Somebody to Shove – English Lyrics

• By: Soul Asylum
• Album: Grave Dancers Union

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the raw energy and heartfelt lyrics of Soul Asylum's "Somebody to Shove." This quintessential 90s alternative rock track offers a unique linguistic landscape, blending everyday phrases with poignant expressions of longing and frustration. Learning English through this song allows you to grasp authentic rock vocabulary and emotional phrasing, making it special for its relatable message and dynamic sound.

[English]

Grandfather watches the grandfather clock

And the phone hasn't rang for so long

And the time flies by, like a vulture in the sky

Suddenly he breaks into song

I'm waiting by the phone

Waiting for you to call me up and tell me I'm not alone

I'm waiting by the phone

Waiting for you to call me up and tell me I'm not alone

...

Hello, speak up, is there somebody there?

These hang ups are getting me down

In a world frozen over with over exposure

Let's talk it over, let's go out and paint the town

Cause I'm waiting by the phone

Waiting for you to call me up and tell me I'm not alone

...

Cause I want somebody to shove

I need somebody to shove

I want somebody to shove me

...

You're a dream for insomniacs, prize in the Cracker Jack

All the difference in the world is just a call away

And I'm waiting by the phone

Waiting for you to call me up and tell me I'm not alone

Yes I'm waiting by the phone

I'm waiting for you to call me, call me

and tell me I'm, tell me I'm not alone

Cause I want somebody to shove

I need somebody shove

I want somebody to shove me

Yes I want somebody to shove

I need somebody shove

I want somebody to shove me

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
shove /ʃʌv/ B1	verb - to push someone or something forcefully
waiting /ˈweɪtɪŋ/ A1	verb - to stay in a place until something happens
call /kɔːl/ A1	verb - to telephone someone noun - a telephone conversation
grandfather /ˈɡrændfɑːðər/ A2	noun - the father of one's mother or father
phone /foʊn/ A1	noun - a device used for speaking to someone at a distance
vulture /ˈvʌltʃər/ B2	noun - a large bird that eats dead animals
sky /skaɪ/ A1	noun - the space above the earth that you can see when you look up
hang-ups /ˈhæŋʌps/ C1	noun - psychological or emotional problems that prevent someone from doing something
world /wɜːrld/ A1	noun - the earth and all the people and things on it
exposure /ɪkˈspoʊʒər/ C1	noun - the state of being in a situation where something can affect you
town /taʊn/ A1	noun - a place where people live that is larger than a village but smaller than a city
insomniacs /ɪnˈsɒmniæks/ C2	noun - people who have difficulty sleeping
prize /praɪz/ A2	noun - something given to someone for winning a competition or for doing something good
frozen /ˈfroʊzən/ B1	adjective - turned into ice; very cold
alone /əˈloʊn/ A1	adjective - without other people
want /wɒnt/ A1	verb - to desire or wish for something
need /niːd/ A1	verb - to require something because it is essential

Key Grammar Structures

• Grandfather watches the grandfather clock

  ➔ Simple present

  ➔ The verb "watches" is in the **simple present** to describe a habitual action.

• And the phone hasn't rang for so long

  ➔ Present perfect (negative)

  ➔ The phrase "hasn't rang" is a **present perfect negative**, showing that the action has not happened up to now.

• I'm waiting by the phone

  ➔ Present continuous (progressive)

  ➔ "waiting" is in the **present continuous** to describe an action in progress at the moment of speaking.

• Waiting for you to call me up and tell me I'm not alone

  ➔ Gerund phrase + infinitive after "for"

  ➔ "Waiting" is a **gerund** followed by the infinitive phrase "to call" and "to tell" after the preposition "for".

• Hello, speak up, is there somebody there?

  ➔ Imperative mood

  ➔ "speak up" is an **imperative** used to give a direct command or request.

• These hang ups are getting me down

  ➔ Present continuous with a phrasal verb

  ➔ "are getting" is in the **present continuous**, and "get down" is a **phrasal verb** meaning to depress or discourage.

• Let's talk it over, let's go out and paint the town

  ➔ Let's + base verb (suggestion)

  ➔ "Let's" is a contraction of "let us" and is used with the **base verb** to make a friendly suggestion.

• I want somebody to shove me

  ➔ Verb + object + infinitive (want/need)

  ➔ "want" is followed by an **object** (somebody) and an **infinitive** (to shove) to express a desire for someone to do something.

• All the difference in the world is just a call away

  ➔ Simple present with idiomatic expression "be ... away"

  ➔ "is" is in the **simple present**, and the idiom "a call away" means that something is very close or easily reachable.