Rock and Roll is Dead – English Lyrics

• By: Lenny Kravitz

Lyrics & Translation

[English]

Ooo-oooh, yeah

You think you're on the top of the world

But you know it's really over

...

Runnin' round with diamond rings

And coke spoons that are overflowin'

Rock and roll is dead

...

But all the money in the world

Can't buy you from the place you're going to

Ooo-oooh, yeah

Rock and roll is dead

Rock and roll is dead

Rock and roll is dead

You can't even sing or play an instrument

So you just scream instead

Oooh, yeah

You're living for an image

So you got five hundred women in your bed

Oooh, yeah

Rock and roll is dead

But it's real hard to be yourself

When you're living with those demons in your head

Ooo-oooh, yeah

Rock and roll is dead

Rock and roll is dead

Rock and roll is dead

...

Rock and roll is dead

Rock and roll is dead

Rock and roll is dead

Rock and roll is dead

Rock and roll is dead

Rock and roll is dead

Rock and roll is dead

...

Key Grammar Structures

• You think you're on the top of the world

  ➔ Simple Present

  ➔ The verb "think" is in the Simple Present to express a current belief.

• But you know it's really over

  ➔ Simple Present

  ➔ The verb "know" is in the Simple Present to state a fact.

• Runnin' round with diamond rings

  ➔ Gerund phrase

  ➔ "Runnin'" is a gerund acting as the subject of the line.

• And coke spoons that are overflowin'

  ➔ Defining relative clause

  ➔ The clause "that are overflowin'" modifies "coke spoons".

• Can't buy you from the place you're going to

  ➔ Modal verb + infinitive

  ➔ "Can't" (cannot) is a modal followed by the base verb "buy".

• You can't even sing or play an instrument

  ➔ Modal verb + bare infinitive (no "to")

  ➔ "Can't" is followed directly by the verbs "sing" and "play".

• So you just scream instead

  ➔ Coordinating conjunction "so" + adverb "instead"

  ➔ "So" introduces a result, and "instead" shows an alternative action.

• You're living for an image

  ➔ Present continuous + preposition "for" + gerund

  ➔ "Living" is the present participle; the phrase "for an image" shows purpose.

• When you're living with those demons in your head

  ➔ Adverbial clause of time (when)

  ➔ "When" introduces a clause that gives the time context for the main idea.