PHRASAL VERB FRIDAY: STAND FOR (AND SONG LYRICS FROM 'FUN')

Good morning! Another week of the Daily Vitamin is coming to an end, and we are finishing with a phrasal verb and lyrics from a song by the band Fun. 

Today's phrasal verb is: TO STAND FOR. 

Definition 1: to be an abbreviation or symbol.

Example 1: The letters EU stand for the European Union and UK stands for the United Kingdom. 

Example 2: The 50 stars of the US flag stand for the 50 States. 

Definition 2: to support something.

Example 3: She says she's a vegetarian because she doesn't stand for the killing of animals.

Example 4: This politician says he doesn't stand for violence or war. 

There is a song by the band Fun called "Some Nights" (or "What Do I Stand For?"). It's a great example of the second definition of this phrasal verb. In this song, the singer asks "Who am I?" and admits he doesn't know what he stands for. Listen to the song using the link below...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQkBeOisNM0

and read the lyrics here:

What Do I Stand For? by Fun

Some nights I stay up cashing in my bad luck
Some nights I call it a draw
Some nights I wish that my lips could build a castle
Some nights I wish they'd just fall off

But I still wake up, I still see your ghost
Oh, Lord, I'm still not sure what I stand for oh
Whoa oh oh (What do I stand for?)
Whoa oh oh (What do I stand for?)

Most nights I don't know anymore...
Oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, oh,
Oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, oh

This is it, boys, this is war - what are we waiting for?
Why don't we break the rules already?
I was never one to believe the hype
Save that for the black and white

I try twice as hard and I'm half as liked,
But here they come again to jack my style
That's alright (that's alright)
I found a martyr in my bed tonight
She stops my bones from wondering just who I am, who I am, who I am
Oh, who am I? Mmm... Mmm...

Well, some nights I wish that this all would end
'Cause I could use some friends for a change.
And some nights I'm scared you'll forget me again
Some nights I always win, I always win...
But I still wake up, I still see your ghost
Oh, Lord, I'm still not sure what I stand for, oh
Whoa oh oh (What do I stand for?)
Whoa oh oh (What do I stand for?)
Most nights I don't know... (oh, come on)

So this is it. I sold my soul for this?
Washed my hands of that for this?
I miss my mom and dad for this?
(Come on)

No. When I see stars, when I see, when I see stars, that's all they are
When I hear songs, they sound like a swan, so come on.
Oh, come on. Oh, come on. Oh, come on!

Well, that is it guys, that is all - five minutes in and I'm bored again
Ten years of this, I'm not sure if anybody understands
This one is not for the folks at home;
Sorry to leave, mom, I had to go
Who the fuck wants to die alone all dried up in the desert sun?

My heart is breaking for my sister and the con that she called "love"
When I look into my nephew's eyes...
Man, you wouldn't believe the most amazing things that can come from...
Some terrible nights... ah...

Oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, oh,
Oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, oh

The other night you wouldn't believe the dream I just had about you and me
I called you up but we'd both agree
It's for the best you didn't listen
It's for the best we get our distance... Oh...
It's for the best you didn't listen
It's for the best we get our distance... Oh...

Thanks for tuning in during the month of January for our lessons. We hope you learned some new expressions and grammar. I'll see you next week for the start of February's Daily Vitamins!

Have a great day!