Shy is a song which I used to introduce adjectives of character. Although it is unknown it is quite slow and suitable for learners, some useful collocations can be found as well.

Shy – Sonata Arctica

1. I can see how you are beautiful,	a. I see that you get home alright
2. I'm shy and	b. my Dana (can you)
3. Working late in diner Citylight,	c. you look (at) me and you blink your eye
4. Make sure that you can't see me,	d. turn my head away
5. Sometimes I'm wondering why	e. can you feel my eyes on you,
6. You can't be acting like	f. serving all those meals and then
7. I see you in Citylight diner	g. hoping you will see me
8. I see reflections of me	h. in your eye, oh please

Chorus
Talk to me, show some pity,
You touch me in many, many ways
But I'm shy can't you see

1. Obsessed by you, your looks,	a. I would like to run away from
2. I write on paper	b. drinking coffee or reading lies
3. Still I sit in diner Citylight,	c. of me in your eyes, oh please
4. Turn my head and I can see you,	d. erased away
5. Sometimes I'm wondering why	e. well, anyway "I would any day die for you",
6. You can't be acting	f. you look (at)me and you blink your eye
7. I see your beautiful smile and	g. like my Dana?
8. Reflections	h. could that really be you

Chorus

1. I see, can't have you, can't leave you,	a. there 'cause I must sometimes see you
2. And I don't understand	b. taking power from me and I can't live
3. And every waking hour, I feel you	c. scenery over again
4. Repeating the	d. your eyes, oh please
5. Sometimes I'm wondering why	e. how you can keep me in chains
6. You can't be acting	f. I would like to run away from
7. I see your beautiful smile and	g. like my Dana?
8. Reflections of me in	h. you look me and you blink your eye

Chorus



Worksheet here

What we really want - Rosanna Cash

I found this song to introduce the idea of cleft clauses with my higher level class. Having analysed the song we then went on to talk about other ways of emphasis.

What we really want – Rosanne Cash

We tried to make ourselves 1.........................
For something we've never 2.................
We threw the best parts of life 3..........................

On street talk, strangers and drugs
And what we really want is 4................
What we really need is 5................

I wanna call out your 6...................
I wanna hold out my 7...............
A woman silent in the mirror tonight
Wants to talk to your mirror man
And what they really want is love
And what they really need is love

We are ships in the 8...............
The water is deep in 9....................
There is reason and we can't find the light
So we sail off into our 10................
And what we really dream is love
And what we really need is love

What we want is love
What we need is love

We tried to make it feel  11...............
In someone else's world
We sat and looked out my window last 12..........

And knew that things had changed with this 13................
'Cause what I really found was 14..............
What we really need is love

What we really want is love

What we really need is love
What we want is love
What we need is love

pay    done    away    love   name   hand   night  between   right   dreams  

night  girl    love   love

Worksheet here

Brian Hyland * Sealed With A Kiss *

Sealed with a kiss – Brian Hyland

Match the text on the left with the text on the right.

1. Though we've got to	a. all my love
2. For the	b. say good-bye
3. Darling,	c. I promise you this
4. I'll send you	d. a kiss
5. Everyday	e. in a letter
6. Sealed with	f. summer

CHORUS:
Yes it's gonna be a cold, lonely summer
But I'll fill the emptiness
I'll send you all my dreams
Everyday in a letter
Sealed with a kiss

Match the text on the left with the text on the right.

7. I'll see you	g. say good-bye
8. I'll hear	h. with a kiss
9. I'll run to tenderly	i. hold you
10. But, darlin'	j. you won't be there
11. I don't wanna	k. we'll miss
12. For the	l. in the sunlight
13. Knowing the love	m. your voice everywhere
14. Let us	n. make a pledge
15. To meet in	o. summer
16. And seal it	p. September

(CHORUS)

Sealed with a kiss
Sealed with a kiss

Used to introduce the topic of communication - compare old times and today, brainstorm different methods of communication. What are the advantages/disadvantages? What is the best method to..?

..

Worksheet  here

More basic reported speech - songs for presentation.

A couple of songs which can be used for introducing basic reported speech as it has the structures embedded.

The Beatles - She loves you - an oldie but not dull and still very popular

Randy Travis - I told you so - slower and clearer

Love letters and advice

The Tourists - I only want to be with you.

I rewrote this song with some grammatical corrections as a letter, then asked the students what they would do, where they think the text came from and then played it for them.

Dear John/Joanne

I don't know what it is that makes me love you so. I only know I never wanna let you go because you started something, can't you see? Ever since we met you've had a hold on me. It happens to be true, I only want to be with you.

It doesn't matter where you go or what you do. I want to spend each moment of the day with you. Look what has happened with just one kiss, I never knew that I could be in love like this. It's crazy but it's true I only want to be with you.

You stopped and smiled at me, asked me if I'd care to dance. I fell into your open arms, I didn't stand a chance. Now, listen, honey, I just want to be beside you everywhere. As long as we're together, honey, I don't care because you started something, can't you see. Ever since we met you've had a hold on me. No matter what you do, I only want to be with you.

Yours

...

A couple of songs with crime and law for topics. Can you imagine my new DOS's face when I told her I was using Judas Priest in class?

Judas Priest - Breaking the law
(PS The DOS heard it a few years later and was "pleasantly" surprised!)

I fought the law - The Clash

I fought the law – The Clash

in rocks Breakin' sun hot the
I fought the law and the law won [x2]
had I money I none needed 'cause
I fought the law and the law won [x2]

and I it left feels my so baby bad
Guess my race is run
best the She's had ever I that girl
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the

Robbin' with six-gun people a
I fought the law and the law won [x2]
and I I lost lost my my girl fun
I fought the law and the law won [x2]

it left feels my so baby bad and I
Guess my race is run
that girl best the She's had ever I
I fought the law and the law won
I fought the law and the

I fought the law and the law won [x7]
I fought the law and the

Link to worksheet here

Uncle Earl's Hairpiece

Have been looking for a song to teach the passive, found it - thanks to michelle henry for pointing me in the right direction. It is as naff as it comes but has lots of examples. I used textivate to chop up the text into 16 pieces, gave one to each member of the class and then got them to stand in order as they heard the song. Then went into grammar using example from the song. At the end - sing it!

Worksheet