The 5th Of July – English Lyrics

• By: Owl City
• Album: Cinematic

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a unique linguistic journey with Owl City's 'The 5th Of July.' This tender and introspective song offers a beautiful narrative about gratitude and family, providing a wonderful opportunity to explore English through its evocative storytelling and heartfelt lyrics. Discover how personal anecdotes can be woven into a compelling musical piece, making language learning an emotional and memorable experience.

[English]

Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh

My mum woke my dad up and said "it's time to leave"

So they jumped in the old Caprice

And tore off into the night

On the 4th of July

They flew through the darkness

Driving like Jehu

And they rolled into Ottumwa

Before the sun begun to rise

On the 4th of July

And in walks Bob and Janice

Rachel's on her way

...

To peek in through the window

Hoping to hear her grandson cry

On the 4th of July

...

My mother watched the fireworks

From her hospital bed

And after it was all over

She held me for the first time

On the 5th of July

I've got my mother's brown eyes

And my dad's quiet way

And Grandma Rachel's love for music

The morning I arrived

On the 5th of July

Deep in Iowa country

In a Heavenly Hideaway

On the shores of Lake Rathbun

My folks brought me home

On the 5th of July

...

That was when (that was when)

Life began (life began) for me

Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh

...

That was when (that was when)

Life began (life began) for me

A teacher and a mechanic

Brought me into this world

They loved me with all their hearts

Since the day I opened my eyes

On the 5th of July

Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh

That was when (that was when)

Life began (life began) for me

Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh

That was when (that was when)

Life began (life began) for me

Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh

Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
woke /woʊk/ A2	verb - to stop sleeping and become awake
jumped /dʒʌmpt/ A1	verb - to push oneself off a surface and into the air
tore /tɔr/ B1	verb - to move very quickly
flew /fluː/ A2	verb - to move through the air with speed
rolled /roʊld/ B1	verb - to arrive or move in a vehicle
peek /piːk/ A2	verb - to look quickly and secretly
fireworks /ˈfaɪərˌwɜrks/ A2	noun - devices that explode with loud noises and bright lights
held /hɛld/ A1	verb - to have or keep in the hand or arms
brown /braʊn/ A1	adjective - having the color of chocolate or soil
quiet /ˈkwaɪət/ A1	adjective - making little or no noise
music /ˈmjuːzɪk/ A1	noun - sounds arranged in a way that is pleasant to listen to
arrived /əˈraɪvd/ A2	verb - to reach a place or time
brought /brɔt/ A2	verb - to take or carry someone or something to a place
began /bɪˈɡæn/ A2	verb - to start something
loved /lʌvd/ A1	verb - to care for someone deeply
opened /ˈoʊpənd/ A1	verb - to move something to create an opening
country /ˈkʌntri/ A1	noun - a nation or state noun - rural area
shores /ʃɔrz/ B1	noun - the edge of a sea, lake, or wide river
mechanic /məˈkænɪk/ A2	noun - a person who repairs machines or vehicles

Key Grammar Structures

• My mum woke my dad up and said "it's time to leave".

  ➔ Past Simple tense (two coordinated actions)

  ➔ My mum "woke" my dad up and "said" "it's time to leave".

• Before the sun had begun to rise, they rolled into Ottumwa.

  ➔ Past Perfect tense (action completed before another past action)

  ➔ "had begun" indicates the action was completed before "they rolled".

• Driving like Jehu, they tore off into the night.

  ➔ Present participle clause (used as an adverbial of manner)

  ➔ "Driving" describes how they "tore off".

• Hoping to hear her grandson cry, she peered through the window.

  ➔ Gerund phrase as a purpose clause

  ➔ "Hoping" shows the purpose of "peered".

• I've got my mother's brown eyes and my dad's quiet way.

  ➔ Present Perfect (have/has + past participle) for present relevance

  ➔ "I've got" = "I have got" showing possession now.

• Since the day I opened my eyes on the 5th of July, life began for me.

  ➔ "Since" + past simple to indicate a starting point in the past

  ➔ "Since" introduces the time "the day I opened my eyes".

• And in walks Bob and Janice, Rachel's on her way.

  ➔ Simple present for narrative storytelling (historical present)

  ➔ "walks" is in the simple present, giving a vivid, immediate feel.

• A teacher and a mechanic brought me into this world.

  ➔ Passive meaning expressed with active verb (agent‑focus construction)

  ➔ "brought" focuses on the agents (teacher and mechanic) rather than the action itself.