Perfect Way To Die – English Lyrics

• By: Alicia Keys

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the raw emotion and powerful message of Alicia Keys' "Perfect Way To Die." This moving piano ballad offers a direct and heartfelt commentary on critical social issues, making it an excellent song to explore English vocabulary related to social justice, grief, and resilience. Its clear, impactful lyrics and Alicia Keys' evocative delivery provide a compelling way to connect with the language through a truly meaningful piece of art.

[English]

(ambulance wailing)

(soft piano music)

♪ Simple walk to the corner store ♪

♪ Mama never thought she would be gettin' ♪

♪ a call from the corner ♪

♪ Said her son's been gunned down, been gunned down ♪

♪ Can you come now ♪

♪ Tears in her eyes, can you calm down ♪

♪ Please, ma'am, can you calm down? ♪

♪ But it rained fire in the city that day they say ♪

♪ A river of blood in the streets ♪

♪ No love in the streets ♪

♪ And then came silence in the city that day they say ♪

♪ Just another one gone ♪

♪ And they tell her move on ♪

♪ And she's stuck there singin' ♪

♪ Baby don't you close your eyes ♪

♪ 'Cause this could be our final time ♪

♪ And you know I'm horrible at saying goodbye ♪

♪ And I think of all you could have done ♪

♪ At least you'll stay forever young ♪

♪ I guess you picked the perfect way to die ♪

♪ Ooh, I guess you picked the perfect way to die ♪

♪ New job, new city, new her, bright-eyed ♪

♪ You would been proud if you knew her ♪

♪ Flashing lights and the mirror pull over, pull over ♪

♪ A couple nights in detention and it's over ♪

♪ A whole life's over ♪

♪ They came marching in the city that day, they say ♪

♪ Carryin' signs in the streets ♪

♪ Cryin' eyes in the streets ♪

♪ But they heard nothing from the city that day, they say ♪

♪ Just another one gone and the city moved on ♪

♪ We're stuck here singing, ♪

♪ Baby, don't you close your eyes ♪

♪ 'Cause this could be our final time ♪

♪ And you know I'm horrible at saying goodbye ♪

♪ I'll think of all you coulda' done ♪

♪ At least you'll stay forever young ♪

♪ I guess you picked the perfect die ♪

♪ Whoa, guess you pick the perfect way to die ♪

♪ Another dream lost, another king and queen lost ♪

♪ Another broken promise they refuse to make right ♪

♪ Oh, another night to live in fear ♪

♪ Oh, another night that you're not here ♪

♪ Another reason to get out there and fight ♪

♪ But I say, baby, don't you close your eyes ♪

♪ 'Cause this could be our final time ♪

♪ And you know I'm horrible at saying goodbye ♪

♪ But I'll think of all you coulda done ♪

♪ At least you'll stay forever young ♪

♪ I guess you picked the perfect way to die ♪

♪ Oh, I guess you picked the perfect way ♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
ambulance /ˈæmbjələns/ B2	noun - a vehicle for transporting sick or injured people to a hospital
store /stɔːr/ A2	noun - a place where things are kept or sold
call /kɔːl/ A2	verb - to contact someone by phone or signal
gunned /ɡʌnd/ B2	verb (past participle of 'gun') - to shoot with a gun verb (past tense of 'gun') - past tense indicating being shot
silence /ˈsaɪləns/ B1	noun - the complete absence of sound
blood /blʌd/ A2	noun - the red liquid that circulates in the arteries and veins of humans and other creatures
streets /strits/ A2	noun (plural) - public roads in a city or town
final /ˈfaɪnəl/ B2	adjective - coming at the end
time /taɪm/ A2	noun - a point or period when something happens
young /jʌŋ/ A2	adjective - having lived only a short time; not old
die /daɪ/ A2	verb - to stop living
beautiful /ˈbjuːtɪfəl/ B2	adjective - pleasing to the senses or aesthetically good-looking
young /jʌŋ/ A2	adjective - having lived only a short time; not old
perfect /ˈpɜːrfɪkt/ B2	adjective - having no mistakes or flaws

Key Grammar Structures

• Mama never thought she would be gettin' a call from the corner

  ➔ Past simple and future in the past

  ➔ The phrase "never thought" indicates a past action, while "she would be gettin'" suggests a future action from a past perspective.

• But it rained fire in the city that day they say

  ➔ Past simple and reported speech

  ➔ The phrase "it rained fire" uses the past simple tense, while "they say" indicates reported speech.

• And you know I'm horrible at saying goodbye

  ➔ Present simple and gerund

  ➔ The phrase "you know" is in the present simple tense, while "saying goodbye" is a gerund.

• At least you'll stay forever young

  ➔ Future simple

  ➔ The phrase "you'll stay" is in the future simple tense, indicating a future action.

• Just another one gone and the city moved on

  ➔ Past simple and present perfect

  ➔ The phrase "one gone" uses the past simple, while "the city moved on" also uses the past simple.

• Another reason to get out there and fight

  ➔ Infinitive phrase

  ➔ The phrase "to get out there and fight" is an infinitive phrase indicating purpose.