Smoke On the Water – English Lyrics

• By: Deep Purple
• Album: Machine Head

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into Deep Purple's "Smoke on the Water," a classic rock song whose lyrics tell a captivating true story. By exploring its straightforward narrative and distinctive rock vocabulary, you can learn how English can be used to describe real events with vivid detail. Its iconic riff and direct storytelling make it a memorable way to engage with the language and the history of rock music.

[English]

♪♪♪

♪ We all came out to Montreux ♪

♪ On the Lake Geneva shoreline ♪

♪ To make records with a mobile ♪

♪ We didn't have much time ♪

♪ Frank Zappa and the Mothers ♪

♪ Were at the best place around ♪

♪ But some stupid with a flare gun ♪

♪ Burned the place to the ground ♪

♪ Smoke on the water, a fire in the sky ♪

♪ Smoke on the water ♪

♪ They burned down the gambling house ♪

♪ It died with an awful sound ♪

♪ Funky Claude was running in and out ♪

♪ Pulling kids out the ground ♪

♪ When it all was over ♪

♪ We had to find another place ♪

♪ The Swiss time was running out ♪

♪ It seemed that we would lose the race ♪

♪ Smoke on the water, a fire in the sky ♪

♪ Smoke on the water ♪

♪ We ended up at the Grand Hotel ♪

♪ It was empty, cold and bare ♪

♪ But with the Rolling truck Stones thing just outside ♪

♪ Making our music there ♪

♪ With a few red lights, a few old beds ♪

♪ We made a place to sweat ♪

♪ No matter what we get out of this ♪

♪ I know, I know we'll never forget ♪

♪ Smoke on the water, a fire in the sky ♪

♪ Smoke on the water ♪

♪ Woo, yeahhhhhh ♪

♪ Burn, burn, burn, burn, burn up in the sky ♪

♪ Ahhhhhhhhhhh ♪

♪♪♪

Ah, break a leg Frank.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
smoke /smoʊk/ A2	noun - a visible suspension of carbon or other particles in air, typically one emitted from a burning substance verb - emit smoke
water /ˈwɔːtər/ A1	noun - a colorless, transparent, odorless, tasteless liquid
fire /ˈfaɪər/ A1	noun - combustion or burning, in which substances combine chemically with oxygen from the air and typically give out bright light, heat, and smoke
sky /skaɪ/ A1	noun - the region of the atmosphere and outer space seen from the earth
burned /bɜːrnd/ A2	verb - damaged or destroyed by fire
ground /ɡraʊnd/ A2	noun - the solid surface of the earth
running /ˈrʌnɪŋ/ A2	verb - moving at a speed faster than a walk; managing, operating, or controlling something
place /pleɪs/ A1	noun - a particular position or location
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole
hotel /hoʊˈtel/ A1	noun - an establishment providing accommodation, meals, and other services for travellers and tourists.
music /ˈmjuːzɪk/ A1	noun - vocal or instrumental sounds (or both) combined in such a way as to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion.
lights /laɪts/ A1	noun - a device producing illumination.
cold /koʊld/ A1	adjective - of or at a low or relatively low temperature.
lose /luːz/ A2	verb - be deprived of (something that one has or had).
flare /fleər/ B2	noun - a sudden brief burst of bright flame or light

Key Grammar Structures

• We all came out to Montreux

  ➔ Past Simple (Irregular Verb)

  ➔ The verb "came" is the past simple form of the irregular verb "come". It describes a completed action in the past.

• To make records with a mobile

  ➔ Infinitive of Purpose

  ➔ The phrase "to make records" is an infinitive used to express the purpose of their coming to Montreux. It answers the question, "Why did they come?".

• Were at the best place around

  ➔ Superlative Adjective

  ➔ "Best" is the superlative form of "good", indicating that the place was superior to all other places nearby.

• Burned the place to the ground

  ➔ Past Simple (Regular Verb)

  ➔ "Burned" is the past simple form of the regular verb "burn", describing a completed action in the past. The phrase "to the ground" emphasizes the extent of the destruction.

• Funky Claude was running in and out

  ➔ Past Continuous

  ➔ "Was running" is the past continuous form, indicating an action in progress at a specific time in the past. "In and out" shows repeated movement.

• Pulling kids out the ground

  ➔ Present Participle as Verb

  ➔ "Pulling" is a present participle acting as a verb in a reduced relative clause (Funky Claude was...). It describes an action happening simultaneously with the main verb.

• It seemed that we would lose the race

  ➔ Conditional Mood (Past)

  ➔ "Would lose" expresses a hypothetical outcome in the past. It indicates what they thought was likely to happen given the circumstances, but didn't necessarily occur.

• It was empty, cold and bare

  ➔ Series of Adjectives

  ➔ The adjectives "empty", "cold", and "bare" are a series used to describe the Grand Hotel. They are all coordinate adjectives modifying the same noun and are typically separated by commas.