizes the persistence or ongoing nature of the action.
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THIS PLACE USED TO BE SOMEWHERE
➔ 'Used to' (Past Habit/State)
➔ “Used to be” describes a state or situation that was true in the past but is no longer true in the present. It emphasizes a change from a past reality.
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OUR VOICES ALL IGNORED
➔ Reduced Relative Clause (Passive) / Ellipsis
➔ “Ignored” is a past participle used here in a reduced relative clause (originally “our voices, which were all ignored”). It functions adjectivally to describe the state of the voices, implying that someone ignored them.
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