War Machine – English Lyrics

• By: Bryan Adams

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the raw power of language in Bryan Adams' “War Machine.” This hard-hitting rock anthem, with its direct and intense lyrics, offers a great opportunity to explore strong verbs and evocative imagery in English. The song's history, originally written for KISS, adds a fascinating layer to its story of rebellion and consequence.

[English]

What if there were no sides at all...

What if there were...

Wanna bite the hands that feed me

Wanna watch them die

Set the demons free and see them fly

Strike down the one who leads me

Gonna take his place

Gonna crucify the human race

Better watch out

cuz I'm a war machine

You better watch out

cuz I'm a war machine

Take the reins of power and seize them

Draw the battle lines

Armageddon's just a matter of time

Tear down the voice of reason

Let the arrows fly

Your freedom's just a state of mind

Ya better watch out

cuz I'm a war machine

Yeah, you better watch out

cuz I'm a war machine

WOAAAAAAOW!

(Guitar solo)

You better watch out

Cuz I'm a war machine

Key Grammar Structures

• What if there were no sides at all...

  ➔ Second Conditional (Hypothetical) with "at all"

  ➔ "What if there were" uses the second conditional to talk about an unreal or hypothetical situation in the present or future. "at all" emphasizes the negative idea of "no sides."

• Wanna bite the hands that feed me

  ➔ Relative Clause with "that" + Informal Contraction "Wanna"

  ➔ "that feed me" is a relative clause providing more information about "the hands." "Wanna" is an informal contraction of "want to."

• Wanna watch them die

  ➔ Verb + Object + Bare Infinitive

  ➔ The structure "watch + object + bare infinitive" ("watch them die") is used for verbs of perception to describe an action that someone sees or hears.

• Gonna take his place

  ➔ Informal Contraction "Gonna" (Future Intention)

  ➔ "Gonna" is an informal contraction of "going to," used to express a future intention or plan.

• Better watch out

  ➔ "Had better" (Advice/Warning)

  ➔ "Better watch out" is a shortened form of "You had better watch out." "Had better" is used to give strong advice or a warning, often implying negative consequences if ignored.

• Armageddon's just a matter of time

  ➔ Idiomatic Expression "a matter of time"

  ➔ "a matter of time" is an idiom meaning that something is certain to happen eventually, even if the exact moment is unknown.

• Let the arrows fly

  ➔ Causative Verb "Let" + Object + Bare Infinitive

  ➔ The structure "let + object + bare infinitive" ("let the arrows fly") means to allow or permit something to happen.

• Your freedom's just a state of mind

  ➔ Idiomatic Expression "a state of mind"

  ➔ "a state of mind" is an idiom referring to someone's mood or general attitude, or how they are thinking about something.