Kerosene – English Lyrics

• By: Milo Manheim, Meg Donnelly, Kylee Russell, Malachi Barton, Chandler Kinney, Freya Skye, Swayam Bhatia, Julian Lerner, Mekonnen Knife

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the electrifying world of Disney's 'ZOMBIES 4' with "Kerosene"! This high-energy rap-rock track offers a fantastic opportunity to learn English through its empowering lyrics about courage, leadership, and unwavering determination. Discover how the characters face challenges head-on, inspiring listeners to be the 'kerosene' – the spark that ignites change – in their own lives. Its engaging narrative and catchy rhythm make it a perfect song for both entertainment and language learning.

[English]

When you can't see the light, you gotta be the light.

And on this pitch dark night, I'm shining super bright.

I'm caught between the sun and moon like a satellite.

It's treacherous, but I'm down to make a sacrifice.

My peeps need me in beast mode, so feed me.

No one said this would be easy and my stomach's getting queasy,

but I'm fighting off my feelings 'cause I'm not sure if I'm strong enough.

Then a voice inside my head says "You got this, bruh."

You won't take a loss. You're here to win.

I'm going off. I'm going in.

I'm on the edge of where no one's ever been.

So, I don't look above, 'cause a hero lies within.

Lives are on the line, we're running out of time.

We gotta do this for the cause.

I made up my mind.

This fight is only mine.

I'll risk my life against all odds.

It's all on me

to face a faceless enemy.

I can't guarantee

I'll survive, but I'll try.

I'll bring the heat.

I'm feeding off your energy.

If it's fire that we need,

then I'm the kerosene.

Standing tall, back against the wall.

Duty calls, 'bout to give it all.

Keep your distance 'cause the pulse is getting dangerous.

This could be our last day unless I'm saving us.

Hardcore, don't know what's in store.

I'm tryna keep my friends safe while preventing civil war.

My knees are weak, but I'm ten toes deep.

And when doubt starts to creep, I'm reminded what I'm in this for.

If not me, then who? I'm him.

I'm the spark in the dark when it's dim.

I put my team on my back, lead the charge and attack.

I'm strapped with a Z-Pack, I ain't giving in.

Raise 'em up high, hands to the sky.

Phoenix from the ashes. Show me how you fly.

Show me, show me how you ride.

U-N-I-T-Y. Can't kill your vibe.

Legends never die.

In the middle of the night, you can hear my team scream.

The kerosene!

It's all on me

to face a faceless enemy.

I can't guarantee I'll survive, but I'll try.

I'll bring the heat. (Heat!)

I'm feeding off your energy.

If it's fire that we need.

If it's fire that we need.

Then I'm the kerosene.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
light /laɪt/ A1	noun - the natural agent that makes things visible verb - to illuminate
dark /dɑrk/ A1	adjective - having little or no light
night /naɪt/ A1	noun - the period of darkness between sunset and sunrise
sacrifice /ˈsækrɪfaɪs/ B2	noun - the act of giving up something valuable for a purpose verb - to give up something valuable
beast /biːst/ B1	noun - a large or dangerous animal; a person acting in a fierce way
queasy /ˈkwiːzi/ B2	adjective - feeling nausea or discomfort in the stomach
fighting /ˈfaɪtɪŋ/ B1	verb (gerund) - engaging in combat or struggle
hero /ˈhiːroʊ/ B1	noun - a person admired for courage or noble qualities
risk /rɪsk/ B1	noun - the possibility of loss or danger verb - to expose to danger
faceless /ˈfeɪslɪs/ C1	adjective - without a recognizable face; anonymous
enemy /ˈɛnəmi/ B1	noun - a person who is opposed or hostile
survive /sərˈvaɪv/ B2	verb - to continue to live or exist, especially in difficult conditions
kerosene /ˈkɛrəsiːn/ C1	noun - a light, oily combustible liquid used as fuel
pulse /pʌls/ B1	noun - a rhythmic throbbing of the arteries as blood is propelled through them
dangerous /ˈdeɪndʒərəs/ B2	adjective - able or likely to cause harm or injury
phoenix /ˈfiːnɪks/ C1	noun - mythical bird that is reborn from its own ashes
ashes /ˈæʃɪz/ B1	noun - the powdery residue left after burning something
unity /ˈjuːnɪti/ B2	noun - the state of being united or joined as a whole
legend /ˈlɛdʒənd/ B2	noun - a traditional story sometimes popularly regarded as historical but unauthenticated

Key Grammar Structures

• When you can't see the light, you gotta be the light.

  ➔ Zero conditional (when + present simple)

  ➔ The word "can't" shows present‑time inability, while "gotta" is informal for "have to" meaning obligation.

• I'm caught between the sun and moon like a satellite.

  ➔ Passive voice (present simple)

  ➔ "caught" is the past participle used with the auxiliary "am" to form a passive construction.

• I'm going off. I'm going in.

  ➔ Present continuous (be + -ing)

  ➔ "going" is the -ing form of "go" combined with "am" to express an action in progress.

• If not me, then who? I'm him.

  ➔ Inverted/elliptical conditional clause

  ➔ "If not me" drops the verb "is/are" and places the condition before the subject, creating an elliptical structure.

• I'll risk my life against all odds.

  ➔ Future simple with modal "will" + infinitive

  ➔ "'ll" is the contraction of "will," which is a modal verb used to express a future intention; it is followed by the base form "risk."

• I put my team on my back, lead the charge and attack.

  ➔ Causative construction with bare infinitive (put + object + bare infinitive)

  ➔ "put" is a causative verb; after the object "my team" the bare infinitive verbs "lead" and "attack" describe what the speaker makes the team do.

• Raise 'em up high, hands to the sky.

  ➔ Imperative mood

  ➔ "Raise" is a base‑form verb used to give a direct command to the listeners.

• Can't kill your vibe.

  ➔ Modal verb "can" + negative contraction "can't"

  ➔ "Can't" contracts "cannot," expressing inability or prohibition.

• Legends never die.

  ➔ Simple present for universal truth

  ➔ "never" is an adverb of frequency combined with the simple present to state a timeless fact.

• I'll bring the heat.

  ➔ Future simple with modal "will" + verb

  ➔ "'ll" (= will) shows a definite future action; "bring" is the base verb that follows the modal.