The Kids Aren't Alright – English Lyrics

• By: The Offspring

Lyrics & Translation

This powerful punk rock track offers a compelling way to engage with English lyrics that tell individual stories of lost potential and the harsh realities of growing up. Its fast, aggressive tempo and reflective lyrics make it a poignant and memorable song for understanding themes of societal issues and personal struggles.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
young /jʌŋ/ A1	adjective - having lived or existed for only a short time
bright /braɪt/ B1	adjective - giving out or reflecting a lot of light
alive /əˈlaɪv/ B1	adjective - living, not dead
kid /kɪd/ A1	noun - a child or young person
make /meɪk/ A1	verb - to create or construct
beat /biːt/ B1	verb - to defeat someone in a game or competition
cracked /krækt/ B2	adjective - damaged with lines on the surface
torn /tɔːrn/ B2	adjective - damaged by being pulled apart
grown /ɡroʊn/ A2	verb - past participle of grow: to increase in size or develop
lives /laɪvz/ A1	noun - plural of life: the condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic matter
worn /wɔːrn/ B2	adjective - damaged or thin as a result of much use
swallow /ˈswɒləʊ/ B2	verb - to cause to pass down the throat
thrown /θroʊn/ B1	verb - past participle of throw: propel with force
hard /hɑːrd/ A2	adjective - not easy; requiring effort
fragile /ˈfrædʒaɪl/ B2	adjective - easily broken or damaged; delicate
shattered /ˈʃætərd/ C1	adjective - completely broken or destroyed
dreams /driːmz/ A2	noun - a series of thoughts, images, or emotions occurring during sleep
dropped /drɑːpt/ B1	verb - to let or make something fall vertically.
job /dʒɑːb/ A1	noun - a paid position of regular employment
committed /kəˈmɪtɪd/ B2	verb - carry out or perpetrate (a mistake, crime, or immoral act).

Key Grammar Structures

• WHEN WE WERE YOUNG THE FUTURE WAS SO BRIGHT

  ➔ Past Simple Tense (were, was) and the use of 'so' as an intensifier.

  ➔ The past simple describes a state in the past. 'So bright' means 'very bright', indicating a strong feeling about the future.

• AND EVERY KID ON THE WHOLE DAMN STREET WAS GONNA MAKE IT BIG AND NOT BE BEAT

  ➔ 'Was gonna' (informal future), passive voice ('not be beat')

  ➔ 'Was gonna' is a colloquial way of saying 'was going to', indicating a planned future action. 'Not be beat' is passive voice, meaning 'not be defeated'.

• NOW THE NEIGHBORHOOD'S CRACKED AND TORN

  ➔ Present Perfect Passive (implied 'has been' before 'cracked and torn')

  ➔ While not explicitly stated, the phrase implies 'the neighborhood has been cracked and torn'. This suggests a state resulting from a past action.

• THE KIDS ARE GROWN UP BUT THEIR LIVES ARE WORN

  ➔ Present Simple (are) used to describe states, conjunction 'but' to contrast ideas.

  ➔ The present simple indicates a current state of being. 'But' shows a contrast: they've grown up, but their lives are not good.

• JAMIE HAD A CHANCE, WELL SHE REALLY DID

  ➔ Past Simple (had), emphatic 'did' to reinforce the verb.

  ➔ Using 'did' after 'she' emphasizes that Jamie truly had a chance. It adds emotional weight.

• INSTEAD SHE DROPPED OUT AND HAD A COUPLE OF KIDS

  ➔ Past Simple (dropped, had), coordinating conjunction 'and'

  ➔ Past simple describes completed actions in the past. 'And' connects two sequential actions.

• MARK STILL LIVES AT HOME CAUSE HE'S GOT NO JOB

  ➔ Present Simple (lives), 'cause' (informal for 'because'), contraction 'he's got' (informal).

  ➔ Present simple describes a current situation. 'Cause' is a shortened, informal version of 'because'. 'He's got' is a common informal contraction.

• JAY COMMITTED SUICIDE

  ➔ Past Simple Tense (committed)

  ➔ Simple past tense describes completed actions in the past