Winners Never Quit – English Lyrics

• By: Owl City
• Album: Cinematic

Lyrics & Translation

Learn English with Owl City's "Winners Never Quit," a song that uses simple, motivational language to tell a powerful story of perseverance. The clear and direct lyrics, inspired by a classic fable, make it an excellent choice for language learners to pick up encouraging phrases and vocabulary related to determination and self-belief. Its catchy synth-pop melody makes the learning process enjoyable and memorable.

[English]

I've had some bummer days

But I ain't lookin' back

I've made a few mistakes

But I'm on the right track

I got somewhere to be

Gotta hurry so I'll make

My date with destiny

'Cause I don't wanna be late

Here we go

...

I might take my time

'Cause I find the fable had it right

Slow and steady wins the race

And I might lag behind

But I swear I'll cross the finish line

Movin' at a steady pace

I'll give it all I've got

I don't have a lot

But I know a little goes a long way

...

The truth is hard to face

But I can take a hit

I've lost in many ways

But a winner don't quit

My head is in the game

And the move is mine to make

But I am not afraid

'Cause I'll fight the good fight

I got somewhere to be

Gotta hurry so I'll make

My date with destiny

'Cause I don't wanna be late

Here we go

...

I might take my time

'Cause I find the fable had it right

Slow and steady wins the race

And I might lag behind

But I swear I'll cross the finish line

Movin' at a steady pace

I'll give it all I've got

I don't have a lot

But I know a little goes a long

I'll give it all I've got

I don't have a lot

But I know a little goes a long way

...

I got somewhere to be

Gotta hurry so I'll make

My date with destiny

'Cause I don't wanna be late

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
quit /kwɪt/ B1	verb - to stop doing something
mistakes /mɪˈsteɪks/ B1	noun - something done incorrectly
track /træk/ B1	noun - a path or course verb - follow or trace
destiny /ˈdestɪni/ C1	noun - the events that will necessarily happen to a particular person
steady /ˈstedi/ B1	adjective - firm and reliable
pace /peɪs/ B1	noun - speed or rate of movement
truth /truːθ/ B2	noun - the quality of being true
hit /hɪt/ A2	verb - to strike forcefully noun - a successful impact
winner /ˈwɪnər/ B1	noun - a person who wins
head /hed/ A1	noun - the part of the body above the neck
game /ɡeɪm/ A2	noun - a form of play or sport
move /muːv/ A2	noun - an action or change in position verb - to change position
afraid /əˈfreɪd/ A2	adjective - feeling fear
fight /faɪt/ B1	verb - to take part in a struggle
lag /læɡ/ B2	verb - to fall behind
cross /krɒs/ A2	verb - to go from one side to the other
hurry /ˈhʌri/ A2	verb - to move quickly

Key Grammar Structures

• I've had some bummer days

  ➔ Present Perfect Tense

  ➔ The use of 'I've had' is the present perfect tense, indicating an action that started in the past and continues to have relevance in the present.

• But I ain't lookin' back

  ➔ Present Continuous/Present Participle

  ➔ 'Lookin' back' is present continuous, the short form of 'am not looking back', it describes an action in progress at the present time (or a repeated action).

• I've made a few mistakes

  ➔ Present Perfect Tense

  ➔ Again, present perfect tense 'I've made' to highlight the result of action in the past related to the present time.

• But I'm on the right track

  ➔ Present Simple

  ➔ 'I'm' is present simple, stating a current state.

• 'Cause I don't wanna be late

  ➔ Contraction and Verb phrase

  ➔ 'Cause (because) and 'don't wanna be late' is a verb phrase, showing the reason.

• I might take my time

  ➔ Modal verb 'might'

  ➔ Use of the modal verb 'might' to express possibility or a less definite intention.

• 'Cause I find the fable had it right

  ➔ Past Perfect

  ➔ The use of 'had it right' to show an action that was completed before another action in the past. It refers back to the fable being correct

• Slow and steady wins the race

  ➔ Subject-Verb agreement

  ➔ The subject is compound ('Slow and steady'), but the verb 'wins' is singular, agreeing with the idea of 'slow and steady' as a single concept.

• But I swear I'll cross the finish line

  ➔ Future Simple (with modal verb)

  ➔ 'I'll' is the contraction of 'I will', expressing a future action. It's simple future with modal 'will' to express determination or a promise.