Saw Lightning – English Lyrics

• By: Beck
• Album: Hyperspace

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a unique linguistic journey with Beck's 'Saw Lightning', a powerful and genre-bending track from his 2019 album *Hyperspace*. Through its evocative lyrics and distinctive blend of blues, hip-hop, and electronic elements, you can explore expressions related to sudden revelations, overcoming adversity, and spiritual seeking in English, while appreciating Beck's signature eclectic style and collaborative brilliance with Pharrell Williams.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
lightning /ˈlaɪtnɪŋ/ B2	noun - a sudden electrostatic discharge in the atmosphere, visible as a flash of light
flash /flæʃ/ B1	noun - a brief, sudden burst of light verb - to emit a sudden burst of light
rain /reɪn/ A2	noun - water droplets that fall from clouds verb - to fall as water from the sky
wind /wɪnd/ A2	noun - the movement of air in the atmosphere
mountains /ˈmaʊntənz/ B1	noun - large natural elevations of the earth's surface
temples /ˈtɛmplz/ B1	noun - places of worship, often dedicated to deities
flood /flʌd/ B1	noun - an overflow of water that submerges land verb - to overflow with water
shelter /ˈʃɛltər/ B1	noun - a place giving protection from danger or weather verb - to protect or provide a place of safety for
children /ˈtʃɪldrən/ A2	noun - young human beings below the age of puberty
run /rʌn/ A1	verb - to move quickly on foot
burn /bɜːrn/ A2	verb - to be on fire; to cause fire or heat
struck /strʌk/ B2	verb - past tense of strike; to hit or collide with force
ground /ɡraʊnd/ A2	noun - the solid surface of the earth
light /laɪt/ A1	noun - electromagnetic radiation that makes things visible adjective - not heavy; having little weight
sycamore /ˈsɪkəmɔːr/ C1	noun - a type of large, broad‑leaved tree, often found in temperate regions
dead /dɛd/ A1	adjective - no longer alive; lifeless
longest /ˈlɔːŋgəst/ B2	adjective - having the greatest length; most extended
hardest /ˈhɑːrdəst/ B2	adjective - most difficult; requiring the greatest effort
take /teɪk/ A1	verb - to get hold of something; to receive or obtain
lead /liːd/ B1	verb - to guide or direct someone or something

Key Grammar Structures

• There was a day I saw lightning

  ➔ Simple past + object clause (relative clause without a conjunction)

  ➔ The verb *was* is in the simple past, and the clause "I saw lightning" functions as the object of *was*.

• We got no more shelter, no more sun

  ➔ Present simple, negative statement with 'no' + noun phrase

  ➔ "We *got*" is present simple; "no more" negates the noun phrase "shelter" and "sun".

• Then it came to me in a flash of light

  ➔ Simple past + prepositional phrase of time and manner

  ➔ "It *came*" is past simple; the phrase "in a flash of light" tells *how* and *when* it happened.

• I held my head up and it struck me down

  ➔ Past simple + coordinating conjunction "and" linking two clauses

  ➔ "I *held*" and "it *struck*" are two past‑tense actions joined by the conjunction *and*.

• Lord, won't you take me and lead me to the light?

  ➔ Modal verb in a polite request (won't) + infinitive verbs

  ➔ "won't you *take*" and "*lead* me" use the modal *won't* followed by the base form of the verb.

• When they need us where do we go

  ➔ Embedded question with wh‑word "where" after a clause

  ➔ "When they need us" is a dependent clause; the embedded question "where do we go" follows it.

• Hold the sea, we're steady we'll grown

  ➔ Imperative sentence + present progressive contraction "we're" + future with "will" (non‑standard form)

  ➔ "Hold" is an imperative; "we're steady" uses the contraction of "we are"; "we'll grown" attempts a future form with "will" (standard would be "we will grow").

• By the sycamore tree in the dead of night

  ➔ Prepositional phrase indicating location and time; use of article "the" with specific nouns

  ➔ "By the *sycamore tree*" shows location; "in the *dead of night*" shows time.

• Lord, the Lord's gonna take me and leave me in the light

  ➔ Future intention with "gonna" (informal "going to"); coordination of two verb phrases

  ➔ "gonna" is an informal contraction of "going to" expressing future; the sentence links "take me" and "leave me in the light" with "and".