Who’s Gonna Stop Me – English Lyrics

• By: Portugal. The Man, Weird Al Yankovic

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the powerful collaboration between Portugal. The Man and 'Weird Al' Yankovic in 'Who's Gonna Stop Me.' This song offers a unique opportunity to learn English through its poignant lyrics about freedom and resilience, all while gaining insight into the important cultural context of Indigenous Peoples Day in the United States. Its message of breaking down barriers makes it a truly special and meaningful learning experience.

[English]

(♪ ♪)

♪ Who's gonna stop me when there's no one there to stop me but me? ♪

♪ A copy of a copy of a hero that you want me to be ♪

♪ Sneaking out, jumping over backyard fences ♪

♪ Sneaking out, jumping over backyard fences ♪

♪ We're all just looking for freedom ♪

♪ They called off the rescue party, ain't nobody looking for me ♪

♪ Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh (ooh-ooh) ♪

♪ Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh (ooh-ooh) ♪

♪ Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh (ooh-ooh) ♪

♪ Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh ♪

♪ Never make excuses 'cause they never made excuses my size ♪

♪ Run, baby, run that's pure hunger, not love, in my eyes ♪

♪ Sneaking out, jumping over backyard fences ♪

♪ Sneaking out, jumping over backyard fences ♪

♪ We're all just looking for freedom ♪

♪ I got an appetite for living but this life is gonna eat me alive ♪

♪ We're all just looking for freedom ♪

♪ We're running straight to the demons ♪

♪ We're all just looking for freedom ♪

♪ We're running straight to the demons ♪

♪ We're all just ♪

♪ Sneaking out, jumping over backyard fences ♪

♪ Sneaking out, jumping over backyard fences ♪

♪ Sneaking out, jumping over backyard fences ♪

♪ Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh (ooh-ooh) ♪

♪ Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh (ooh-ooh) ♪

♪ Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh (ooh-ooh) ♪

♪ Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh ♪

♪ Who's gonna stop me when there's no one there to stop me but me? ♪

♪ Who's gonna stop me when there's no one there to stop me but me? ♪

♪ We're all just Sneaking out, jumping over backyard fences ♪

♪ Sneaking out, jumping over backyard fences ♪

♪ (We're all just looking for freedom) ♪

♪ Who's gonna stop me, who's gonna stop me ♪

♪ Who's gonna stop me but me? ♪

♪ Too high (too high) ♪

♪ Gravity don't work anymore (gravity don't work anymore) ♪

♪ Too high (too high) ♪

♪ Gravity don't work anymore (gravity don't work anymore) ♪

♪ Too high (too high) ♪

♪ Gravity don't work anymore (gravity don't work anymore) ♪

♪ Too high (too high) ♪

♪ Gravity don't work anymore (gravity don't work anymore) ♪

(♪ ♪)

(♪ ♪)

(Music fades )

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
stop /stɒp/ A1	verb - to cease moving or acting; to prevent something
copy /ˈkɒpi/ A2	noun - a duplicate of something verb - to reproduce something exactly
hero /ˈhɪərəʊ/ B1	noun - a person admired for courage or noble qualities
want /wɒnt/ A1	verb - to desire or wish for something
sneak /sniːk/ B1	verb - to move quietly and secretly
jump /dʒʌmp/ A1	verb - to spring off the ground
backyard /ˈbækjɑːd/ B1	noun - the area behind a house
fence /fɛns/ A2	noun - a barrier made of posts and wire
freedom /ˈfriːdəm/ B1	noun - the power to act or think without restriction
rescue /ˈrɛskjuː/ B2	noun - the act of saving someone or something from danger
party /ˈpɑːti/ A1	noun - a social gathering for enjoyment
excuse /ɪkˈskjuːz/ B1	noun - a reason given to justify a fault or failure
run /rʌn/ A1	verb - to move quickly on foot
hunger /ˈhʌŋɡər/ B1	noun - a feeling of needing food
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - deep affection or strong feeling of attachment
appetite /ˈæpɪˌtiːt/ B2	noun - a desire for food; a strong desire for something
demon /ˈdiːmən/ B2	noun - an evil spirit or devil
gravity /ˈɡrævɪti/ B2	noun - the force that pulls objects toward each other; seriousness
high /haɪ/ A1	adjective - at a great height; elevated

Key Grammar Structures

• Who's gonna stop me when there's no one there to stop me but me?

  ➔ Question with "who", Conditional clause with "when", Emphasis with "but me"

  ➔ The question uses "who" to inquire about the subject. The conditional clause "when there's no one..." sets a condition. "But me" is used for self-emphasis.

• A copy of a copy of a hero that you want me to be

  ➔ Repetition of "copy" and Relative clause with "that"

  ➔ The word "copy" is repeated for emphasis. The relative clause "that you want me to be" modifies the noun "hero".

• Sneaking out, jumping over backyard fences

  ➔ Gerunds (present participles) used as actions and compound noun "backyard fences"

  ➔ The gerunds "sneaking out" and "jumping" describe actions. "Backyard fences" is a compound noun.

• We're all just looking for freedom

  ➔ Present continuous tense ("are looking") and adverb "just"

  ➔ The present continuous "are looking" describes an ongoing action. "Just" modifies the verb.

• They called off the rescue party, ain't nobody looking for me

  ➔ Phrasal verb "called off", contraction "ain't", and informal language.

  ➔ The phrasal verb "called off" means canceled. "Ain't" is a contraction often used in informal speech for "am/is/are not." The language used is informal.

• Never make excuses 'cause they never made excuses my size

  ➔ Imperative sentence "Never make", and contraction "'cause" (because), possessive pronoun "my size"

  ➔ The sentence is a command. "'Cause" is an informal contraction. "My size" is used to describe something relevant to the speaker.

• Run, baby, run that's pure hunger, not love, in my eyes

  ➔ Imperative verb "Run", descriptive phrase "that's pure hunger", contrasting conjunction "not"

  ➔ The sentence starts with an imperative verb, followed by a descriptive phrase. "Not" is used for contrast.

• I got an appetite for living but this life is gonna eat me alive

  ➔ Informal "got" (have), contrasting conjunction "but", colloquial future tense "is gonna"

  ➔ "Got" replaces "have" in informal contexts. "But" indicates contrast. "Is gonna" is a colloquial form of "is going to" for future tense.

• Gravity don't work anymore

  ➔ Contraction "don't", and the adverbial phrase "anymore"

  ➔ "Don't" is a contraction for "do not." "Anymore" means no longer.