Through the Valley – English Lyrics

• By: Shawn James

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a powerful tool, and Shawn James's "Through the Valley" offers a unique lesson in emotional expression. The song, a dark reinterpretation of the 23rd Psalm, is a masterclass in using familiar cultural texts to convey personal struggle and philosophical questions. For English learners, it's a chance to explore themes of defiance, survival, and moral complexity through raw, powerful lyrics and a commanding vocal performance that makes every word resonate.

[English]

I walk through the valley of the shadow of death

And I fear no evil because I'm blind to it all

And my mind and my gun they comfort me

Because I know I'll kill my enemies when they come

Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life

And I will dwell on this earth forevermore

Said, I walk beside the still waters and they restore my soul

But I can't walk on the path of the right because I'm wrong

Well, I came upon a man at the top of a hill

Called himself the savior of the human race

Said he come to save the world from destruction and pain

But I said, "How can you save the world from itself?"

...

'Cause I walk through the valley of the shadow of death

And I fear no evil because I'm blind

Oh, and I walk beside the still waters and they restore my soul

But I know when I die my soul is damned

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
walk /wɔːk/ A1	verb - to move by putting one foot in front of the other
valley /ˈvæli/ B1	noun - a low area of land between hills or mountains
shadow /ˈʃædoʊ/ B1	noun - a dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface
fear /fɪr/ A2	verb - to be afraid of something or someone
comfort /ˈkʌmfərt/ B2	verb - to soothe or console someone in distress
enemies /ˈɛnəmiz/ B1	noun - people who are actively opposed or hostile to someone or something
goodness /ˈɡʊdnəs/ B2	noun - the quality of being good
mercy /ˈmɜrsi/ B2	noun - compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone
restore /rɪˈstɔr/ B2	verb - to bring back to a former condition
soul /soʊl/ B1	noun - the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being
path /pæθ/ B1	noun - a way or track laid down for walking or made by continual treading
savior /ˈseɪvjər/ B2	noun - a person who saves someone or something from danger
destruction /dɪˈstrʌkʃən/ B2	noun - the action or process of causing so much damage to something that it no longer exists or cannot be repaired
pain /peɪn/ A2	noun - physical suffering or discomfort
wrong /rɔŋ/ A2	adjective - not correct or true
die /daɪ/ A1	verb - to stop living

Key Grammar Structures

• I walk through the valley of the shadow of death

  ➔ Present simple tense

  ➔ The phrase "I walk" indicates a habitual action or a general truth.

• And I fear no evil because I'm blind to it all

  ➔ Present simple and present continuous tense

  ➔ The phrase "I fear" is in the present simple, while "I'm blind" is in the present continuous, showing a state of being.

• Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life

  ➔ Future simple tense

  ➔ The phrase "will follow" indicates a future action or certainty.

• But I can't walk on the path of the right because I'm wrong

  ➔ Modal verbs (can/can't)

  ➔ The phrase "can't walk" uses the modal verb 'can' to express inability.

• Said, I walk beside the still waters and they restore my soul

  ➔ Reported speech

  ➔ The word "Said" introduces reported speech, indicating what someone has expressed.

• But I know when I die my soul is damned

  ➔ Complex sentence structure

  ➔ The phrase contains a main clause "I know" and a subordinate clause "when I die".