Speak Life – English Lyrics

• By: TobyMac
• Album: Eye On It

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into TobyMac's "Speak Life," a compelling song that beautifully illustrates the power of words. Through its insightful lyrics, listeners can explore how language can be used to uplift and encourage, making it a powerful tool for learning English while grasping a profound message about positive communication and its impact on the world around us. The song's clear message and impactful phrasing offer an excellent opportunity to expand vocabulary related to emotions, encouragement, and personal interaction.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter
speak /spiːk/ A2	verb - to say something in words
hope /hoʊp/ A2	noun - a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen
dark /dɑrk/ A2	adjective - having very little light
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - an intense feeling of deep affection
words /wɜrdz/ A1	noun - the smallest unit of language that can be used independently
mountain /ˈmaʊn.tɪn/ B1	noun - a large natural elevation of the earth's surface
crazy /ˈkreɪ.zi/ B1	adjective - mentally deranged; insane
perfect /ˈpɜr.fɪkt/ B2	adjective - having all the required or desirable elements, qualities, or characteristics
inspire /ɪnˈspaɪər/ B2	verb - to fill someone with the urge or ability to do or feel something
raise /reɪz/ B2	verb - to lift or move to a higher position
twist /twɪst/ B2	verb - to turn or bend something into a different shape
compassion /kəmˈpæʃ.ən/ C1	noun - sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others
brokenhearted /ˌbroʊ.kənˈhɑːr.tɪd/ C1	adjective - overcome by grief or disappointment
crumble /ˈkrʌm.bəl/ C1	verb - to break or fall apart into small pieces

Key Grammar Structures

• Some days, life feels perfect

  ➔ Simple Present Tense (feels)

  ➔ Describes a general truth or a habitual action. Here, it expresses how life generally feels on some days.

• Other days, it just ain't workin'

  ➔ Present Continuous Tense (ain't workin') - informal

  ➔ "Ain't" is a contraction of "is not" or "are not" (or "am not" in some dialects), and "workin'" is a shortened form of "working". It describes something that is not functioning correctly or progressing as expected *at the present time*.

• We can turn our heart through the words we say

  ➔ Modal verb "can" + infinitive (turn)

  ➔ "Can" expresses ability or possibility. Here, it indicates that we have the *ability* to change our hearts through the words we speak.

• Mountains crumble with every syllable

  ➔ Simple Present Tense (crumble)

  ➔ Describes a general truth or a phenomenon that occurs regularly. It illustrates the *power* of words.

• When the sun won't shine and you don't know why

  ➔ Future Simple in conditional clauses (won't shine)

  ➔ Although the clause starts with "when" (indicating time), in this context, it functions similarly to an "if" clause, establishing a condition. "Won't shine" expresses a *future hypothetical situation*.

• Look into the eyes of the brokenhearted

  ➔ Imperative Mood (Look)

  ➔ The imperative mood expresses a command, request, or instruction. Here, it's a *call to action* to focus on those who are suffering.

• Watch 'em come alive as soon as you speak hope

  ➔ Causative Verb "watch" + object + bare infinitive (come)

  ➔ "Watch" in this context means "observe". The structure "watch someone do something" means you are observing someone in the act of doing it. The bare infinitive "come" is used after "watch".

• Hope will fall like rain

  ➔ Future Simple Tense (will fall)

  ➔ Expresses a future event or a prediction. Here, it predicts that hope will come abundantly, like rain.