You're Gonna Go Far, Kid – English Lyrics

• By: The Offspring

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the electrifying punk rock of The Offspring's "You're Gonna Go Far, Kid"! This catchy and energetic track offers a unique opportunity to explore English vocabulary related to social dynamics, manipulation, and power. Beyond its infectious rhythm, the song's cynical lyrics provide a sharp commentary on how cunning can lead to success, making it a thought-provoking listen for language learners interested in nuanced expressions and cultural critiques.

[English]

[BACKGROUND DIN]

[CROWS CAW]

♪ SHOW ME HOW TO LIE ♪

♪ YOU'RE GETTING BETTER ALL THE TIME ♪

♪ AND TURNING ALL AGAINST THE ONE ♪

♪ IS AN ART THAT'S HARD TO TEACH ♪

♪ ANOTHER CLEVER WORD ♪

♪ SETS OFF AN UNSUSPECTING HERD ♪

♪ AND AS YOU STEP BACK INTO LINE ♪

♪ A MOB JUMPS TO THEIR FEET ♪

♪ NOW DANCE FUCKER DANCE ♪

♪ MAN HE NEVER HAD A CHANCE ♪

♪ AND NO ONE EVEN KNEW ♪

♪ IT WAS REALLY ONLY YOU ♪

♪ AND NOW YOU STEAL AWAY ♪

♪ TAKE HIM OUT TODAY ♪

♪ NICE WORK YOU DID ♪

♪ YOU'RE GONNA GO FAR KID ♪

♪ WITH A THOUSAND LIES AND A GOOD DISGUISE ♪

♪ HIT 'EM RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES ♪

♪ HIT 'EM RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES ♪

♪ WHEN YOU WALK AWAY NOTHING MORE TO SAY ♪

♪ SEE THE LIGHTNING IN YOUR EYES ♪

♪ SEE 'EM RUNNING FOR THEIR LIVES ♪

♪ SLOWLY OUT OF LINE AND DRIFTING CLOSER IN YOUR SIGHT ♪

♪ SO PLAY IT OUT I'M WIDE AWAKE ♪

♪ IT'S A SCENE ABOUT ME ♪

♪ THERE'S SOMETHING IN YOUR WAY ♪

♪ AND NOW SOMEONE IS GONNA PAY ♪

♪ AND IF YOU CAN'T GET WHAT YOU WANT ♪

♪ WELL IT'S ALL BECAUSE OF ME ♪

♪ NOW DANCE FUCKER DANCE ♪

♪ MAN I NEVER HAD A CHANCE ♪

♪ AND NO ONE EVEN KNEW ♪

♪ IT WAS REALLY ONLY YOU ♪

♪ AND NOW YOU LEAD THE WAY ♪

♪ SHOW THE LIGHT OF DAY ♪

♪ NICE WORK YOU DID ♪

♪ YOU'RE GONNA GO FAR KID ♪

♪ TRUST DECEIVED ♪

♪ WITH A THOUSAND LIES AND A GOOD DISGUISE ♪

♪ HIT 'EM RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES ♪

♪ HIT 'EM RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES ♪

♪ WHEN YOU WALK AWAY NOTHING MORE TO SAY ♪

♪ SEE THE LIGHTNING IN YOUR EYES ♪

♪ SEE 'EM RUNNING FOR THEIR LIVES ♪

♪ NOW DANCE FUCKER DANCE ♪

♪ HE NEVER HAD A CHANCE ♪

♪ AND NO ONE EVEN KNEW, IT WAS REALLY ONLY YOU ♪

♪ SO DANCE FUCKER DANCE ♪

♪ I NEVER HAD A CHANCE ♪

♪ IT WAS REALLY ONLY YOU ♪

♪ WITH A THOUSAND LIES AND A GOOD DISGUISE ♪

♪ HIT 'EM RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES ♪

♪ HIT 'EM RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES ♪

♪ WHEN YOU WALK AWAY ♪

♪ NOTHING MORE TO SAY ♪

♪ SEE THE LIGHTNING IN YOUR EYES ♪

♪ SEE 'EM RUNNING FOR THEIR LIVES ♪

♪ CLEVER ALIBIS LORD OF THE FLIES ♪

♪ HIT 'EM RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES ♪

♪ HIT 'EM RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES ♪

♪ WHEN YOU WALK AWAY ♪

♪ NOTHING MORE TO SAY ♪

♪ SEE THE LIGHTNING IN YOUR EYES ♪

♪ SEE 'EM RUNNING FOR THEIR LIVES ♪

♪♪♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
lie /laɪ/ A1	verb - to say something that is not true noun - a false statement
deceive /dɪˈsiːv/ B2	verb - to make someone believe something that is not true
disguise /dɪsˈɡaɪz/ B1	noun - a change in appearance to hide one's identity verb - to change one's appearance to hide identity
lightning /ˈlaɪtnɪŋ/ A2	noun - a sudden flash of light in the sky caused by electricity
