Rag – English Lyrics

• By: Hannah Cohen
• Album: Earthstar Mountain

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the delicate introspection of Hannah Cohen's "Rag," a song that perfectly encapsulates the concept of stillness and the quiet measurement of time. By exploring this English piece, you can appreciate how profound imagery—like a simple, forgotten rag—can become the anchor for deep reflection, revealing the beauty in the ordinary world around us.

[English]

See that rag on the side of the road

It's been laying there for years

Getting dusty and old

In the rain. in the snow

In the blistering heat I find it

Comforting to know

It's just layin' there waiting for me

A measure of time passing quietly

Its just layin' there

Waiting for me

I thought to pick it up

I miss your company

Hey there's Ed. 75 years old

Still got his mother-in-law livin with him

How that works I don't know

His old airstream parked in the front yard

Put a for sale sign up

Gonna drive that baby far

It's just layin' there waiting for me

A measure of time passing quietly

It's just layin' there waiting for me

I thought to pick it up

I miss your company

Ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo

Ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo

Frayed at the seams

Tired and cold

Give it a wash

Gently press and fold

Bend to my knees. ask you what for

How many years till we can't do this anymore

Its just layin' there waiting for me

A measure of time passing quietly

Its just layin' there waiting for me

I thought to pick it up

I miss your company

Ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo

Ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo

Ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo

Ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
rag /ræɡ/ A2	noun - a piece of cloth, typically old and torn, used for cleaning.
dusty /ˈdʌsti/ A2	adjective - covered with dust.
comforting /ˈkʌmfərtɪŋ/ B1	adjective - serving to alleviate a person's feelings of grief or distress.
measure /ˈmeʒər/ B1	noun - a standard unit used for measurement.
passing /ˈpæsɪŋ/ A2	verb - to spend time while something is happening.
company /ˈkʌmpəni/ A2	noun - the state of being with someone.
livin' /ˈlɪvɪn/ A1	verb - present participle of live; to reside.
parked /pɑːrkt/ A2	verb - to place a vehicle in a designated space.
drive /draɪv/ A2	verb - to operate a vehicle.
frayed /freɪd/ B1	adjective - worn at the edges or loosely woven.
seams /siːmz/ A2	noun - the lines where two pieces of fabric are joined together.
tired /ˈtaɪərd/ A1	adjective - feeling a need to rest.
fold /foʊld/ A2	verb - to bend something over on itself.
bend /bend/ A2	verb - to curve or lean.
knees /niːz/ A1	noun - the joint connecting the thigh with the leg.

Key Grammar Structures

• See that rag on the side of the road

  ➔ Present Simple in imperative form

  ➔ The verb 'see' is used in an imperative form to draw attention, typical of the Present Simple.

• It's been laying there for years

  ➔ Present Perfect Continuous

  ➔ 'It's been laying' indicates an action that started in the past and continues up to the present.

• In the rain, in the snow

  ➔ Prepositional Phrase

  ➔ The phrases 'in the rain' and 'in the snow' are prepositional phrases indicating circumstances.

• It's just layin' there waiting for me

  ➔ Present Continuous with 'be' + '-ing'

  ➔ 'Layin' (laying) is the -ing form of the verb, used to describe an ongoing action.

• I thought to pick it up

  ➔ Past Simple with 'thought'

  ➔ 'Thought' is the past tense of 'think', indicating a completed action in the past.

• Frayed at the seams

  ➔ Past Participle as Adjective

  ➔ 'Frayed' is the past participle of 'fray', used here as an adjective to describe the rag.

• How many years till we can't do this anymore

  ➔ Future with 'till' and modal verb 'can't'

  ➔ 'Till' is used to indicate a future time, and 'can't' expresses inability in the future.