Ocean Drive – English Lyrics

• By: Duke Dumont

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the evocative soundscape of Duke Dumont's "Ocean Drive"! This track, rich in nu-disco and 80s pop influences, offers more than just a catchy beat; its poignant lyrics tell a relatable story of love, longing, and escapism. By exploring its metaphors and emotional depth, you can gain a deeper understanding of English expression in music, making it a perfect song for language learners to connect with through its universally understood themes and memorable phrases.

[English]

We're riding down the boulevard

We're riding through the dark night, night

With half a tank and empty heart

Pretending we're in love, but it's never enough, nah

As the sirens fill the lonely air

Oh, how did we get here now, now, now babe

We see a storm is closing in

Pretending we ain't scared

Don't say a word while we dance with the devil (uh)

You brought a fire to a world so cold (uh)

We're out of time on the highway to never

Hold on (hold on), hold on (hold on)

Don't say a word while we dance with the devil (uh)

You brought a fire to a world so cold (uh)

We're out of time on the highway to never

Hold on (hold on), hold on (hold on)

We're running all the red lights down

No way that we can stop, nah, nah

A quarter tank and almost gone

Pretending we're in love, but it's never enough, nah

I wish we could take it back in time

Before we crossed the line now, now, now, babe

We see a storm is closing in (oh, oh, oh)

I reach out for your hand

Don't say a word while we dance with the devil (uh)

You brought a fire to a world so cold (uh)

We're out of time on the highway to never

Hold on (hold on), hold on (hold on), hold on

Don't say a word while we dance with the devil (ooh, yeah)

You brought a fire to a world so cold (ooh, ooh)

We're out of time on the highway to never (ah, yeah)

Hold on (hold on), hold on (hold on), hold on

Ooh

Hold on, oh yeah, oh Hold on

Don't say a word while we dance with the devil (uh)

You brought a fire to a world so cold (oh, uh)

We're out of time on the highway to never

Hold on (hold on), hold on (hold on), hold on

Don't say a word while we dance with the devil (uh)

You brought a fire to a world so cold (uh)

We're out of time on the highway to never

Hold on (hold on), hold on (hold on), ooh yeah

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
riding /ˈraɪ.dɪŋ/ B1	verb - to sit on or control a moving vehicle or animal
boulevard /ˈbuː.lə.vɑːrd/ B2	noun - a wide street in a city, often with trees along the sides
night /naɪt/ A1	noun - the time of darkness between sunset and sunrise
tank /tæŋk/ A2	noun - a container for holding liquid or gas
heart /hɑːrt/ B1	noun - the organ that pumps blood through the body
sirens /ˈsaɪ.rənz/ B2	noun - a device that makes a loud warning sound
devil /ˈdɛv.əl/ B2	noun - a supernatural being representing evil in many religions
fire /ˈfaɪər/ B1	noun - a process of combustion producing heat and light
world /wɜːrld/ A2	noun - the planet or all of earth, or an area of activity
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - the ongoing sequence of events
lights /laɪts/ A2	noun - devices that make things visible with illumination
stop /stɒp/ A2	verb - to cease moving or operating
lights /laɪts/ A2	noun - devices that make things visible with illumination
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - the ongoing sequence of events
words /wɜːrdz/ A2	noun - units of language that convey meaning

Key Grammar Structures

• We're riding down the boulevard

  ➔ Present continuous tense

  ➔ The phrase "We're riding" indicates an action that is currently happening.

• Pretending we're in love, but it's never enough

  ➔ Gerund as a subject

  ➔ The word "Pretending" acts as a noun, describing the action of pretending.

• As the sirens fill the lonely air

  ➔ Subordinate clause

  ➔ The clause "As the sirens fill the lonely air" provides additional information about the context.

• We're out of time on the highway to never

  ➔ Prepositional phrase

  ➔ The phrase "on the highway to never" describes the location or situation.

• I wish we could take it back in time

  ➔ Wish + past simple

  ➔ The phrase "I wish we could" expresses a desire for a different reality.

• Don't say a word while we dance with the devil

  ➔ Imperative mood

  ➔ The phrase "Don't say a word" is a command or request.

• You brought a fire to a world so cold

  ➔ Past simple tense

  ➔ The phrase "You brought a fire" indicates an action that has already happened.