running /ˈrʌnɪŋ/ A1	verb - to move quickly on foot
dance /dæns/ A1	verb - to move rhythmically to music noun - a series of rhythmic movements to music
chance /tʃæns/ A2	noun - an opportunity to do something
clever /ˈklɛvər/ A2	adjective - intelligent and quick-witted
herd /hɜːrd/ B1	noun - a group of animals, especially grazing animals
mob /mɒb/ B1	noun - a large crowd of people, especially an unruly one
drift /drɪft/ B1	verb - to move slowly, especially in a particular direction
alibi /ˈælɪbaɪ/ B2	noun - a claim or proof that one was elsewhere when an event occurred
sight /saɪt/ A1	noun - the ability to see
scene /siːn/ A2	noun - a view or sight
trust /trʌst/ A2	noun - firm belief in the reliability of someone or something verb - to believe in the reliability of someone or something
between /bɪˈtwiːn/ A1	preposition - in or into the space that separates two places, people, or objects

Key Grammar Structures

• YOU'RE GETTING BETTER ALL THE TIME

  ➔ Present Continuous for gradual change

  ➔ The present continuous ("are getting") is used here to describe a continuous, ongoing process of improvement. The phrase "all the time" emphasizes this constant progression.

• IS AN ART THAT'S HARD TO TEACH

  ➔ Defining Relative Clause

  ➔ The clause "that's hard to teach" provides essential information about "an art," defining which specific art is being referred to. It cannot be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence.

• AND AS YOU STEP BACK INTO LINE

  ➔ Time Clause with 'as' for simultaneous action

  ➔ The conjunction "as" introduces a time clause, indicating that the action of "stepping back into line" happens at the same time as another implied action (e.g., "a mob jumps to their feet").

• MAN HE NEVER HAD A CHANCE

  ➔ Past Simple with 'never' for past negation

  ➔ The past simple tense ("had") is used with the adverb "never" to express a completed action or state in the past that did not occur at any point. It emphasizes a lack of opportunity.

• YOU'RE GONNA GO FAR KID

  ➔ Future with "going to" (informal "gonna")

  ➔ "Gonna" is an informal contraction of "going to," used to express a future prediction or intention, often based on present evidence or a strong feeling. Here, it predicts success.

• SEE 'EM RUNNING FOR THEIR LIVES

  ➔ Verbs of Perception + Object + Present Participle

  ➔ This structure ("see" + "them" + "running") describes perceiving an ongoing action. The present participle "running" shows that the action was in progress at the moment of perception.

• AND IF YOU CAN'T GET WHAT YOU WANT

  ➔ First Conditional + Noun Clause

  ➔ This line uses a conditional clause ("If you can't get...") to present a possible future situation. "What you want" is a noun clause acting as the object of "get," meaning "the thing that you want."

• TRUST DECEIVED

  ➔ Past Participle as an adjective

  ➔ The past participle "deceived" is used here as an adjective to describe "trust," indicating that the trust has been betrayed or misled. It implies a state resulting from an action.

• WITH A THOUSAND LIES AND A GOOD DISGUISE

  ➔ Prepositional Phrase for manner/means

  ➔ The prepositional phrase "With a thousand lies and a good disguise" indicates the method or tools used to achieve an action (implied, e.g., "hit 'em right between the eyes"). "With" introduces the means.