On The Game – English Lyrics

• By: The Black Keys
• Album: Ohio Players

Lyrics & Translation

[English]

When I need a remedy

I go and pick a melody and sing these blues away

At the break of the day

Maybe shake my tambourine

I look up at a movie screen and dream away

Where I feel no pain

'Cause everybody's on the game

To keep you howlin' at the rain

It's how we know we're all the same, the joy, the pain

Everybody's on the game

Seven devils

Baby, don't look now I think they're on their way

'Cause you keep gettin' high all day

There's one thing about it

The ones who wanna free mankind go and feed you lines

Rot your minds every goddamn time

'Cause everybody's on the game

To keep you howlin' at the rain

It's how we know we're all the same, the joy, the pain

Everybody's on the game, yeah

Everybody's on the game

To keep you howlin' at the rain

It's how we know we're all the same, the joy, the pain

Everybody's on

Everybody's on the game

Everybody's on the game

To keep you howlin' at the rain

It's how we know we're all the same, the joy, the pain

Everybody's on the game

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
sing /sɪŋ/ A1	verb - to make musical sounds with the voice
blues /bluːz/ B1	noun - a type of music originating from African-American communities, often expressing sadness
day /deɪ/ A1	noun - a period of 24 hours
shake /ʃeɪk/ A2	verb - to move with short, quick movements
dream /driːm/ A2	verb - to experience a dream noun - a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep.
pain /peɪn/ A2	noun - physical suffering or discomfort
game /ɡeɪm/ A1	noun - an activity that you do for pleasure or entertainment
howlin' /ˈhaʊlɪn/ B1	verb - to make a long, loud cry like a wolf
rain /reɪn/ A1	noun - water falling from the sky
joy /dʒɔɪ/ A2	noun - a feeling of great pleasure and happiness
devils /ˈdevəlz/ B2	noun - evil spirits or demons
baby /ˈbeɪbi/ A1	noun - a very young child
high /haɪ/ A2	adjective - reaching a great height
mankind /ˈmænkʌɪnd/ B2	noun - the human race
lines /laɪnz/ A2	noun - a row of words
minds /maɪndz/ A2	noun - the element of a person that enables them to be aware of the world and their experiences, to think, and to feel.

Key Grammar Structures

• When I need a remedy

  ➔ Subordinate clause of time (When clause)

  ➔ The word "When" introduces a subordinate clause that specifies the time at which the action in the main clause occurs. It answers the question "At what time?".

• To keep you howlin' at the rain

  ➔ Infinitive of purpose ("To" + base verb) + "keep" + present participle (-ing)

  ➔ "To keep" expresses the purpose or reason for an action. The structure "keep + present participle (-ing)" indicates a continuous or repeated action, meaning to cause someone to continue doing something. Here, "howlin'" is an informal spelling of "howling".

• Where I feel no pain

  ➔ Relative adverb "where" introducing an adverbial clause of place

  ➔ The relative adverb "where" introduces a clause that provides more information about a place. It functions similarly to "in which" or "at which" and answers the question "In what place?".

• It's how we know we're all the same

  ➔ "It's how" (meaning "It is the way/method")

  ➔ "It's how" is a common idiomatic expression used to explain the manner or method by which something is done or understood. It means "This is the way" or "This is the method by which".

• Baby, don't look now

  ➔ Negative Imperative

  ➔ The negative imperative is used to give a command or instruction not to do something. It is formed with "Don't" + base form of the verb.

• I think they're on their way

  ➔ Present Continuous for future (imminent action/plan)

  ➔ The present continuous tense ("are on their way") can be used to describe future events that are already planned, arranged, or are imminent. It often conveys a sense of certainty or a current state leading to a future event.

• 'Cause you keep gettin' high all day

  ➔ "Keep" + gerund (-ing)

  ➔ The structure "keep + gerund" (e.g., "keep getting") is used to express an action that continues, repeats, or is done habitually. It emphasizes the persistence of the action. "Gettin'" is an informal spelling of "getting".

• The ones who wanna free mankind

  ➔ Defining relative clause with "who"

  ➔ A defining relative clause provides essential information about the noun it modifies ("the ones"). "Who" is a relative pronoun used for people, linking the clause to "the ones" and specifying which ones are being referred to. "Wanna" is an informal contraction of "want to".

• Rot your minds every goddamn time

  ➔ Expression of frequency: "every time"

  ➔ The phrase "every time" is used to indicate that an action or event occurs on each and every occasion something else happens, or regularly. It emphasizes repetition and consistency. "Goddamn" is an intensifier.

• Maybe shake my tambourine

  ➔ Elliptical sentence with "Maybe" expressing possibility

  ➔ This is an elliptical sentence, meaning some words are omitted but understood from context. It implies "Maybe I will shake my tambourine" or "Maybe I could shake my tambourine." "Maybe" is an adverb indicating possibility or uncertainty.