The Kinks - Waterloo Sunset (Learn English with Songs)

Lyrics

Dirty old river, must you keep rolling
Flowing into the night
People so busy, makes me feel dizzy
Taxi light shines so bright
But I don't need no friends
As long as I gaze on Waterloo sunset
I am in paradise

Every day I look at the world from my window
But chilly, chilly is the evening time
Waterloo sunset's fine

Terry meets Julie, Waterloo Station
Every Friday night
But I am so lazy, don't want to wander
I stay at home at night
But I don't feel afraid
As long as I gaze on Waterloo sunset
I am in paradise

Every day I look at the world from my window
But chilly, chilly is the evening time
Waterloo sunset's fine

Millions of people swarming like flies 'round Waterloo underground
But Terry and Julie cross over the river
Where they feel safe and sound
And they don't need no friends
As long as they gaze on Waterloo sunset
They are in paradise

Waterloo sunset's fine

Difficult Phrases and Words

1. rolling

   1. Context: Dirty old river, must you keep rolling / Flowing into the night

   2. Definition: to move with gentle rises and falls

   3. Additional sentence: The waves rolled toward the shore.

2. Flowing

   1. Context: Dirty old river, must you keep rolling / Flowing into the night

   2. Definition: moving smoothly and continuously

   3. Additional sentence: The water from the sink flowed onto my hands.

3. dizzy

   1. Context: People so busy, makes me feel dizzy

   2. Definition: having a whirling sensation in the head with a tendency to fall

   3. Additional sentence: After the roller coaster ride, I felt dizzy.

4. gaze

   1. Context: As long as I gaze on Waterloo sunset / I am in paradise

   2. Definition: to fix the eyes in a steady intent look

   3. Additional sentence: John gazed at the beauty of the sunset and then at the beauty of his wife.

5. chilly

   1. Context: But chilly, chilly is the evening time

   2. Definition: cold

   3. Additional sentence: It is chilly outside, so I will wear a jacket.

6. swarming

   1. Context: Millions of people swarming like flies 'round Waterloo underground

   2. Definition: to move in a crowd

   3. Additional sentence: The bees swarmed around him and then started stinging him.

Discussion Questions

1. What do you think this song is about?

2. Can you relate to anything in this song? The singer appreciates his home around Waterloo station. How do you appreciate your home?

3. The singer describes the Thames River in London with the line “Dirty old river, must you keep rolling / Flowing into the night.” Do you prefer living close to a body of water, the mountains, or some other geographic feature?

4. The singer says that being around so many busy people makes him dizzy. When you want to relax, do you want to be around people or relax on your own?

5. The singer enjoys gazing at the sunset next to his home. What do you enjoy gazing at, or what would you like to gaze it?

6. Would you want to live in a chilly city?

7. The singer describes how London is a very big city by saying “Millions of people swarming like flies 'round Waterloo underground.” Do you enjoy living in a big city?