Quiet or Loud – English Lyrics

• By: Sesame Street

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the vocabulary of social awareness with "Quiet or Loud," an animated gem from *Sesame Street* that masterfully uses simple, clear English to teach one of childhood's most important lessons: recognizing the right time and place for different sound levels. Learn essential contextual phrases like 'in the library' and 'on a roller coaster' while absorbing a foundational life skill in a fun, catchy way.

[English]

...

GIRL: When you're awake and someone else

is asleep, be quiet.

Don't make a peep.

[HONK]

GIRL: Oops!

But if you're stuck in a tree, be as loud as you can be.

And if you hurt your toe, let us all know.

BOY: Ouch!

GIRL: Quiet, or loud!

...

When the teacher's talking, don't run around and shout.

And when you're in the library, don't rock out.

LIBRARIAN: Shh!

GIRL: But when you're on a roller coaster, you

can scream so loud.

And when you sing your favorite song, step right up

and sing it proud.

Mi, mi, mi!

Quiet, or loud!

...

When Terry's talking to Tom, don't bang on the drum.

But if Ned is pushing Nell, then it's OK for you to yell.

Hey!

Be quiet while you're at a show.

Don't grab a horn and start to blow.

...

CHILDREN: Sorry.

GIRL: Quiet, or loud!

...

Quiet, or loud!

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
awake /əˈweɪk/ A2	adjective - not sleeping
asleep /əˈsliːp/ A2	adjective - sleeping
stuck /stʌk/ A2	adjective - unable to move
hurt /hɜːrt/ A2	verb - to cause pain
teacher /ˈtiːtʃər/ A2	noun - a person who teaches
talking /ˈtɔːkɪŋ/ A2	verb - saying words
library /ˈlaɪbrəri/ A2	noun - a place with books
scream /skriːm/ A2	verb - to shout loudly
sing /sɪŋ/ A2	verb - to make music with your voice
proud /praʊd/ A2	adjective - feeling pleased with yourself
bang /bæŋ/ A2	verb - to hit with force
drum /drʌm/ A2	noun - a musical instrument
yell /jel/ A2	verb - to shout loudly
show /ʃoʊ/ A2	noun - a performance
grab /ɡræb/ A2	verb - to take hold of suddenly
blow /bloʊ/ A2	verb - to expel air

Key Grammar Structures

• When you're awake and someone else is asleep, be quiet.

  ➔ Present Continuous (be + -ing) & Imperative

  ➔ The phrase "When you're awake" uses the present continuous to describe an ongoing state. "Be quiet" is a direct command.

• But if you're stuck in a tree, be as loud as you can be.

  ➔ Conditional Clause (if + present simple, imperative) & Comparative Adverb (as…as)

  ➔ The 'if' clause sets a condition. "as loud as you can be" uses the 'as…as' structure for comparison, indicating the highest possible volume.

• And when you sing your favorite song, step right up and sing it proud.

  ➔ Subordinate Clause (when + present simple) & Adverbial Phrase (right up)

  ➔ "When you sing your favorite song" introduces a time clause. "right up" functions as an adverbial phrase emphasizing immediacy.

• Quiet, or loud!

  ➔ Disjunctive Question/Choice

  ➔ This is a simple disjunctive question offering two options: quiet or loud. It's a rhetorical device used for emphasis.

• Don't grab a horn and start to blow.

  ➔ Negative Imperative (Don't + base form of verb) & Infinitive (to blow)

  ➔ "Don't grab" is a negative command. "to blow" is an infinitive used to describe the action of blowing the horn.