Where's the Revolution – English Lyrics

• By: Depeche Mode

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the power of language in protest and social commentary with Depeche Mode's 'Where's the Revolution'. This song is a fantastic way to learn English vocabulary related to politics, power, and societal issues through its direct and impactful lyrics. Its driving rhythm and passionate vocals make it a compelling piece of music that encourages you to think critically about the world while absorbing new phrases.

[English]

(Instrumental)

You've been kept down You've been pushed 'round

You've been lied to You've been fed truths Who's

making your decisions?

You or your religion Your government, your countries

You patriotic junkies Where's the revolution?

Come on, people You're letting me down Where's

the revolution?

Come on, people You're letting me down You've

been pissed on For too long Your rights abused

Your views refused They manipulate and threaten

With terror as a weapon Scare you till you're

stupefied wear you down until you're on their side

Where's the revolution?

Come on, people You're letting me down Where's

the revolution?

Come on, people You're letting me down The train

is coming The train is coming The train is coming

The train is coming So get on board Get on board Get

on board Get on board The engine's humming The

engine's humming The engine's humming The

engine's humming So get on board Get on board

where's the revolution?

Come on, people You're letting me down Where's

the revolution?

Come on, people You're letting me down

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
revolution /ˌrɛvəˈluːʃən/ B2	noun - a sudden or complete change, especially in political system
government /ˈɡʌvərnmənt/ B1	noun - the group of people with the authority to govern a country or state
decision /dɪˈsɪʒən/ B1	noun - a choice or conclusion made after consideration
truth /truːθ/ B1	noun - the fact or reality about something
rights /raɪts/ B2	noun - legal, social, or moral privileges or freedoms
manipulate /məˈnɪpjuleɪt/ C1	verb - to control or influence cleverly or unfairly
threaten /ˈθrɛtən/ C1	verb - to state one's intention to cause harm or trouble
terror /ˈtɛrə(r)/ B2	noun - extreme fear or violence used to achieve a purpose
train /treɪn/ A2	noun - a series of connected vehicles that move along a track and are used for transporting people or goods
engine /ˈɛn.dʒɪn/ B2	noun - a machine with moving parts that converts energy into motion, especially a motor for vehicles

Key Grammar Structures

• You've been kept down

  ➔ Present Perfect Passive Voice

  ➔ The sentence uses the present perfect passive voice with 'have been + past participle' to indicate an action that started in the past and continues to affect the present.

• Who's making your decisions?

  ➔ Contraction and Present Continuous Interrogative

  ➔ The sentence uses a contraction ('Who's' for 'Who is') and the present continuous interrogative to ask about an ongoing action.

• You patriotic junkies

  ➔ Vocative or Appositive

  ➔ The phrase uses a vocative or appositive to directly address the audience, emphasizing their characteristic.

• Where's the revolution?

  ➔ Contraction and Present Simple Interrogative

  ➔ The sentence uses a contraction ('Where's' for 'Where is') and the present simple interrogative to ask about the location or existence of something.

• They manipulate and threaten

  ➔ Compound Verb (Coordinate Verbs)

  ➔ The sentence uses compound verbs connected by 'and' to show two actions performed by the same subject.

• The train is coming

  ➔ Present Continuous

  ➔ The sentence uses the present continuous to describe an action that is happening now or in the near future.

• So get on board

  ➔ Imperative Mood

  ➔ The phrase uses the imperative mood to give a direct command or instruction.

• The engine's humming

  ➔ Contraction and Present Continuous

  ➔ The sentence uses a contraction ('engine's' for 'engine is') and the present continuous to describe an ongoing action.