The Nights – English Lyrics

• By: Avicii

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into 'The Nights' by Avicii, an electrifying anthem with profound lyrics. This song offers a fantastic opportunity to explore English vocabulary related to life, memories, and personal growth, making language learning an exciting and emotional journey. The vivid storytelling and heartfelt message make its English lyrics particularly engaging and memorable for learners.

[English]

Hey, once upon a younger year

When all our shadows disappeared

The animals inside came out to play

Hey, when face to face with all our fears

Learned our lessons through the tears

Made memories we knew would never fade

One day my father—he told me,

"Son, don't let it slip away" <br>

He took me in his arms, I heard him say,

"When you get older

Your wild life will live for younger days

Think of me if ever you're afraid."

He said, "One day you'll leave this world behind

So live a life you will remember."

My father told me when I was just a child

These are the nights that never die

My father told me

When thunder clouds start pouring down

Light a fire they can't put out

Carve their name into those shinning stars

He said, "Go adventure far beyond these shores.

Don't forsake this life of yours.

I'll guide you home no matter where you are."

One day my father—he told me,

"Son, don't let this slip away."

When I was just a kid I heard him say,

"When you get older

Your wild life will live for younger days

Think of me if ever you're afraid."

He said, "One day you'll leave this world behind

So live a life you will remember."

My father told me when I was just a child

These are the nights that never die

My father told me

These are the night that never die

My father told me

Hey, hey

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
shadows /ˈʃædoʊz/ B1	noun - dark areas or shapes produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface
animals /ˈænɪməlz/ A1	noun - living creatures that are not plants or humans
fears /fɪərz/ B1	noun - unpleasant emotion caused by the perception of danger, pain, or threat.
tears /tɪərz/ A2	noun - drops of clear salty liquid secreted from glands in the eye as a result of strong emotion.
memories /ˈmeməriz/ A2	noun - something remembered from the past
father /ˈfɑːðər/ A1	noun - a male parent
son /sʌn/ A1	noun - a male child or person in relation to his parents
life /laɪf/ A1	noun - the condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic matter, including capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death.
world /wɜːrld/ A1	noun - the earth, together with all of its countries, people, and natural features.
child /tʃaɪld/ A1	noun - a young human being below the age of puberty or below the legal age of majority.
nights /naɪts/ A1	noun - the period from sunset to sunrise in each twenty-four hours
thunder /ˈθʌndər/ B1	noun - a loud crash of sound caused by atmospheric electricity
clouds /klaʊdz/ A2	noun - a visible mass of condensed water vapor floating in the atmosphere
fire /ˈfaɪər/ A1	noun - combustion or burning, in which substances combine chemically with oxygen from the air and typically give out bright light, heat, and smoke.
name /neɪm/ A1	noun - a word or set of words by which a person, animal, place, or thing is known, addressed, or referred to. verb - give a name to.
stars /stɑːrz/ A1	noun - a fixed luminous point in the night sky which is a large, remote incandescent body like the sun.
adventure /ədˈventʃər/ B1	noun - an unusual and exciting, typically hazardous, experience or activity. verb - engage in daring or risky activity.
shores /ʃɔːrz/ B1	noun - the land along the edge of a sea, lake, or other large body of water.
wild /waɪld/ B1	adjective - living or growing in the natural environment; not domesticated or cultivated.

Key Grammar Structures

• Once upon a younger year When all our shadows disappeared

  ➔ Past Simple Tense; Use of 'once upon' to introduce a past event

  ➔ The line utilizes the simple past tense, "disappeared," to describe a completed action in the past. "Once upon" functions as a storytelling device, immediately placing the listener in a reminiscent narrative.

• Made memories we knew would never fade

  ➔ Past Simple; Modal Verb 'would' for future in the past (reporting what they knew at the time); Relative clause 'we knew'

  ➔ "Made" is in the past simple. "Would never fade" indicates future-in-the-past, showing their past belief about the memories. "We knew" is a relative clause that gives more information about the memories. It shows that the conviction of these memories lasting was held back then.

• Son, don't let it slip away

  ➔ Imperative Mood (negative); Phrasal Verb 'slip away'

  ➔ The line uses a negative imperative to command not to let something, likely a precious moment or opportunity, be lost. 'Slip away' is a phrasal verb meaning to disappear gradually or unnoticed.

• Your wild life will live for younger days

  ➔ Future Simple Tense; Figurative language (personification)

  ➔ "Will live" is in the future simple tense, expressing a prediction about the wild life. The entire line is a metaphor where "life" is personified as being able to "live" for something, implying the experiences and energy of youth will persist in memory and legacy.

• Think of me if ever you're afraid.

  ➔ Conditional Sentence (Type 1/Real Conditional); Imperative Mood; 'Ever' for emphasis

  ➔ This line is a Type 1 conditional sentence – "if" + present simple, then imperative. "Think of me" is an imperative command. "Ever" emphasizes that he should think of the speaker at any point he is afraid.

• So live a life you will remember.

  ➔ Imperative Mood; Future Simple with 'will'; Relative Clause 'you will remember'

  ➔ "Live" is in the imperative mood, giving a direct command. "Will remember" is future simple used within a relative clause. It suggests a future action that defines the kind of life he should live, one that is memorable.

• Light a fire they can't put out

  ➔ Imperative Mood; Relative Clause ('they can't put out')

  ➔ "Light" is in the imperative mood. The phrase 'they can't put out' is a relative clause modifying 'fire,' describing the type of fire, an unquenchable one, to create.

• I'll guide you home no matter where you are.

  ➔ Future Simple Tense (I'll); No matter + question word (where)

  ➔ "I'll guide" is in the future simple tense, expressing a promise or future intention. "No matter where you are" means regardless of your location. It is a conjunction expressing a condition.