Werewolves Of London – English Lyrics

• By: Warren Zevon
• Album: Excitable Boy

Lyrics & Translation

Learn English through the witty and macabre storytelling of Warren Zevon's "Werewolves of London." This song is a fantastic tool for learners, with its clear narrative, vivid imagery, and clever wordplay. The playful yet dark lyrics offer a unique and engaging way to expand your vocabulary and understanding of English humor and cultural references.

[English]

I saw a werewolf with a Chinese menu in his hand

Walking through the streets of SoHo in the rain

He was looking for the place called Lee Ho Fook's

Gonna get a big dish of beef chow mein

Ah-hoo, werewolves of London

Ah-hoo

Ah-hoo, werewolves of London

Ah-hoo

You hear him howlin' around your kitchen door

You better not let him in

Little old lady got mutilated late last night

Werewolves of London again

Ah-hoo, werewolves of London

Ah-hoo

Ah-hoo, werewolves of London

Ah-hoo, huh

...

He's the hairy-handed gent who ran amok in Kent

Lately he's been overheard in Mayfair

You better stay away from him, he'll rip your lungs out, Jim

Huh, I'd like to meet his tailor

Ah-hoo, werewolves of London

Ah-hoo

Ah-hoo, werewolves of London

Ah-hoo

Well, I saw Lon Chaney walkin' with the Queen

Doin' the werewolves of London

I saw Lon Chaney Jr. walkin' with the Queen, uh

Doin' the werewolves of London

I saw a werewolf drinkin' a piña colada at Trader Vic's

And his hair was perfect

Ah-hoo, werewolves of London

Huh, draw blood

Ah-hoo, werewolves of London

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
werewolf /ˈwɪərwʊlf/ B2	noun - a mythical human being who changes into a wolf, especially at the time of a full moon
menu /ˈmenjuː/ A2	noun - a list of dishes available in a restaurant
streets /striːts/ A1	noun - a public road in a city or town
rain /reɪn/ A1	noun - water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere verb - to fall as rain
dish /dɪʃ/ A2	noun - a plate or bowl
beef /biːf/ A2	noun - the flesh of a cow, bull, or ox, used as food
kitchen /ˈkɪtʃɪn/ A1	noun - a room or area where food is prepared and cooked
door /dɔːr/ A1	noun - a hinged, sliding, or revolving barrier at the entrance to a building, room, or vehicle
lady /ˈleɪdi/ A1	noun - a woman
night /naɪt/ A1	noun - the period from sunset to sunrise in each twenty-four hours
hairy /ˈheəri/ B1	adjective - covered with hair
tailor /ˈteɪlər/ B1	noun - a person whose occupation is making fitted clothes such as suits and jackets to order verb - to make (clothes) to fit well
queen /kwiːn/ A2	noun - the female ruler of an independent state, especially one who inherits the position by right of birth
hair /heər/ A1	noun - any of the fine threadlike strands growing from the skin of humans, mammals, and other animals
perfect /ˈpɜːrfɪkt/ B1	adjective - having all the required or desirable elements, qualities, or characteristics; as good as it is possible to be
blood /blʌd/ A2	noun - the red fluid that circulates in the arteries and veins of humans and other vertebrate animals, carrying oxygen to and carbon dioxide from the tissues of the body

Key Grammar Structures

• I saw a werewolf with a Chinese menu in his hand

  ➔ Simple Past Tense; Prepositional Phrase

  ➔ The use of "saw" indicates a completed action in the past. "with a Chinese menu in his hand" is a prepositional phrase modifying "werewolf".

• Walking through the streets of SoHo in the rain

  ➔ Present Participle Phrase (adjective); Prepositions of Place

  ➔ "Walking through the streets of SoHo in the rain" acts as an adjective phrase describing the werewolf. "through" and "in" are prepositions of place.

• You better not let him in

  ➔ "had better" (modal verb expressing advice)

  ➔ "You better" is a shortened form of "you had better," which expresses strong advice or a warning.

• Little old lady got mutilated late last night

  ➔ Passive Voice (implied); Past Simple

  ➔ The sentence implies a passive construction: "The little old lady was mutilated." The agent (the werewolf) is not explicitly stated.

• He's the hairy-handed gent who ran amok in Kent

  ➔ Relative Clause; Phrasal Verb

  ➔ "who ran amok in Kent" is a relative clause modifying "the hairy-handed gent." "ran amok" is a phrasal verb meaning 'behaved uncontrollably and disruptively'.

• Lately he's been overheard in Mayfair

  ➔ Present Perfect Passive; Adverb of Time

  ➔ "He's been overheard" is the present perfect passive. "Lately" is an adverb of time indicating the action has occurred recently.

• You better stay away from him, he'll rip your lungs out, Jim

  ➔ "had better" (modal verb expressing advice); Future Simple (with 'will'); Vocative Case

  ➔ "You better stay away" is a shortening of "you had better," providing strong advice. "He'll rip your lungs out" uses the future simple to predict an action. "Jim" is used in the vocative case, directly addressing someone.

• I saw a werewolf drinkin' a piña colada at Trader Vic's

  ➔ Simple Past; Present Participle as adjective; prepositional phrase

  ➔ "saw" is the simple past of "see". "drinkin'" (drinking) acts as an adjective modifying werewolf. "at Trader Vic's" is a prepositional phrase indicating location.