One Day – English Lyrics

• By: Matisyahu

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a linguistic journey with Matisyahu's inspiring song "One Day." This powerful reggae anthem, filled with themes of hope, peace, and unity, offers rich English vocabulary and expressions related to overcoming adversity and envisioning a better future. Its clear, repetitive chorus and heartfelt lyrics make it an excellent choice for language learners to grasp meaningful concepts and practice listening comprehension while being moved by its universal message.

[English]

Sometimes I lay under the moon

And thank God I'm breathin'

Then I pray, "Don't take me soon

'Cause I am here for a reason."

Sometimes in my tears I drown

But I never let it get me down

So when negativity surrounds

I know some day it'll all turn around because

All my life I've been waitin' for

I've been prayin' for

For the people to say

That we don't wanna fight no more

There'll be no more war

And our children will play

One day, one day, one day, oh

One day, one day, one day, oh

It's not about win or lose, 'cause we all lose

When they feed on the souls of the innocent

Blood-drenched pavement

Keep on movin' though the waters stay ragin'

In this maze

You can lose your way, your way

It might drive you crazy but

Don't let it faze you, no way, no way!

Sometimes in my tears I drown

But I never let it get me down

So when negativity surrounds

I know some day it'll all turn around because

All my life I've been waitin' for

I've been prayin' for

For the people to say

That we don't wanna fight no more

There'll be no more war

And our children will play

One day, one day, one day, oh

One day, one day, one day, oh

One day this all will change, treat people the same

Stop with the violence, down with the hate

One day we'll all be free, and proud to be

Under the same sun, singin' songs of freedom like

Why-ohh! (One day, one day) why-oh, oh, oh!

Why-ohh! (One day, one day) why-oh, oh, oh!

All my life I've been waitin' for

I've been prayin' for

For the people to say

That we don't wanna fight no more

There'll be no more war

And our children will play

One day, one day, one day, oh

One day, one day, one day, oh

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
lay /leɪ/ A2	verb - to put something down gently or carefully
thank /θæŋk/ B1	verb - to express gratitude
breathe /briːð/ B1	verb - to take air into and out of the lungs
pray /preɪ/ B2	verb - to speak to God or a deity as an expression of worship or supplication
reason /ˈriːzən/ B1	noun - a cause or explanation for something
drown /draʊn/ B2	verb - to die by suffocation in water
negativity /ˌnɛɡəˈtɪvɪti/ C1	noun - the expression or presence of negative attitudes or feelings
surround /səˈraʊnd/ B2	verb - to encircle or enclose on all sides
turn /tɜːrn/ A2	verb - to move in a circular direction or change position
peace /piːs/ B2	noun - a state of tranquility or quiet
fight /faɪt/ B1	verb - to struggle or combat against someone or something
children /ˈtʃɪl.drən/ A2	noun - young human beings below the age of puberty
change /tʃeɪndʒ/ B1	verb - to make or become different
treat /triːt/ B2	verb - to behave toward or deal with in a certain way
proud /praʊd/ B2	adjective - feeling deep pleasure or satisfaction about achievements
freedom /ˈfriːdəm/ C1	noun - the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants
prison /ˈprɪz.ən/ C2	noun - a building where people are kept as punishment for crimes

Key Grammar Structures

• Sometimes I lay under the moon

  ➔ Simple Present Tense

  ➔ Used to describe habitual actions or truths, indicating a regular occurrence.

• And thank God I'm breathin'

  ➔ Present Continuous Tense

  ➔ Expresses an ongoing action happening at the moment of speaking.

• Then I pray, "Don't take me soon"

  ➔ Imperative Mood (with indirect speech)

  ➔ Shows a command or request expressed through indirect speech, making it more polite or emotional.

• But I never let it get me down

  ➔ Negative Present Tense with 'never' and 'let'

  ➔ Expresses a habitual action of not allowing something to affect one's mood.

• In this maze you can lose your way, your way

  ➔ Modal verb 'can' + Base verb

  ➔ Indicates possibility or ability to do something, here used to suggest potential for losing one's way.

• Stop with the violence, down with the hate

  ➔ Imperatives in parallel structure

  ➔ Uses imperative form to give direct commands or encouragements, structured in parallel for emphasis.

• One day this all will change, treat people the same

  ➔ Future Simple Tense

  ➔ Expresses a prediction or expectation about what will happen in the future.