Oceans – English Lyrics

• By: Pearl Jam
• Album: Ten

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the depths of love and longing with Pearl Jam's "Oceans," a beautifully crafted song that uses the sea as a metaphor for distance and hope. This track offers a chance to dive into poetic lyrics and learn how simple imagery can convey profound emotions, making it a captivating study for language learners and music enthusiasts alike.

[English]

♪ Hold on to the thread ♪

♪ The currents will shift ♪

♪ Glide me towards you ♪

♪ Know something's left ♪

♪ And we're all allowed ♪

♪ To dream of the next ♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ Of the next time we touch ♪

♪ Ooh ♪

♪ Ooh ♪

♪ Ooh ♪

(lively music)

♪ You don't have to stray ♪

♪ Though oceans away ♪

♪ Waves roll in my thoughts ♪

♪ Hold tight the ring ♪

♪ The sea will rise ♪

♪ Please stand by the shore ♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ Oh, I will be ♪

♪ I will be there once more ♪

♪ Ooh ♪

♪ Ooh ♪

♪ Ooh ♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ Oh ♪

(gentle music)

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
hold /hoʊld/ A2	verb - to grasp and keep
current /ˈkʌrənt/ B1	noun - a body of water or air moving in a definite direction
shift /ʃɪft/ B1	verb - to change position or direction
dream /driːm/ A2	verb - to experience images, emotions, and sensations during sleep noun - a cherished aspiration, ambition, or ideal
touch /tʌtʃ/ A2	verb - to make physical contact with
stray /streɪ/ B2	verb - to wander from the usual path or direction
ocean /ˈoʊʃən/ B1	noun - a very large expanse of sea
wave /weɪv/ A2	noun - a disturbance that moves through a medium
thought /θɔːt/ B1	noun - an idea or opinion produced by thinking
ring /rɪŋ/ A2	noun - a circular band worn as jewelry
sea /siː/ A2	noun - a large body of saltwater
rise /raɪz/ B1	verb - to move upwards
shore /ʃɔːr/ B1	noun - the land along the edge of a sea or lake
stand /stænd/ A2	verb - to be on your feet
be /biː/ A1	verb - to exist
once /wʌns/ A2	adverb - on one occasion

Key Grammar Structures

• Hold on to the thread

  ➔ Phrasal verb with 'hold on to'

  ➔ The phrase 'hold on to' is used to mean grasping or keeping something firmly, emphasizing the action of retaining.

• The currents will shift

  ➔ Future simple tense

  ➔ The future simple tense is used to describe an action that will occur in the future, indicated by 'will' + base verb.

• Glide me towards you

  ➔ Transitive verb with indirect object

  ➔ The verb 'glide' is transitive and takes an indirect object 'me' to indicate the recipient of the action.

• We're all allowed

  ➔ Passive voice with modal verb 'be allowed'

  ➔ The passive voice is used with the modal verb 'be allowed' to emphasize permission or authorization.

• To dream of the next

  ➔ Infinitive of purpose

  ➔ The infinitive 'to dream' is used to express purpose, indicating the reason for the action.

• Though oceans away

  ➔ Concessive conjunction 'though'

  ➔ The conjunction 'though' is used to introduce a contrasting idea despite the previous statement.

• Please stand by the shore

  ➔ Imperative mood with 'please'

  ➔ The imperative mood is used to give a command or request, often softened with 'please'.

• I will be there once more

  ➔ Future simple tense with adverbial phrase

  ➔ The future simple tense is combined with the adverbial phrase 'once more' to indicate a repeated action in the future.