City of Angels – English Lyrics

• By: The Distillers

Lyrics & Translation

Immerse yourself in the raw energy of The Distillers' "City of Angels" to experience the power of punk rock storytelling. This song offers a fantastic opportunity to learn English vocabulary related to urban landscapes and social commentary, all while being carried by an unforgettable, aggressive melody. What makes "City of Angels" special is its brutally honest portrayal of a city's dual identity, a theme that remains as relevant today as it was at the time of its release.

[English]

It's going down, tonight in this town

'Cause they stare and growl, they all stare and growl

I take a scar, everytime I cry

'Cause it ain't my style, no, it ain't my style

Going down to the gravel, head to the barrel

Take this life and end this struggle

Los Angeles, come scam me, please

Emptiness never sleeps at Cliftons 6:00 a.m.

With your bag lady friend and your mind descending

Stripped of the right to be a human in control

It's warmer in Hell, so down we go

They say this is the city

The city of angels, all I see is dead wings

They say this is the city

The city of angels, all I see is dead wings

It's a ghost town, rabid underworld

Dionysian night, vitriolic twilight

A mirage come up, it never ends

Once you get burnt, you're never the same

Left behind, erased from time

Ain't no decency in being boxed up alive

Look around, ain't no R.I.P. signs here

We don't rest in peace, we just disappear

So here we are, Los Angeles

No angels singing in your valley of unease

I watch the sun roll down the Pacific

Over hookered Sunset Strip

They say this is the city

The city of angels, all I see is dead wings

They say this is the city

The city of angels, all I see is dead wings

There's a black moon tonight

Ain't shining down on the western neon lights

There's a black moon tonight

Ain't shining down on the western neon lights

They say this is the city

The city of angels, all I see is dead wings

They say this is the city

The city of angels, all I see is dead wings

They say this is the city

The city of angels, all I see is dead wings

They say this is the city

The city of angels, all I see is dead wings

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
stare /stɛər/ B2	verb - to look steadily at something or someone
growl /ɡraʊl/ B2	verb - to make a deep, rough sound like a dog
scar /skɑːr/ B1	noun - a mark left on the skin after a cut or wound verb - to mark with a scar
tail /teɪl/ A2	noun - the last part of an animal's body, often extending from the back
struggle /ˈstrʌɡl/ B1	noun - a difficult effort to do or achieve something verb - to try very hard to do something difficult
emptiness /ˈɛmptinəs/ C1	noun - the state of containing nothing or of being unfilled
descent /dɪˈsɛnt/ C1	noun - the act of moving downward or going from a higher to a lower position
twilight /ˈtwaɪlaɪt/ B2	noun - the soft glow from the sky when the sun is below the horizon
burnt /bɜːrnt/ B2	adjective - damaged by fire or heat
left /lɛft/ A2	adjective - remaining on the side of the body or in a place
disappear /ˌdɪsəˈpɪr/ C1	verb - to stop being visible or present
signs /saɪnz/ A2	noun - indications or signals that suggest something is happening
valley /ˈvæl.i/ A2	noun - a low area of land between hills or mountains
shine /ʃaɪn/ B1	verb - to give off light