System of Survival – English Lyrics

• By: Earth, Wind & Fire

Lyrics & Translation

Discover how Earth, Wind & Fire's 'System of Survival' uses music and dance as a powerful language to navigate life's challenges. Explore the song's message of resilience and learn how its blend of funk, R&B, and social commentary made it a defining hit of the 80s. Perfect for understanding how art can reflect and uplift during turbulent times.

[English]

The Human Race is runnin' over me

I punch a clock at 9 and 5

Just tryin' to make a livin'

A plastic face on satellite TV

Says, "Life is filled with give and take"

He's takin' and I'm givin'

So I dance

It's my system of survival (SOS)

Hey, I'm dancin'

System of survival (SOS)

It's a system of survival

Future revival

Greet the new arrival

It's a system of survival

Future revival

Greet the new arrival

At times it's the only way

I'm gonna make it through this day

Everybody get up

Do your dance

Keep survivin'

Everybody get up

Do your dance

Stay alive

...

System of survival

...

A city night

I walk a street in fear

While politicians brag about

A paperwork solution

Another life

I shed another tear

I'm waiting for somebody new

To lead the revolution

So I dance

It's my system of survival (SOS)

Hey, I'm dancin'

System of survival (SOS)

It's a system of survival

Future revival

Greet the new arrival

It's a system of survival

Future revival

Greet the new arrival

...

Everybody get up

Do your dance

Keep survivin'

Everybody get up

Do your dance

Stay alive

...

Let's work out

Let's work

Let's work

...

System of survival

...

System of survival

...

Oooh, yeah, yeah, yeah

...

System of survival

SOS, boom boom yeah yeah

SOS, yeah, yeah, yeah

Send it out, send it out, send it out

Send it out, send it out, send it out

Key Grammar Structures

• The Human Race is runnin' over me

  ➔ Present continuous tense

  ➔ The verb 'runnin'' is in the present continuous tense, indicating an action happening now or around now. Here, it emphasizes the ongoing struggle.

• Just tryin' to make a livin'

  ➔ Gerund after preposition

  ➔ The gerund 'tryin'' is used after the preposition 'to', indicating an action as a noun. It shows the purpose of the action.

• Says, 'Life is filled with give and take'

  ➔ Present simple in reported speech

  ➔ The verb 'is' remains in the present simple tense in reported speech, maintaining the original meaning without changing the tense.

• So I dance

  ➔ Simple present tense

  ➔ The verb 'dance' is in the simple present tense, indicating a habitual or general action. Here, it shows a recurring response to the situation.

• It's my system of survival (SOS)

  ➔ Possessive adjective

  ➔ The possessive adjective 'my' shows ownership or relationship. Here, it emphasizes the personal nature of the 'system of survival'.

• Everybody get up

  ➔ Imperative mood

  ➔ The verb 'get' is in the imperative mood, used to give a direct command or instruction. Here, it encourages action.

• Let's work out

  ➔ Let's construction (suggestion)

  ➔ The construction 'Let's' is used to make a suggestion or invitation. Here, it proposes an action for the group.

• Send it out, send it out

  ➔ Repeated imperative

  ➔ The imperative verb 'send' is repeated for emphasis, reinforcing the urgency or importance of the action.