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Dead in the water 00:02
00:06
It's not a paid vacation 00:20
The sons and daughters of city officials 00:24
Attend demonstrations 00:28
It's hardly a sink or swim 00:29
When all is well if the ticket sells 00:35
Out with a wimper 00:38
00:42
It's not a blaze of glory 00:51
You look down from your temple 00:55
As people endeavor to make it a story 00:58
And chisel a marble word 01:02
But all is lost if it's never heard 01:05
But I've got someone to make reports 01:10
01:16
That tell me how my money's spent 01:21
To book my stays and draw my blinds 01:25
So I can't tell what's really there 01:28
And all I need's a great big congratulations 01:33
01:41
I'll keep your dreams 01:53
You pay attention for me 01:57
As strange as it seems 02:01
I'd rather dissolve than have you ignore me 02:04
The ground may be moving fast 02:08
But I've tied my boots to a broken mast 02:11
The difference is clear 02:14
02:18
You throw it in your cauldron 02:23
02:28
Rust and veneer, dusk and dawn 02:31
Steinways and Baldwins 02:35
You start with a simple stock 02:38
Of all the waste and salt to taste 02:42
But damn my luck and damn these friends 02:44
02:50
That keep on combing back their smiles 02:57
I save my grace with half-assed guilt 03:01
And lay down the quilt upon the lawn 03:05
Spread my arms and soak up congratulations 03:09
03:14

Congratulations – English Lyrics

By
MGMT
Album
Congratulations
Viewed
13,074,390
Language
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Lyrics & Translation

[English]

Dead in the water

...

It's not a paid vacation

The sons and daughters of city officials

Attend demonstrations

It's hardly a sink or swim

When all is well if the ticket sells

Out with a wimper

...

It's not a blaze of glory

You look down from your temple

As people endeavor to make it a story

And chisel a marble word

But all is lost if it's never heard

But I've got someone to make reports

...

That tell me how my money's spent

To book my stays and draw my blinds

So I can't tell what's really there

And all I need's a great big congratulations

...

I'll keep your dreams

You pay attention for me

As strange as it seems

I'd rather dissolve than have you ignore me

The ground may be moving fast

But I've tied my boots to a broken mast

The difference is clear

...

You throw it in your cauldron

...

Rust and veneer, dusk and dawn

Steinways and Baldwins

You start with a simple stock

Of all the waste and salt to taste

But damn my luck and damn these friends

...

That keep on combing back their smiles

I save my grace with half-assed guilt

And lay down the quilt upon the lawn

Spread my arms and soak up congratulations

...

Key Vocabulary

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Vocabulary Meanings

vacation

/vəˈkeɪʃən/

B1
  • noun
  • - a period of time spent away from home or work, usually for relaxation or recreation

demonstration

/ˌdɛmənˈstreɪʃən/

B2
  • noun
  • - a public meeting or march held to protest something or to show support for something

glory

/ˈɡlɔːri/

B2
  • noun
  • - high renown or honor won by notable achievements

endeavor

/ɪnˈdɛvər/

B2
  • verb
  • - to try hard to do or achieve something

chisel

/ˈtʃɪzəl/

B2
  • verb
  • - to shape or cut something with a chisel

congratulations

/kənˌɡrætʃʊˈleɪʃənz/

A2
  • noun
  • - a message of joy or praise for someone's achievement

grace

/ɡreɪs/

B2
  • noun
  • - simple elegance or refinement of movement

dissolve

/dɪˈzɒlv/

B2
  • verb
  • - to become incorporated into a liquid so as to form a solution

moving

/ˈmuːvɪŋ/

B1
  • adjective
  • - causing strong feelings of sadness or sympathy

cauldron

/ˈkɔːldrən/

C1
  • noun
  • - a large metal pot for cooking or boiling

quilt

/kwɪlt/

B1
  • noun
  • - a warm bed covering made of padding enclosed between layers of fabric

waste

/weɪst/

B1
  • noun
  • - material that is not wanted; the unusable remains or by-products of something

smile

/smaɪl/

A1
  • verb
  • - to make a facial expression showing happiness or pleasure

arms

/ɑːrmz/

A1
  • noun
  • - the upper limbs of the human body

dream

/driːm/

A2
  • noun
  • - a series of thoughts, images, or emotions occurring during sleep

Key Grammar Structures

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