Revolution

• By: Dennis Brown
• Album: Reggae Anthology: Dennis Brown: Crown Prince of Reggae

Lyrics:

Vocabulary in this song:

Vocabulary	Meanings
revolution /ˌrevəˈluːʃən/ B2	noun - a forcible overthrow of a government or social order in favor of a new system.
solution /səˈluːʃən/ B1	noun - a means of solving a problem or dealing with a difficult situation.
fighting /ˈfaɪtɪŋ/ A2	verb - to take part in a violent struggle involving physical force or weapons.
oppression /əˈpreʃən/ C1	noun - prolonged cruel or unjust treatment or control.
depression /dɪˈpreʃən/ B2	noun - a mental condition characterized by feelings of severe despondency and dejection, typically also with feelings of inadequacy and guilt, often accompanied by lack of energy, disturbance of appetite, and insomnia.
ready /ˈredi/ A2	adjective - prepared for action or use.
stand /stænd/ A1	verb - have or maintain an upright position, supported by one's feet.
fight /faɪt/ A2	verb - take part in a violent struggle involving physical force or weapons.
right /raɪt/ A1	adjective - morally good, justified, or acceptable.
soldiers /ˈsoʊldʒərz/ A2	noun - a person serving in an army.
chosen /ˈtʃoʊzən/ B1	verb - past participle of choose; having been selected as the best or most appropriate.
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole.
live /lɪv/ A1	verb - remain alive.
forever /fərˈevər/ A2	adverb - for all future time; eternally.
love /lʌv/ A1	verb - have a strong affection for (another).
sharing /ˈʃeərɪŋ/ A2	verb - have a portion of (something) with another or others.
caring /ˈkeərɪŋ/ B1	verb - feel concern or interest; attach importance to something.
work /wɜːrk/ A1	noun - activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result.

Grammar:

• Do you know what it means to have a revolution

  ➔ Indirect Question/Embedded Question

  ➔ The phrase "what it means to have a revolution" is a noun clause functioning as the object of the verb "know". It's an indirect question because it's embedded within a larger statement rather than being a direct question.

• And what it takes to make a solution

  ➔ Noun Clause as Subject Complement/Object of Preposition

  ➔ Similar to the previous line, "what it takes to make a solution" functions as a noun clause. It's connected to a preceding clause with 'and', and functions as a subject complement if we consider an omitted verb like "is" (e.g., "That's what it takes.."). Alternatively, if considered with a preceding preposition (implied), it's the object of that preposition.

• Many are called, few are chosen

  ➔ Passive Voice (Elliptical)

  ➔ The sentences are in the passive voice, but the auxiliary verb "are" and the agent (the one performing the action) are omitted for brevity. The full sentences would be something like "Many people are called, but few people are chosen".

• Got to fight the right fight in this time, yeah

  ➔ Semi-Modal Verb "Got to"

  ➔ "Got to" is an informal contraction of "have got to" or "has got to", functioning as a semi-modal verb expressing obligation or necessity, similar to "must" or "have to".

• If you wanna live-a, live-a, live-a, live-a, live, live forever

  ➔ Conditional Clauses (Type 1)/Informal Contraction

  ➔ The sentence uses a Type 1 conditional, expressing a real or possible condition and its likely result. The word "wanna" is an informal contraction of "want to".

• You gotta love-a, love-a, love-a, love-a, love, love each other

  ➔ Semi-Modal Verb "Gotta"

  ➔ Same as before, "gotta" is an informal contraction meaning "have got to" or "has got to", expressing obligation or necessity.

• A man is paid according to his work

  ➔ Passive Voice

  ➔ This sentence is in the passive voice. The focus is on the receiver of the action (the man) rather than the performer of the action (the one who pays). "Is paid" is the passive verb form.