Beastie Boys
The Update lyrics
- Language
- English
- Level
- Intermediate
- Released
- 1994
- Genre
- Pop
- Length
- 3:16
Children of the earth!
Well, I can hear the trumpets blowing, screaming out the end of time
Look around and listen, and you'll see every sign
The waters are polluted as the forests are cut down
Bombing and drilling deep below the ground
Check the prophecies from around the world
And look around now as it all unfurls
Look into yourself and see what goes on
Get a feeling in your heart of the right from the wrong
Because the Mother Earth needs to be respected
Been far from too long that she's been neglected
Race against race, such a foolish waste
It's like cuttin' off your nose to spite your face
And at the end of the wars, what was the cost?
Well, it's clear that the earth was the one who lost
We are one with her, as she is one with us
It's unreal how she is treated so unjust
As our planet grows smaller each and every day
Everyone affecting everyone in every way
We're all citizens of the world community
All here together and we're searching for unity
Over the years I've grown and changed so much
Things I know now, years ago I couldn't touch
There are things I've done that I wouldn't do again
But I'm glad that I did 'cause I learned from them
I just try to stay present, right here, right now
No worries, no fears, and without any doubts
Well, it's about time, it's about time
It's about time, it's about time, it's about time
'Cause in these times, these changing times
A transition is occurring, and I am not blind
As the pendulum swings, a new age we enter
And with every swing, it draws closer to the center
Yes, the storm before the calm and the wars that lead to love
Things must run their course, so we push and we shove
But we're here to work it out, in one way or another
To find a mutual respect for ourselves and one another
And the true key is a trust in self
For when I trust myself, I fear no one else
I took control of my life just as anyone can
I want everyone to see it's in the palm of your hand
The past is gone, the future yet unborn
But right here and now is where it all goes on
I know we can fix it and it's not too late
I give respect to King and his nonviolent ways
I dream and I hope and I won't forget
Someday I'm going to visit on a free Tibet
Someday I'm going to see us all joined as one
And it would be too bad to blow it up before we're done
'Cause we long behind the rage, learning from the pain
The love behind the tension like the sun behind the rain
I'm sending loving light to all that is
To all creation and the life we live
I'm not preaching bullshit, just speaking my mind
'Cause I'm here now and it's about time
Well, it's about time, it's about time
It's about time, it's about time, it's about time
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Key vocabulary
- affecting
- having an influence onA2
- against
- opposed toA2
- ago
- before nowA1
- around
- in a circular areaA1
- below
- underneathA1
- children
- young peopleA1
- cut
- make a sharp woundA1
- day
- 24 hoursA1
- done
- finishedA1
- doubts
- uncertaintiesB1
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About this song
Beastie Boys were an American hip-hop group from New York, mixing rap with punk, funk, and jazz. They are known for albums like Licensed to Ill and Paul’s Boutique, which helped define late-1980s rap, along with the MTV hit “Sabotage.”