Unconditional II (Race and Religion) – English Lyrics

• By: Arcade Fire, Peter Gabriel

Lyrics & Translation

[English]

At the crossroad

There's a street sign

It's a construct

How'd it get in my mind?

It's a door to the divine

It's a fine line in the end times

I'll be yours (I'll be yours)

You can be mine (you can be mine)

Love unites (love unites)

Breaking as the light divides into the color of your eyes

I'll be your race and religion

You'll be my race and religion

This love is no superstition

United body and soul (hey)

Race and religion

...

Race and religion (race and religion)

It's joy and it's union

Your sense of rhythm

How you take communion

It's a door to the divine

It's the moonlight on a landmine

I'll be yours (I'll be yours)

You can be mine (you can be mine)

Love unites

Breaking as the light divides into the color of your eyes

I'll be your race and religion

You'll be my race and religion

This love is no competition

United body and soul

Race and religion

...

Race and religion (race and religion)

The light arrives from the past

Hits your eyes before it divides into colors

You and me could be we

Could be we

Are the light you can't see and we

Are the roots of the tree and we've got one life

No time for division, new vision

Be my race and religion

Race and religion (race and religion)

Race and religion

Race and religion (race and religion)

...

Hey, I'll be your (race and religion)

You could be my body and soul (body and soul)

I'll be your (race and religion)

You could be my body and soul (body and soul)

I'll be your (race and religion)

You could be my (body and soul)

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
race /reɪs/ B1	noun - a group of people identified as distinct from other groups by their physical or genetic traits noun - a competition of speed
religion /rɪˈlɪdʒən/ B1	noun - a particular system of faith and worship
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - an intense feeling of deep affection verb - to feel deep affection for (someone or something)
unite /juːˈnaɪt/ B1	verb - to come together for a common purpose or action adjective - joined together as a whole (e.g., united)
body /ˈbɒdi/ A1	noun - the physical structure of a person or an animal
soul /səʊl/ B1	noun - the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being, regarded as immortal
light /laɪt/ A1	noun - the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible adjective - having little weight; not heavy
divide /dɪˈvaɪd/ B1	verb - to separate into parts or portions noun - the action of separating something into parts (e.g., division)
divine /dɪˈvaɪn/ B2	adjective - of, from, or like God or a god; sacred
construct /ˈkɒnstrʌkt/ B2	noun - an idea or theory containing various conceptual elements, typically one considered to be subjective and not based on empirical reality verb - to build or form (something) by assembling parts
superstition /ˌsuːpərˈstɪʃən/ B2	noun - a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, or trust in magic or chance
communion /kəˈmjuːnjən/ C1	noun - the sharing or exchanging of intimate thoughts and feelings, especially when the exchange is on a mental or spiritual level noun - the service of Christian worship at which bread and wine are consecrated and shared
vision /ˈvɪʒən/ B1	noun - the faculty or state of being able to see noun - the ability to think about or plan the future with imagination and wisdom
union /ˈjuːnjən/ B1	noun - the action or fact of joining or being joined, especially in a political context noun - a state of being united
crossroad /ˈkrɒsrəʊd/ B2	noun - a road that crosses another road noun - a point at which a crucial decision must be made
landmine /ˈlændmaɪn/ C1	noun - an explosive mine laid on or just under the surface of the ground
rhythm /ˈrɪðəm/ B1	noun - a strong, regular, repeated pattern of movement or sound
break /breɪk/ A2	verb - to separate into pieces as a result of a blow, shock, or strain noun - a pause in work or during an activity or event
fine /faɪn/ A2	adjective - of high quality; excellent adjective - thin or narrow (as in 'fine line')
mind /maɪnd/ A2	noun - the element of a person that enables them to be aware of the world and their experiences, to think, and to feel verb - to be careful about; to pay attention to

Key Grammar Structures

• It's a construct

  ➔ Contraction (It is)

  ➔ The apostrophe in "It's" replaces "is", a common contraction in English.

• I'll be yours

  ➔ Contraction (I will)

  ➔ The apostrophe in "I'll" replaces "will", another common contraction.

• Love unites

  ➔ Present Simple (3rd person singular)

  ➔ The verb "unites" is in the present simple tense, indicating a general truth or habitual action.

• Breaking as the light divides

  ➔ Present Participle

  ➔ "Breaking" and "divides" are present participles, used to describe actions happening at the same time as the main verb.

• You and me could be we

  ➔ Modal Verb (Could)

  ➔ "Could" is a modal verb expressing possibility or suggestion.

• Are the light you can't see

  ➔ Present Simple (Contraction: can't)

  ➔ "Can't" is a contraction of "cannot", used in the present simple to express inability.

• No time for division

  ➔ Present Simple (Negative)

  ➔ The sentence uses the present simple in negative form to express a general truth.

• Be my race and religion

  ➔ Imperative Mood

  ➔ The verb "be" is in the imperative mood, used to give a command or make a request.