Rhythm of My Heart – English Lyrics

• By: Rod Stewart
• Album: Vagabond Heart

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a lyrical journey with Rod Stewart's iconic "Rhythm of My Heart." This song offers a unique blend of powerful rock and poignant storytelling, deeply rooted in Scottish tradition through its melody and the evocative sound of bagpipes. Learning the lyrics provides insight into English vocabulary related to love, longing, and the complexities of human emotion amidst adversity, making it a truly special and heartfelt piece to explore.

[English]

Across the street, the river runs

Down in the gutter, life is slipping away

Love may still exist in another place

Running undercover of a helicopter blade

The flames are getting higher in effigy

Burning down the bridges of my memory

Love may still be alive somewhere, some day

Where they're downing only deer

A hundred steel towns away

Oh, the rhythm of my heart

Is beating like a drum

With the words "I love you"

Rolling off my tongue

No, never will I roam

For I know my place is home

Where the ocean meets the sky

I'll be sailing

Photographs and kerosene

Light up my darkness, light it up, light it up

I can still feel the touch

Of your thin blue jeans

Running down the alley

I've got my eyes all over you baby, oh baby

Oh, the rhythm of my heart

Is beating like a drum

With the words "I love you"

Rolling off my tongue

No, never will I roam

For I know my place is home

Where the ocean meets the sky

I'll be sailing

Oh, I've got lightning in my veins

Shifting like the handle of a slot machine

Love may still exist in another place

I'm just yanking back the handle, no expression on my face

Oh, the rhythm of my heart

Is beating like a drum

With the words "I love you"

Rolling off my tongue

Oh, never will I roam

For I know my place is home

Where the ocean meets the sky

I'll be sailing

The rhythm of my heart

Is beating like a drum

With the words "I love you"

Rolling off my tongue

Never will I roam

For I know my place is home

Where the ocean meets the sky

I'll be sailing

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - a deep feeling of affection verb - to feel deep affection for someone
heart /hɑːrt/ A1	noun - the muscular organ that pumps blood; the centre of emotions
rhythm /ˈrɪðəm/ B2	noun - a regular, repeated pattern of sounds or movements
beat /biːt/ A2	verb - to strike repeatedly; to pulsate noun - a single rhythmic unit; a strong pulse
drum /drʌm/ A2	noun - a percussion instrument consisting of a hollow cylinder covered with a membrane
home /hoʊm/ A1	noun - the place where one lives permanently
ocean /ˈoʊʃən/ A2	noun - a large body of salt water that covers most of the Earth’s surface
sky /skaɪ/ A1	noun - the region of the atmosphere and outer space seen from the Earth
sailing /ˈseɪlɪŋ/ B1	verb - to travel on water in a boat or ship using wind power noun - the activity of moving a vessel under sail
light /laɪt/ A1	noun - visible radiant energy that makes things visible verb - to make something visible or bright adjective - not heavy; having little weight
darkness /ˈdɑːrk.nəs/ A2	noun - the state of having little or no light
memory /ˈmeməri/ B1	noun - the ability to store and recall past experiences
river /ˈrɪvər/ A1	noun - a large natural stream of water flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake or another river
helicopter /ˈhelɪˌkɑːptər/ B2	noun - a type of aircraft that lifts off vertically using rotating blades
flame /fleɪm/ A2	noun - the visible part of a fire
bridge /brɪdʒ/ A1	noun - a structure built to span physical obstacles such as water or roads
vein /veɪn/ B2	noun - a tube that carries blood toward the heart; also a streak of a particular color in a material
lightning /ˈlaɪtnɪŋ/ B2	noun - a sudden electrostatic discharge during a storm, producing a flash of light
touch /tʌtʃ/ A2	verb - to come into contact with something noun - the act of touching; a slight feeling
eyes /aɪz/ A1	noun - the organs of sight in humans and animals

Key Grammar Structures

• Love may still exist in another place

  ➔ Modal verb 'may' for possibility

  ➔ The modal verb "may" expresses that something is possible but not certain. Here, it suggests that love's existence in another place is a possibility.

• The flames are getting higher in effigy

  ➔ Present Continuous for changing situations + Comparative Adjective

  ➔ The phrase "are getting" uses the present continuous tense to describe an ongoing process of change. "Higher" is the comparative form of the adjective 'high', indicating an increase.

• Burning down the bridges of my memory

  ➔ Present Participle phrase acting adverbially / Phrasal Verb

  ➔ "Burning down" is a present participle phrase that describes the action of the flames (from the previous line), acting adverbially. "Burn down" is also a phrasal verb meaning to destroy by fire.

• No, never will I roam

  ➔ Inversion with negative adverb 'never'

  ➔ When a negative adverbial phrase like "never" is placed at the beginning of a sentence for emphasis, the subject ("I") and the auxiliary verb ("will") are inverted.

• For I know my place is home

  ➔ Conjunction 'for' (meaning 'because')

  ➔ "For" is used here as a coordinating conjunction to introduce a reason or cause, similar to "because," but often more formal or literary.

• Where the ocean meets the sky / I'll be sailing

  ➔ Future Continuous ('I'll be sailing') + Relative Adverb of Place ('Where')

  ➔ "I'll be sailing" indicates an action that will be in progress at a specific time or over a period in the future. "Where" introduces a relative clause describing the location.

• Light up my darkness, light it up, light it up

  ➔ Phrasal Verb ('light up') + Imperative mood

  ➔ "Light up" is a phrasal verb meaning to illuminate or brighten. The verb is in the imperative mood, giving a command or instruction.

• I can still feel the touch / Of your thin blue jeans

  ➔ Modal verb 'can' for ability/sensation

  ➔ "Can" expresses the ability or possibility of performing an action or experiencing a sensation. "Still" emphasizes that this ability or sensation persists over time.

• I've got lightning in my veins

  ➔ 'Have got' for possession/characteristic

  ➔ "I've got" is a common, informal way to express possession or a characteristic, equivalent to "I have." Here, it conveys a strong, energetic feeling.

• With the words "I love you" / Rolling off my tongue

  ➔ Present Participle phrase acting adverbially

  ➔ "Rolling off my tongue" is a participial phrase that describes the manner or accompanying action of the words, functioning adverbially to modify the preceding clause (the rhythm of my heart is beating like a drum).