Spirits – English Lyrics

• By: The Strumbellas

Lyrics & Translation

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
gun /ɡʌn/ A2	noun - a weapon that shoots bullets
spirit /ˈspɪrɪt/ B1	noun - the non-physical part of a person, often associated with emotions and character
night /naɪt/ A1	noun - the time of day when it is dark and people usually sleep
dreamer /ˈdriːmər/ B2	noun - a person who dreams or has ideas about the future
change /tʃeɪndʒ/ B1	verb - to make something different
lost /lɔːst/ B1	adjective - unable to find one's way
alive /əˈlaɪv/ A2	adjective - living, not dead
waiting /ˈweɪtɪŋ/ A2	verb - to stay in one place until something happens
strange /streɪndʒ/ B1	adjective - unusual or surprising in a way that is unsettling
rattle /ˈrætl/ B2	verb - to make a rapid succession of short, sharp noises
good /ɡʊd/ A1	adjective - having the qualities required for a particular role
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter
stars /stɑːrz/ A2	noun - large, luminous celestial bodies visible in the night sky

Key Grammar Structures

• I got guns in my head and they won't go

  ➔ Use of "got" to indicate possession/having. Use of future negative "won't" (will not).

  ➔ "I got guns in my head" is an informal way of saying "I have guns in my head." "They won't go" means the "guns" (metaphorically, intrusive thoughts) will not leave.

• I've been lookin' at the stars tonight

  ➔ Present perfect continuous tense ("have/has been" + verb-ing) to emphasize the duration or continuous nature of the action.

  ➔ The use of "I've been lookin'" (instead of "I looked") suggests that the speaker has been looking at the stars for a period of time leading up to the present moment. The ' is a short form of have.

• And I think, oh, how I miss that bright sun

  ➔ Use of "how" in exclamatory sentences to express a strong emotion. Object complement "that bright sun".

  ➔ "How I miss that bright sun" is an exclamation expressing the speaker's deep longing for the sun. It is not asking *how* they miss the sun, but emphasizing *the degree* to which they miss it.

• I'll be a dreamer 'til the day I die

  ➔ Use of the future simple tense with "will" ('ll). Contraction of "until" to "'til".

  ➔ "I'll be a dreamer" indicates a future state of being, meaning the speaker intends to remain a dreamer. "'til" is a common abbreviation of "until."

• And they say, oh, how the good die young?

  ➔ Indirect question with altered word order. "How" introduces an exclamatory question.

  ➔ Instead of the direct question "How do the good die young?", the lyric uses an indirect question after "they say." This adds a layer of reflection and questioning to the statement.

• And maybe we don't want to change

  ➔ Use of "maybe" as an adverb of possibility. Negative contraction "don't" (do not).

  ➔ "Maybe" indicates uncertainty or possibility. "We don't want to change" is a simple negative statement about the desire for change.

• I spend a lot of nights on the run

  ➔ Simple present tense to describe a habitual action. Use of the preposition "on" with "run" to mean escaping or fleeing.

  ➔ "I spend a lot of nights on the run" describes a recurring activity. "On the run" implies the speaker is trying to avoid something, perhaps a problem or situation.

• Like I'm lost and can't be found

  ➔ Use of "like" as a conjunction to introduce a simile. Use of passive voice "can't be found".

  ➔ "Like I'm lost" creates a comparison between the speaker's feelings and the state of being lost. "Can't be found" emphasizes the feeling of being irrecoverable or unlocatable.