1000 Graves – English Lyrics

• By: Ruston Kelly

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the poignant world of Ruston Kelly's '1000 Graves,' a song that delves into themes of personal struggle and the search for redemption. Through its evocative lyrics and blend of Americana and alt-country elements, this song offers a unique opportunity to explore the language of vulnerability and hope. Learn how Kelly uses vivid imagery to convey deep emotions, making it a compelling piece for understanding the nuances of the English language in songwriting.

[English]

♪♪♪

♪♪♪

♪ YOU COULD RUN A THOUSAND ROADS ♪

♪ AND NEVER END UP NOWHERE ♪

♪ PIERCE THROUGH YOUR HANDS A THOUSAND HOLES ♪

♪ AND NEVER KNOW THE CROSS YOU BEAR ♪

♪ MAYBE I WAS BORN INSIDE A SHADOW ♪

♪ I'M ALWAYS STARVING FOR THE LIGHT ♪

♪ THE ONLY ROADS I SEEM TO FOLLOW ♪

♪ ARE THE ONES LEADING TO THE NIGHT ♪

♪ YOU CAN DIG A THOUSAND GRAVES ♪

♪ YOU'RE NEVER GONNA BURY THAT GHOST ♪

♪ FLOATS UP FROM THE GROUND AND A CAUTION THAT ♪

♪ HANGS IN YOUR HAIR LIKE A JESUS STONE ♪

♪ CRASHING DOWN TOO FAR FROM HEAVEN ♪

♪ FELL TOO SHORT OF A MILLION THINGS ♪

♪ TRY TO PUT THE PIECES BACK TOGETHER ♪

♪ IT'S WHAT I GET, FLIGHT ON BROKEN WINGS ♪

♪♪♪

♪ SICK OF DYING IN THESE NIGHTS ♪

♪ I WANNA FEEL ALIVE IN THE WORLD ♪

♪ WANNA STRAIGHTEN OUT ALL MY CROOKED LINES ♪

♪ AND THEN I'M GONNA MARRY THAT GIRL ♪

♪ JUST LET ME LEAVE AND LOVE CAN SAVE YOU ♪

♪ WHEN IT COMES IN QUIET, IT RISES SLOW ♪

♪ TAKES THE DEPTHS OUT OF THE DARKNESS ♪

♪ SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO FALL THAT FAR ALONE ♪

♪ SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO FACE IT ON YOUR OWN ♪

♪♪♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
road /roʊd/ B1	noun - a route or way for travel
end /ɛnd/ A2	verb - to finish or conclude noun - the final part or point of something
cross /krɒs, kroʊs/ B1	noun - a mark formed by two intersecting lines verb - to go across from one side to the other
shadow /ˈʃædoʊ/ B2	noun - a dark shape produced by a body blocking light
light /laɪt/ A2	noun - illumination from the sun or a device adjective - not heavy; having little weight
ghost /goʊst/ B2	noun - a spirit of a dead person
heaven /ˈhɛv.ən/ C1	noun - the sky or universe as seen as a divine realm
flight /flaɪt/ B2	noun - the act of flying
pieces /ˈpiːsɪz/ B1	noun - parts of a whole that can be separated
love /lʌv/ A2	noun - a strong feeling of affection
alive /əˈlaɪv/ B2	adjective - living; not dead
thoughts /θɔːts/ B2	noun - ideas or opinions in the mind
sky /skaɪ/ A2	noun - the region of the atmosphere seen from the earth

Key Grammar Structures

• YOU COULD RUN A THOUSAND ROADS

  ➔ modal verb + base verb + object

  ➔ Use of the modal 'could' indicates possibility or hypothetical actions.

• AND NEVER END UP NOWHERE

  ➔ Conjunction + adverb + verb phrase

  ➔ Use of 'never' emphasizes the negation, indicating that the action does not occur at all.

• PIERCE THROUGH YOUR HANDS A THOUSAND HOLES

  ➔ Verb + preposition + possessive pronoun + noun + noun phrase

  ➔ The verb 'pierce' combined with 'through' describes penetration, with the possessive 'your' indicating whose hands are involved.

• MAYBE I WAS BORN INSIDE A SHADOW

  ➔ Modal verb + simple past tense verb + preposition + article + noun phrase

  ➔ Use of the modal 'maybe' indicates possibility or uncertainty about the statement.

• IT'S WHAT I GET, FLIGHT ON BROKEN WINGS

  ➔ It + is + relative pronoun (what) + subject + verb + object

  ➔ Use of 'what I get' functions as a relative clause explaining 'it.'

• WHEN IT COMES IN QUIET, IT RISES SLOW

  ➔ Adverbial phrase + subject + verb + adverb

  ➔ The phrase 'when it comes in quiet' introduces a temporal clause, with 'comes' functioning as a verb indicating occurrence.