Off The Wall – English Lyrics

• By: Michael Jackson
• Album: Off The Wall

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language can be an exciting journey, and Michael Jackson's 'Off The Wall' offers a fantastic and fun way to dive into English. The song's lyrics are about breaking free from your daily routine and celebrating life, a universal theme that's easy to connect with. By listening to this classic disco track, you can pick up common English idioms like 'off the wall' and phrases about work and leisure. The song's clear vocals and catchy, repetitive chorus make it easy to sing along and practice your pronunciation. What makes this song special for learning is its infectious energy and positive message, turning your language practice into a joyful dance party.

[English]

When the world is on your shoulder

Gotta straighten up your act and boogie down

If you can't hang with the feeling

Then there ain't no room for you, this part of town

'Cause we're the party people, night and day

Livin' crazy, that's the only way

So tonight

Gotta leave that nine to five upon the shelf

An' just enjoy yourself

Groove

Let the madness in the music get to you

Life ain't so bad at all

If you live it off the wall

Life ain't so bad at all

Live your life off the wall

(Live your life off the wall)

Live it off the wall

You can shout out all you want to

'Cause there ain't no sin an' folks all gettin' loud

If you take the chance an' do it

Then there ain't no one who's gonna put you down

'Cause we're the party people, night an' day

Livin' crazy that's the only way

So tonight

Gotta leave that nine to five upon the shelf

An' just enjoy yourself

Step on and groove

Let the madness in the music get to you

Life ain't so bad at all

If you live it off the wall

Life ain't so bad at all

Live your life off the wall

(Live your life off the wall)

Live it off the wall

Do what you want to do

There ain't no rules, it's up to you

(Ain't no rules, it's up to you)

It's time to come alive

And party on right through the night (all right)

Gotta hide your inhibitions

Gotta let that fool loose, deep inside your soul

Wanna see an exhibition

Better do it now before you get too old

'Cause we're the party people, night and day

Livin' crazy that's the only way

So tonight

Gotta leave that nine to five upon the shelf

And just enjoy yourself

C'mon and groove

Let the madness in the music get to you

Life ain't so bad at all

If you live it off the wall

(Life ain't so bad at all)

Live it off the wall

(Live your life off the wall)

So tonight

Gotta leave that nine to five upon the shelf

An' just enjoy yourself

C'mon and groove (Groove)

Let the madness in the music get to you

Life ain't so bad at all

If you livin' off the wall

Tonight

Gotta leave that nine to five upon the shelf

(Livin' off the wall)

An' just enjoy yourself (Life is better off)

C'mon and groove (Livin' off the wall)

Let the madness in the music get to you (Life is better off)

Life ain't so bad at all (Livin' off the wall)

Wanna dance (Tonight, off the wall)

Gotta leave that nine to five upon the shelf

An' just enjoy yourself

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
world /wɜːrld/ A1	noun - the earth, together with all of its countries, peoples, and natural features.
shoulder /ˈʃoʊldər/ A2	noun - the part of the human body between the neck and the upper arm.
act /ækt/ A2	noun - a thing done; a deed. verb - take action; do something.
feeling /ˈfiːlɪŋ/ A2	noun - an emotional state or reaction.
room /ruːm/ A1	noun - space that is or could be occupied.
town /taʊn/ A1	noun - an urban area that has a name, defined boundaries, and local government, and that is generally larger than a village and smaller than a city.
party /ˈpɑːrti/ A1	noun - a social gathering of invited guests, typically involving eating, drinking, and entertainment.
night /naɪt/ A1	noun - the period from sunset to sunrise in each twenty-four hours.
day /deɪ/ A1	noun - the period of 24 hours as a unit of time, reckoned from one midnight to the next.
crazy /ˈkreɪzi/ B1	adjective - mentally deranged, especially as manifested in a wild or aggressive way.
shelf /ʃɛlf/ A2	noun - a flat length of wood or rigid material, attached to a wall or forming part of a piece of furniture, that is used to hold or display objects.
groove /ɡruːv/ B2	noun - a long, narrow cut or depression, especially one made to guide movement. verb - enjoy oneself or dance to popular music.
madness /ˈmædnəs/ B2	noun - the state of being mentally ill; extreme foolishness or recklessness.
music /ˈmjuːzɪk/ A1	noun - vocal or instrumental sounds (or both) combined in such a way as to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion.
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death.
chance /tʃæns/ A2	noun - a possibility of something happening.
rules /ruːlz/ A2	noun - one of a set of explicit or understood regulations or principles governing conduct within a particular activity or sphere.
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole.

Key Grammar Structures

• When the world is on your shoulder

  ➔ Present Simple Tense with Conditional 'When'

  ➔ This sentence uses the present simple tense to describe a general situation. The 'when' clause sets a condition: "When" the world is stressing you out...

• Gotta straighten up your act and boogie down

  ➔ "Gotta" (Got to) - Semi-Modal Verb expressing obligation or necessity. Phrasal Verbs: "Straighten up" and "Boogie down"

  ➔ "Gotta" is a colloquial contraction of "got to," indicating something you must do. "Straighten up your act" means to improve your behavior or performance. "Boogie down" means to dance enthusiastically.

• If you can't hang with the feeling

  ➔ Conditional Clause (Type 1 possible) using "if" + present simple, negative form of "can" (can't) + phrasal verb ("hang with")

  ➔ This is a conditional statement. "If" introduces the condition. "Hang with" is an informal phrasal verb that means to tolerate, accept or keep up with.

• Then there ain't no room for you, this part of town

  ➔ Double Negative (ain't no), informal language. Use of demonstrative adjective "this" with "part"

  ➔ "Ain't no" is a non-standard and informal way of saying "there isn't any." The use of "this part of town" specifies a particular location.

• Livin' crazy, that's the only way

  ➔ Present Participle as an Adjective ("livin' crazy"), demonstrative pronoun "that's" contraction of "that is".

  ➔ "Livin' crazy" uses the present participle "livin'" to describe the state of being crazy, acting as an adjective. "That's" clarifies that living crazy is "the only way."

• Gotta leave that nine to five upon the shelf

  ➔ "Gotta" (Got to) - Semi-Modal Verb expressing obligation or necessity. Use of "that" as a determiner

  ➔ Similar to the previous example, "gotta" implies obligation. "That nine to five" specifies a particular, often undesirable, work routine.

• Let the madness in the music get to you

  ➔ Imperative Mood ("Let..."), prepositional phrase ("in the music")

  ➔ "Let" starts an imperative sentence, giving a command or instruction. The prepositional phrase "in the music" modifies the noun "madness".

• Do what you want to do

  ➔ Relative Clause with omitted relative pronoun (what), repetition for emphasis

  ➔ The sentence means "Do the thing that you want to do". "What you want to do" functions as the object of the verb "Do". The repetition of "to do" is for emphasis.