When The Children Cry – English Lyrics

• By: White Lion
• Album: Pride

Lyrics & Translation

Learn English with White Lion's timeless ballad, 'When The Children Cry.' The song's simple yet profound lyrics about peace and hope offer a great opportunity to explore emotional vocabulary and reflective language. Its universal message and classic 80s rock feel make it a special song for language learners.

[English]

Little child

Dry your crying eyes

How can I explain

The fear you feel inside?

...

'Cause you were born

Into this evil world

Where man is killing man

And no one knows just why

...

What have we become?

Just look what we have done

All that we destroyed

You must build again

When the children cry

Let them know we tried

'Cause when the children sing

Then the new world begins

...

Little child

You must show the way

To a better day

For all the young

'Cause you were born

For the world to see

That we all can live

With love and peace

No more presidents

And all the wars will end

One united world

Under God

When the children cry

Let them know we tried

'Cause when the children sing

Then the new world begins

...

What have we become?

Just look what we have done

All that we destroyed

You must build again

No more presidents

And all the wars will end

One united world

Under God

When the children cry

Let them know we tried

'Cause when the children fight

Let them know it ain't right

When the children pray

Let them know the way

'Cause when the children sing

Then the new world begins

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
cry /kraɪ/ A2	verb - to produce tears as an expression of emotion
children /ˈtʃɪl.drən/ A2	noun - young human beings below the age of puberty
world /wɜːrld/ A2	noun - the planet Earth or the universe
peace /piːs/ B1	noun - a state of tranquility or quiet
love /lʌv/ A2	noun / verb - deep affection or attachment; to feel deep affection for someone
children /ˈtʃɪl.drən/ A2	noun - young human beings below the age of puberty
peaceful /ˈpiːs.fəl/ B2	adjective - free from violence or disturbance
destroyed /dɪˈstrɔɪd/ B2	verb (past participle) - completely ruined or wrecked
build /bɪld/ A2	verb - to construct or assemble
begin /bɪˈɡɪn/ A2	verb - to start or commence
again /əˈɡeɪn/ A2	adverb - once more, anew
sing /sɪŋ/ A2	verb - to produce musical sounds with the voice
begins /bɪˈɡɪnz/ A2	verb (third person singular present) - to start or come into being
know /noʊ/ A2	verb - to have information or understanding
try /traɪ/ A2	verb - to attempt or make an effort

Key Grammar Structures

• Little child Dry your crying eyes

  ➔ Imperative Mood

  ➔ "Dry" is in the imperative form, giving a command or request.

• 'Cause you were born Into this evil world

  ➔ Past Simple Passive

  ➔ 'Were born' is the past simple passive, indicating the action was done to the subject in the past.

• All that we destroyed

  ➔ Relative Clause

  ➔ 'That we destroyed' is a relative clause providing more information about 'All'.

• Let them know we tried

  ➔ Causative Verb + Object + Infinitive

  ➔ 'Let' causes someone to do something, followed by the object and the base form of the verb.

• Then the new world begins

  ➔ Simple Present Tense

  ➔ Begins is in the simple present tense, used to describe general truths or habitual actions.

• Then the new world begins

  ➔ Simple Present Tense

  ➔ Begins is in the simple present tense, indicating a future event that is scheduled or inevitable.

• Let them know we tried

  ➔ Causative Verb + Object + Infinitive

  ➔ 'Let' causes someone to do something, followed by the object and the base form of the verb.

• When the children cry Let them know we tried

  ➔ Conditional Clause + Imperative Mood

  ➔ The phrase sets a condition 'When the children cry' and gives a command in the imperative mood.