Lyrics & Translation
Discover the urgent and powerful message behind Imagine Dragons' song 'Wake Up.' This electrifying track blends rock and hip-hop elements to inspire vigilance and resilience. Explore how the lyrics encourage listeners to confront their inner struggles and stay alert in a chaotic world, offering a unique opportunity to learn about themes of self-awareness and determination through music.
[English]
♪♪♪♪ WHEELS UP, WHEN I’M OFF THE GROUND ♪
♪ I’M NOWHERE BUT I’M ALL AROUND ♪
♪ I’M SPINNIN’, WATCH ME NOW ♪
♪ I’M SPINNIN’, SPINNIN’ ♪
♪ BIG MAN WHEN A WALL’S BETWEEN US ♪
♪ BIG MAN GONNA BREAK TO PIECES ♪
♪ SPINNIN’, CAN’T BELIEVE IT ♪
♪ SPINNIN’, SPINNIN’ ♪
♪ UH, TURN AROUND, TURN IT UP, TALK A BIT, ZIP IT UP, LOCK YOU IN, AND CLOSE IT UP ♪
♪ YEP, EVERYBODY’S COMING FOR YOU, WAKE UP ♪
♪ EVERYBODY’S COMING, WAKE UP ♪
♪ BODIES DROPPING EVERYWHERE, I’M WAIST UP ♪
♪ EVERYBODY’S COMING, WAKE UP ♪
♪ SOME DAYS I’M A CHAMELEON ♪
♪ SWITCH IT UP WHEN I CRAWL THE CEILIN’ ♪
♪ FLIP IT UPSIDE DOWN I’M WHEELIN’ ♪
♪ DEALIN’ ♪
♪ EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU IS COMING TO MY MIND ♪
♪ BRING THEM ALL TOGETHER CAN YOU STACK THEM IN A LINE? ♪
♪ JEALOUSY IS GONNA BE YOUR FAILURE ♪
♪ NOT MINE ♪
♪ WINNIN’ ♪
♪ UH, TURN AROUND, TURN IT UP, TALK A BIT, ZIP IT UP, LOCK YOU IN, AND CLOSE IT UP ♪
♪ OHH, EVERYBODY’S COMING FOR YOU, WAKE UP (WAKE UP) ♪
♪ EVERYBODY’S COMING, WAKE UP ♪
♪ BODIES DROPPING EVERYWHERE, I’M WAIST UP (WAIST UP) ♪
♪ EVERYBODY’S COMING, WAKE UP ♪
♪♪♪
♪ EVERYBODY’S COMING, WAKE UP ♪
♪ GOT A CASE OF THE TAKE OR LEAVE IT ♪
♪ GIVE AN INCH AND I'M BOUND TO SEIZE IT ♪
♪ TAKE A CHAINSAW OUT AND FEED IT ♪
♪ [VOCALIZING] ♪
♪ COME ALIVE WHEN YOU DON’T BELIEVE IT ♪
♪ WRITE ME OFF AND I'D LOVE TO READ IT ♪
♪ SPIT YOUR WORDS AND I'LL WATCH YOU EAT IT ♪
♪ DIGGIN’ ♪
♪ OHH, EVERYBODY’S COMING FOR YOU, WAKE UP (WAKE UP) ♪
♪ EVERYBODY’S COMING, WAKE UP ♪
♪ BODIES DROPPING EVERYWHERE, I’M WAIST UP (WAIST UP) ♪
♪ EVERYBODY’S COMING, WAKE UP ♪
♪♪♪
♪ EVERYBODY’S COMING, WAKE UP ♪
♪ WHAT ARE YOU TO DO ♪
♪ WHEN THEY COME FOR YOU ♪
♪ WINNERS HATE TO LOSE ♪
♪♪♪
Key Vocabulary
Vocabulary | Meanings |
---|---|
wake /weɪk/ A2 |
|
spin /spɪn/ A2 |
|
break /breɪk/ A2 |
|
wall /wɔːl/ A1 |
|
body /ˈbɒdi/ A1 |
|
chameleon /kəˈmiːliən/ B2 |
|
crawl /krɔːl/ A2 |
|
deal /diːl/ B1 |
|
mind /maɪnd/ A2 |
|
jealousy /ˈdʒeləsi/ B2 |
|
failure /ˈfeɪljər/ B1 |
|
winner /ˈwɪnər/ A2 |
|
lose /luːz/ A2 |
|
chainsaw /ˈtʃeɪnsɔː/ B2 |
|
feed /fiːd/ A2 |
|
alive /əˈlaɪv/ A2 |
|
write /raɪt/ A2 |
|
spit /spɪt/ B1 |
|
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Key Grammar Structures
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I’M NOWHERE BUT I’M ALL AROUND
➔ Contractions (I'm), Paradoxical Statement
➔ The use of 'I'm nowhere' creates a sense of being both absent and present simultaneously, a poetic paradox. The contraction 'I'm' is common in informal speech and writing.
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BIG MAN GONNA BREAK TO PIECES
➔ Informal Future Construction ('Gonna')
➔ 'Gonna' is a colloquial contraction of 'going to' used to express future intention. It adds a casual and emphatic tone to the line.
-
LOCK YOU IN, AND CLOSE IT UP
➔ Imperative Mood, Phrasal Verb ('Close up')
➔ The use of the imperative mood ('Lock,' 'Close') creates a sense of urgency and control. 'Close up' is a phrasal verb meaning to shut or seal something completely.
-
SOME DAYS I’M A CHAMELEON
➔ Metaphor, Present Simple
➔ The line uses a metaphor, comparing the speaker to a chameleon to represent adaptability and change. The present simple tense ('I'm') suggests this is a recurring characteristic.
-
WINNERS HATE TO LOSE
➔ Paradox, Subject-Verb Inversion (implied)
➔ This line presents a paradox – the idea that winners, by definition, shouldn't fear losing. The sentence structure implies a more emphatic 'Hate to lose, winners do.'
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