Vultures – English Lyrics

• By: The Offspring

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into The Offspring's "Vultures," a powerful rock anthem that captures the raw emotions of internal struggle and disillusionment. By engaging with its poignant lyrics, learners can grasp expressions related to emotional turmoil, defiance, and self-affirmation in English. The song's introspective narrative offers a unique opportunity to explore nuanced vocabulary and conversational phrases, making language learning an immersive and impactful experience through the band's distinctive style.

[English]

Now I could lie by your side

All serrated for you

Down below, cancer grows

Weepin' waits inside you too

Now all our rage begs a stage

It's a waste of time though

And your style seems worthwhile

But this lonely road has turned

(Oh)

And you faded there

(Oh)

They pretend to care

(Oh)

Vultures waitin'

If you don't like me

Certify me

(Yea)

I don't know yea

(Yea)

I won't go yea

(Yea)

Save it, I'm okay

Okay

...

And in the sun, a loaded gun

Makes for conversation

All the while in denial

It's too late for me to change

(Oh)

And you were unchained

(Oh)

Nothing more had changed

(Oh)

I could fake it

If you still hate me

Confiscate me

(Yea)

I don't know yea

(Yea)

I won't go yea

(Yea)

Save it, I'm okay

Okay

(Yea)

I don't play yea

(Yea)

Go away yea

(Yea)

Save it, I'm okay

Okay

...

(Oh)

And you were unchained

(Oh)

Nothing more had changed

(Oh)

I could fake it

If you still hate me

Confiscate me

(Yea)

I don't know yea

(Yea)

I won't go yea

(Yea)

Save it, I'm okay

Okay

(Yea)

I don't play yea

(Yea)

Go away yea

(Yea)

Save it, I'm okay

Okay

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
lie /laɪ/ A2	verb - to be in a horizontal position
cancer /ˈkænsər/ B2	noun - a disease where cells multiply uncontrollably
grow /ɡroʊ/ A2	verb - to increase in size or amount
wait /weɪt/ A2	verb - to stay in place expecting something
waste /weɪst/ B2	noun - use of something in a way that doesn't produce benefits
seem /siːm/ A2	verb - to give the impression of being
fade /feɪd/ B2	verb - to lose brightness or strength gradually
fake /feɪk/ B2	verb - to imitate something falsely
hate /heɪt/ B2	verb - to strongly dislike
confiscate /ˈkɒnfɪskeɪt/ C1	verb - to seize possession of something, especially by authority
unremain /ʌnrɪˈmeɪn/ C2	verb - to cease or come to an end

Key Grammar Structures

• Now I could lie by your side

  ➔ Modal verb 'could' for hypothetical situations/possibility.

  ➔ The use of "could" implies that lying by the other person's side is a possible action, but not necessarily a definite one. It expresses a hypothetical situation.

• All serrated for you

  ➔ Past participle "serrated" used as an adjective.

  ➔ "Serrated" describes something having a jagged, saw-like edge. Here, it modifies an unstated noun, implying the speaker is damaged or dangerous for the other person. It acts as a reduced relative clause (which is serrated).

• Weepin' waits inside you too

  ➔ Present participle "Weepin'" (weeping) used as a gerund acting as the subject, albeit grammatically unconventional.

  ➔ The song uses a colloquial shortening "Weepin'" for "weeping". Here, "weeping" is acting as the subject of the sentence, and the verb "waits" agrees with it. This emphasizes the act of weeping itself as something that waits within the person.

• Now all our rage begs a stage

  ➔ Subject-verb agreement: "rage" (singular noun) takes the singular verb "begs".

  ➔ Even though "our rage" refers to a collective feeling, "rage" itself is the subject and it is treated as a singular, uncountable noun, thus requiring the singular form of the verb.

• It's a waste of time though

  ➔ Use of "though" as an adverb at the end of the sentence to express contrast or concession.

  ➔ "Though" adds a contrasting element to the preceding statement. Even though the rage exists and might want a stage, it's ultimately a waste of time. "Though" here is interchangeable with "however" but has a more informal feel.

• Vultures waitin'

  ➔ Present participle "waitin'" (waiting) as a shortened form used as an adjective modifying "vultures".

  ➔ The phrase implies "Vultures are waiting." The participle is used to give a sense of ongoing action and imagery of the vultures.

• If you don't like me

  ➔ Conditional clause type 1 (Zero Conditional): "If + present simple, present simple/imperative".

  ➔ This sets up a condition. The following phrases "Certify me", "Confiscate me" are imperatives.

• Save it, I'm okay

  ➔ Imperative verb "Save" followed by a comma and a statement using the present simple tense "I'm okay".

  ➔ "Save it" is an imperative meaning 'don't bother' or 'don't waste your effort'. The speaker is stating that they are fine, so there's no need for intervention or concern.