You Know You're Right – English Lyrics

• By: Nirvana

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music can be a powerful experience, and Nirvana's "You Know You're Right" offers a unique window into the raw emotion and poetic depth of English. The song's relatively simple verse structure, combined with its intensely expressive chorus, allows learners to grasp vocabulary related to feelings of angst, resignation, and pain. What makes this song special for language learning is its use of sarcasm and double meanings, providing a fascinating challenge for understanding nuanced expression. The stark contrast between the quiet verses and the loud chorus can also help in understanding the emotional weight and delivery of words.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
bother /ˈbɒðər/ or /ˈbʌðər/ B1	verb - to disturb or upset someone
promise /ˈprɒmɪs/ or /ˈproʊmɪs/ B1	noun - a vow or assurance that one will do something verb - to commit to do something
follow /ˈfɒloʊ/ or /ˈfɑːloʊ/ B1	verb - to go after a person or thing
speak /spiːk/ A2	verb - to say words aloud
crawl /krɔːl/ B2	verb - to move on hands and knees
move /muːv/ A2	verb - to change position or go somewhere
fear /fɪər/ B2	noun - an unpleasant emotion caused by danger or threat verb - to be afraid of something
thought /θɔːt/ B2	noun - the activity of thinking
thing /θɪŋ/ A2	noun - an object or idea
well /wɛl/ A2	adjective - in good health or condition
calm /kɑːm/ B2	adjective - free from agitation or excitement
self /sɛlf/ B2	noun - a person's essential being
love /lʌv/ A2	verb - to have deep affection for someone or something noun - a feeling of deep affection

Key Grammar Structures

• I WILL NEVER BOTHER YOU

  ➔ Future Simple Tense

  ➔ The phrase uses the future simple tense to express a promise or intention, indicated by the structure 'will + base verb'.

• I WILL CRAWL AWAY FOR GOOD

  ➔ Future Simple Tense with Adverbial Phrase

  ➔ The phrase indicates a future action with a specific intention, using 'for good' to emphasize permanence.

• YOU WON'T BE AFRAID OF FEAR

  ➔ Negative Future Simple Tense

  ➔ The phrase uses the negative form of the future simple tense, indicated by 'won't' (will not).

• THINGS HAVE NEVER BEEN SO SWELL

  ➔ Present Perfect Tense

  ➔ The present perfect tense is used to express an experience or state that has relevance to the present, indicated by 'have been'.

• I HAVE NEVER FAILED TO FAIL

  ➔ Present Perfect Tense with Negative

  ➔ This phrase uses the present perfect tense in a negative form to express a lack of success, indicated by 'have never failed'.

• YOU KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

  ➔ Present Simple Tense

  ➔ The present simple tense is used to express general truths or facts, indicated by 'know'.