That's The Way – English Lyrics

• By: Led Zeppelin
• Album: Led Zeppelin III

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the lyrical depth and acoustic beauty of Led Zeppelin's "That's The Way"! This song offers a unique opportunity to explore English nuances through Robert Plant's poignant storytelling, which covers themes of social commentary and personal growth. Its gentle, folk-rock style, a refreshing contrast to their electric hits, makes the lyrics exceptionally clear and understandable, perfect for grasping English expression and emotional complexity.

[English]

(mandolin,guitar)

I don't know how I'm gonna tell you

I can't play with you no more

I don't know how I'm gonna do what mama told me

My friend, the boy next door

I can't believe what people saying

You're gonna let your hair hang down

I'm satisfied to sit here working all day long

You're in the darkest side of town

Whatcha doing, whatcha doing, whatcha doing there, I know

And when I'm out I see you walking

Why don't your eyes see me

Could it be you've found another game to play

What did mama say to me, oh-oh-oh

That's the way ohhhh, oh, oh yeah-ee-yeah, oh now

Ma ma ma ma ma ma ma ma ma ma ma ma, ma m-m-ma m-m-mama

That's the way it ought to stay, I don't think so

Sho' don't think so

Ohhh oh-oh-oh, Ohhh oh-oh-oh, oh, oh oh-oh, whoa

And yesterday I saw you standing by the river

And weren't those tears that filled your eyes

And all the fish that lay in dirty water dying, dying

Had they got you hypnotized

oh dear

Yesterday I saw you kissing tiny flowers

But all that lives is born to die

And so I say to you that nothing really matters, no no

And all you do is stand and cry, I know, I know

That's the way

That's the way it oughta be

Oh don't you know now

And when I wake up in the morning, morning,morning, I tell my mama

That's the way it oughta gonna stay, I don't think so, uh uh, oh

Ohhh oh-oh-oh, Ohhh oh-oh-oh, oh, ah-ah-ah

Hey, it ain't right, it ain't right, it ain't right, it ain't right, it ain't right, mamama

It ain't right, it ain't right, it ain't right, it ain't right, no-no-oh

Oh, oh

Oh, oh-oh

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
hypnotized /ˈhɪp.nə.taɪzd/ C1	verb - put into a trance-like state
satisfied /ˈsæt.ɪs.faɪd/ B2	adjective - content; pleased with circumstances
darkest /ˈdɑːk.ɪst/ B1	adjective - most devoid of light; most ominous
dying /ˈdaɪ.ɪŋ/ B1	verb - ceasing to live
dirty /ˈdɜː.ti/ A2	adjective - covered with grime; polluted
tiny /ˈtaɪ.ni/ A2	adjective - extremely small
born /bɔːn/ B1	verb - brought into existence
matters /ˈmæt.əz/ B1	verb - is of importance
cry /kraɪ/ A2	verb - shed tears
right /raɪt/ A2	adjective - morally good; correct
tears /tɪərz/ B1	noun - drops of liquid from eyes when crying
flowers /ˈflaʊ.əz/ A1	noun - blossoming plants
river /ˈrɪv.ər/ A2	noun - large natural flowing watercourse
hair /heər/ A1	noun - strands growing from the scalp
town /taʊn/ A1	noun - urban area smaller than a city

Key Grammar Structures

• I don't know how I'm gonna tell you

  ➔ future intention with 'going to'

  ➔ The phrase "gonna" is a colloquial contraction of "going to" and is used to express a future intention: "I’m **"gonna"** tell you".

• I can't play with you no more

  ➔ modal verb 'can' in negative form to express inability

  ➔ "can't" is the contracted negative form of "can not" and shows inability: "I **"can't"** play".

• What did mama say to me, oh-oh-oh

  ➔ past simple question using auxiliary 'did'

  ➔ "did" is the auxiliary used to form a past‑simple question: "What **"did"** mama say?"

• And when I'm out I see you walking

  ➔ verb of perception + present participle (‑ing)

  ➔ "see" is a perception verb followed by the -ing form "walking": "I see you **"walking"**".

• Could it be you've found another game to play

  ➔ modal verb 'could' for possibility + present perfect

  ➔ "Could" expresses possibility, and "you've" is the contraction of "you have" (present perfect): "Could it be **"you've"** found...".

• That's the way it ought to stay

  ➔ modal verb 'ought to' expressing duty or expectation

  ➔ "ought to" is a modal that suggests something is expected or required: "it **"ought to"** stay".

• And yesterday I saw you standing by the river

  ➔ past simple with verb of perception + -ing

  ➔ "saw" is the past simple of "see" and is followed by the -ing form "standing": "I **"saw"** you **"standing"**...".

• It ain't right, it ain't right, it ain't right

  ➔ colloquial negative 'ain't' for 'is not'

  ➔ "ain't" is an informal contraction meaning "is not": "It **"ain't"** right".

• When I wake up in the morning, I tell my mama

  ➔ present simple for habitual actions

  ➔ "wake up" and "tell" are in the present simple to describe a routine: "When I **"wake up"**... I **"tell"** my mama".

• I don't think so

  ➔ present simple negative with verb 'think'

  ➔ "don't" is the contracted negative of "do not" used with "think": "I **"don't"** think so".