The Monster – English Lyrics

• By: Eminem, Rihanna
• Album: MMLP2

Lyrics & Translation

Delve into "The Monster," a powerful collaboration by Eminem and Rihanna that offers a raw look into the challenges of fame and mental health. This hip-hop and pop track, released in 2013, became a global hit and is an excellent song to explore English lyrics due to its introspective nature and emotional depth. Through its verses, you can learn vocabulary related to psychological struggles and the pressures of public life, while Rihanna's memorable chorus provides insight into confronting inner demons. The song's contrasting styles of rap and melodic hooks also offer a dynamic listening experience that highlights the artists' individual strengths.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
monster /ˈmɒnstər/ A2	noun - a large, ugly, and frightening imaginary creature.
voices /ˈvɔɪsɪz/ A2	noun - the sound produced in a person's larynx and uttered through the mouth, as speech or song.
head /hɛd/ A1	noun - the part of the body above the neck where the brain is
save /seɪv/ A2	verb - to keep safe or rescue from danger or harm.
crazy /ˈkreɪzi/ A2	adjective - mentally deranged, especially as manifested in a wild or aggressive way.
fame /feɪm/ B1	noun - the state or quality of being widely honored and respected.
music /ˈmjuːzɪk/ A1	noun - vocal or instrumental sounds (or both) combined in such a way as to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion.
cake /keɪk/ A1	noun - an item of soft, sweet food made from a mixture of flour, fat, eggs, sugar, and other ingredients, baked.
ego /ˈiːɡoʊ/ B2	noun - a person's sense of self-esteem or self-importance.
tool /tuːl/ A1	noun - a device or implement, especially one held in the hand, used to carry out a particular function.
lottery /ˈlɒtəri/ B1	noun - a means of raising money by selling numbered tickets and giving prizes to the holders of numbers drawn at random.
ironic /aɪˈrɒnɪk/ C1	adjective - happening in the opposite way to what is expected, and typically causing wry amusement because of this.
sleep /sliːp/ A1	noun - a condition of body and mind such as that which typically recurs for several hours every night, in which the nervous system is relatively inactive, the eyes closed, the postural muscles relaxed, and consciousness practically suspended. verb - be in a state of sleep.
poet /ˈpəʊɪt/ B1	noun - a person who writes poems.
moment /ˈməʊmənt/ A2	noun - a very short period of time.
thoughts /θɔːts/ A2	noun - an idea or opinion produced by thinking, or occurring suddenly in the mind.
conflict /ˈkɒnflɪkt/ B2	noun - a serious disagreement or argument, typically a protracted one.
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - an intense feeling of affection. verb - feel deep affection for (someone).
killing /ˈkɪlɪŋ/ B1	verb - cause the death of (a person, animal, or other living thing).
vision /ˈvɪʒən/ B2	noun - the faculty or state of being able to see.

Key Grammar Structures

• I'm friends with the monster that's under my bed

  ➔ Present Simple Tense

  ➔ The phrase "I'm friends" uses the present simple tense to express a current state of being.

• You're trying to save me, stop holding your breath

  ➔ Present Continuous Tense

  ➔ The phrase "You're trying" uses the present continuous tense to indicate an ongoing action.

• I wanted the fame, but not the cover of Newsweek

  ➔ Past Simple Tense

  ➔ The phrase "I wanted" uses the past simple tense to express a desire that existed in the past.

• It's payback, Russell Wilson falling way back in the draft

  ➔ Present Simple Tense

  ➔ The phrase "It's payback" uses the present simple tense to state a fact.

• Maybe I need a straightjacket

  ➔ Modal Verbs

  ➔ The phrase "Maybe I need" uses the modal verb 'need' to express possibility.

• I ain't here to save the fucking children

  ➔ Informal Contractions

  ➔ The phrase "I ain't here" uses an informal contraction 'ain't' instead of 'am not'.

• And you think I'm crazy, yeah, you think I'm crazy

  ➔ Repetition for Emphasis

  ➔ The phrase "you think I'm crazy" is repeated for emphasis, highlighting the speaker's feelings.