Advanced/Intermediate English Lesson: Analysing & understanding what you hear. (1)

In this lesson you will be presented with four music videos with the lyrics displayed on the screen. Each video will be between 2.5 and 4 minutes long. During each song I want you to try to understand the following:

1). What the person is singing about.

2). Who are the main characters (names) in the song?

3). What genre does the song belong to?

4). Find 5 verbs in the lyrics and make a note.

5). Find 5 adjectives in the lyrics and make a note.

6). Make a note of any new words you hear.

7). Make a note of any slang you hear. (words that don’t exist).

8).  Now answer the grammar question below the video you chose.

SONG ONE:  Lyin Eyes (The Eagles)  (American)

Now discuss the questions above and answer the grammar question below.

Grammar Question1.  Find the first comparative in the lyrics. 

 

SONG TWO: The Boom Town Rats (I don’t Like Mondays)  British

Now discuss the questions above and answer the grammar question below.

Grammar Question1.  In the verse what does the expression “as good as gold” mean?

And daddy doesn’t understand it
He always said she was good as gold
And he can see no reasons
‘Cause there are no reasons
What reason do you need to be shown?

 

SONG THREE: Golden Brown (The Stranglers)  British

Now discuss the questions above and answer the grammar question below.

Grammar Question 3. In the line “On her ship tied to the mast”  what is a mast?

Every time just like the last
On her ship tied to the mast
To distant lands
Takes both my hands
Never a frown with golden brown

SONG FOUR: Pink Floyd.  (Another brick in the wall).  British

Now discuss the questions above and answer the grammar question below.

Grammar Question 3. The teacher says, ” I’m alright Jack keep your hands of my stack”  What do the following expressions mean?

1).  I’m alright Jack.

2). Keep your hands off my stack.