Style – English Lyrics

• By: Foster The People

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the deeper meaning behind Foster the People's "Style," a song that encourages facing mortality and living fearlessly. Explore its unique blend of dark tones and catchy melodies, and learn how the band uses music to process life's chaos and champion the underdog.

[English]

We're born to die, so I'm gonna fight for how I wanna live

Spark up the riots, guess I'm a criminal and a futurist

With the charges I've caught, won't stand your trial

You can take it out on me, yeah

I've been to hell, but I've learned to keep my cool

Hold onto the devil, got him by the throat 'cause I refuse

Yeah, I won't take my last breath in denial

You can't take it from me, yeah

I've seen peaks, been released into the prisons below

My days here disappear, there's things that I can't ignore

The sweetest release might take a while

So take me out in style

Yeah, you

Yeah, just take me out in style, oh

If you're gonna take me out, take me out in style

We're in the lion's den, consumption is our medicine

And so I'm high again, you can say I'm a true American

Well, the sweetest revenge is being set free

You can't take it from me, yeah

It begins at my end, my death will never survive

I've been cleared of my crimes, don't need no alibi

The sweetest release might take a while

Just take me out in style

Yeah, you

Yeah, just take me out in style, uh

If you're gonna take me out, take me out

Take me out in style

Yeah, you

Well, the sweetest release might take a while

Just take me out, take me out in style

Whoo!

...

(You'll never take me alive)

(Just take me out in style)

...

Just take me out in style

(If you're gonna take me)

Take me in style

If you're gonna love me

Love me in style

The sweetest release might take a while

Take me out, take me out in style

If you're gonna fight me

Fight me in style

If you're gonna hate me

Hate me with style

If you're gonna love me

Do it in style

Yeah, just do it in style

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
fight /faɪt/ A1	verb - to take part in a physical conflict
style /staɪl/ A2	noun - a manner of doing something
criminal /ˈkrɪmɪnəl/ A2	noun - a person who has committed a crime
release /rɪˈliːs/ B1	noun - the act of setting someone free verb - to set free from confinement
revenge /rɪˈvɛndʒ/ B1	noun - action to inflict hurt or harm on someone for a grievance
consume /kənˈsjuːm/ B1	verb - to eat, drink, or use something
disappear /ˌdɪsəˈpɪr/ B1	verb - to cease to be visible or present
ignore /ɪɡˈnɔːr/ A2	verb - to refuse to acknowledge or pay attention to
prison /ˈprɪzən/ A1	noun - a place where people are confined as punishment
survive /səˈvaɪv/ A2	verb - to continue to live or exist
trial /ˈtraɪəl/ B1	noun - a formal examination of evidence in court
charge /tʃɑːrdʒ/ B1	verb - to accuse someone of a crime
refuse /rɪˈfjuːz/ A2	verb - to decline to do something
sweetest /ˈswiːtɪst/ A2	adjective - most pleasing to the taste
denial /dɪˈnaɪəl/ B2	noun - refusal to admit the truth or reality of something
clear /klɪr/ A2	verb - to remove doubt or confusion

Key Grammar Structures

• We're born to die, so I'm gonna fight for how I wanna live

  ➔ Present perfect with 'have been'

  ➔ The phrase 'We're born' uses the present perfect to indicate a past action with present relevance, emphasizing the ongoing impact of being born on the speaker's current mindset.

• Spark up the riots, guess I'm a criminal and a futurist

  ➔ Present simple with 'guess'

  ➔ The verb 'guess' in the present simple is used to express an opinion or deduction based on the current situation, here suggesting the speaker's self-perception as a criminal and futurist.

• With the charges I've caught, won't stand your trial

  ➔ Present perfect with 'have caught'

  ➔ The phrase 'I've caught' uses the present perfect to indicate a past action (catching charges) that has relevance to the present, emphasizing the ongoing impact of those charges.

• You can't take it from me, yeah

  ➔ Modal verb 'can't' for ability/possibility

  ➔ The modal verb 'can't' is used to express the lack of ability or possibility of the action being performed, here indicating that the speaker cannot be deprived of something.

• The sweetest release might take a while

  ➔ Modal verb 'might' for possibility

  ➔ The modal verb 'might' is used to express a possible but not certain outcome, here suggesting that the sweetest release could take some time.

• If you're gonna take me out, take me out in style

  ➔ Conditional sentence with 'if'

  ➔ The conditional sentence with 'if' expresses a hypothetical situation and its consequence, here indicating that if the action of taking the speaker out occurs, it should be done in style.

• We're in the lion's den, consumption is our medicine

  ➔ Present simple with 'is'

  ➔ The verb 'is' in the present simple is used to state a fact or a general truth, here indicating that consumption serves as medicine in their current situation.

• The sweetest revenge is being set free

  ➔ Present continuous passive

  ➔ The present continuous passive with 'is being set free' describes an action that is currently happening to the subject, here indicating that the sweetest revenge is the process of being liberated.