Rotting In Vain – English Lyrics

• By: Korn
• Album: The Serenity Of Suffering

Lyrics & Translation

[English]

I wouldn't be angry if you'd just fucking cried

Your tears would arouse me, refreshing my supply

The suffering is fading, I scream into the sky

Repulsion invades me, I say goodbye

Digging deep inside of me

Getting past this agony

I can't seem to get away

Another day rotting in vain

...

I wouldn't be angry if things would stay the same

You're fighting the torment that helps me feed my pain

The suffering is fading, I scream into the sky

Repulsion invades me, I say goodbye

Digging deep inside of me

Getting past this agony

I can't seem to get away

Another day rotting in

I can't hear this

...

I can't fuck it

...

I can't take this

...

I hate

...

Digging deep inside of me

Getting past this agony

I can't seem to get away

Another day rotting in

Digging deep inside of me

Getting past this agony

I can't seem to get away

Another day rotting in vain

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
angry /ˈæŋɡri/ B1	adjective - feeling or showing strong displeasure
tears /tɪərz/ A2	noun - drops of liquid secreted by the eyes
arouse /əˈraʊz/ C1	verb - to stimulate or awaken (feelings, interest, etc.)
suffering /ˈsʌfərɪŋ/ B2	noun - the state of undergoing pain, distress or hardship
fading /ˈfeɪdɪŋ/ B2	verb - to gradually lose brightness, colour or intensity adjective - becoming less distinct or vivid
scream /skriːm/ B1	verb - to emit a loud, high‑pitched cry noun - a loud, high‑pitched cry
sky /skaɪ/ A1	noun - the expanse of atmosphere above the earth
repulsion /rɪˈpʌlʃən/ C1	noun - a feeling of intense distaste or aversion
agony /ˈæɡəni/ C1	noun - extreme physical or mental suffering
rotting /ˈrɒtɪŋ/ B2	verb - to decay or decompose adjective - decayed; in a state of decomposition
vain /veɪn/ C1	adjective - having no real value; futile
torment /ˈtɔːrmənt/ C1	noun - severe mental or physical suffering verb - to cause severe suffering to
pain /peɪn/ A2	noun - physical suffering or discomfort
fighting /ˈfaɪtɪŋ/ B1	verb - engaging in combat or struggle
hate /heɪt/ B1	verb - to feel intense dislike for noun - intense dislike
feed /fiːd/ B1	verb - to give food to a person or animal
deep /diːp/ B1	adjective - extending far down from the surface
invade /ɪnˈveɪd/ C1	verb - to enter a place forcefully, especially in order to take control

Key Grammar Structures

• I wouldn't be angry if you'd just fucking cried

  ➔ 2nd conditional (would + base verb) + past perfect in if‑clause

  ➔ The word "wouldn't" shows a hypothetical situation; the clause "if you'd ... cried" uses the past perfect to refer to an unreal past condition.

• Your tears would arouse me, refreshing my supply

  ➔ Modal verb (would) + base verb; present participle phrase

  ➔ The modal "would" expresses a conditional or imagined action; "refreshing my supply" is a present‑participle clause that adds extra information.

• The suffering is fading, I scream into the sky

  ➔ Present continuous (is fading); simple present (I scream)

  ➔ "is fading" uses the present continuous to describe a process happening now; "I scream" is simple present, indicating a habitual or immediate action.

• Repulsion invades me, I say goodbye

  ➔ Simple present (invades, say)

  ➔ Both verbs are in the simple present, showing actions that are factual or occur repeatedly.

• Digging deep inside of me

  ➔ Present participle phrase used as a verbless clause

  ➔ The word "Digging" is a present participle that creates a clause without an explicit subject or finite verb, giving a vivid, ongoing image.

• Getting past this agony

  ➔ Present participle phrase (gerund) used as a noun‑like element

  ➔ "Getting" functions as a gerund, turning the action into a noun‑like concept: the act of overcoming the agony.

• I can't seem to get away

  ➔ Modal verb + verb (can't) + semi‑modal verb (seem) + infinitive (to get)

  ➔ "can't" is a modal expressing inability; "seem" is a semi‑modal followed by the infinitive "to get" which shows the action that appears impossible.

• Another day rotting in vain

  ➔ Present participle used adjectivally (rotting) + prepositional phrase (in vain)

  ➔ "rotting" functions as an adjective describing "day"; "in vain" is a prepositional phrase indicating futility.

• I wouldn't be angry if things would stay the same

  ➔ 2nd conditional (wouldn't be) + modal verb in if‑clause (would stay)

  ➔ "wouldn't be" creates a hypothetical present situation; the if‑clause uses "would stay" to describe an imagined condition.

• You're fighting the torment that helps me feed my pain

  ➔ Relative clause (that helps ...) with infinitive (to feed)

  ➔ "that helps me feed my pain" is a relative clause modifying "torment"; inside it, "to feed" is an infinitive expressing purpose.