Vultures

• By: The Offspring

Lyrics:

Vocabulary in this song:

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

Grammar:

• 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.