English Teachers Everywhere » Strange or Silly Songs

Capuccino

Kevin — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 05:40:04 +0000

In this very rockin’ song, a guy asks a waitress for a capuccino.Â And he requests a few other things, not all of which make much sense.

I can’t imagine why a teacher would play this song in class.Â That’s why it’s in the “Strange & Silly” section.Â However, if you do use it, let me know.

words and music:Â Bilby LighthouseÂ Â | Â Â drums:Â Sir Nedrick Â Â | Â 2600:Â Kevin

“Capuccino, if you would. Light on the cinammon… etc.

Romans

Kevin — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 18:40:51 +0000

If you have a few extra seconds play this song for the class and see if they can decipher the complete lyric. As a language learning activity it’s sketchy, but then again, with the song only 10 seconds long, it’s not a large time investment.

Moreover, in that short period of time we have a chance to expand our understanding of ancient Rome–the city, the culture, the people.

This song rocks more than most ETsEverywhere songs.

Lyrics and vocals: Ned Jackson. Music: Bilby, Jackson, McCaughey, aka Stop the Keg

About “Strange or Silly Songs”

Kevin — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 05:11:48 +0000

Most of the songs on the site have been created from a pedagogical point of view. They’ve been written to use as English language teaching tools. But sometimes I have songs that aren’t particularly geared for teaching. That doesn’t mean we can’t use them. It just means that they fall into the category “Silly or Strange Songs.”

Stop All the Clocks

Kevin — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 23:50:04 +0000

W.H. Auden wrote a fabulous poem about losing someone who means the world to you. I took the first and last (of the four) verses and adapted them to music.

This poem has good verbs, so it’s good material for a listening activity. Most of the verbs I removed from the poem in the gap-fill below are made up of two words. English verbs are like that. Think of “eat up” figure out” or look “forward to.” Oh, one of the missing words is a verbal noun.

To find the whole poem, just do a search for Auden and “Stop All the Clocks.”Â

(1) __________ all the clocks, (2) __________ the telephone,
(3) __________ the dog from (4) __________ with a juicy bone,
(5) __________ the pianos and with muffled drum
(6) __________ the coffin, (7) __________ the mourners come.

The stars are not wanted now: (8) __________ every one;
(9) __________ the moon and (10) __________ the sun;
(11) __________ the ocean and (12) __________ all the wood.
For nothing now can ever (13) __________ any good.
Recycle?Â If the class likes the melody, allow them to write their own words.Â There’s a karaoke audio below.

Extra voices:Â Kristin Venuti, Patricia McCaugheyÂ

Answers
(1) stop, (2) cut off, (3) prevent (4) barking, (5) silence, (6) Bring out, (7) let, (8) put out, (9) pack up, (10) dismantle, (11) pour away, (12) sweep up, (13) come to

A Wall Like You

Kevin — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 01:13:05 +0000

My friend Bilby Lighthouse wrote this song. He played the piano and sang, and then I added a lot of wet backing vocals to irritate him. Although the song wasn’t written as an ESL activity, I’ve made it into one, because (A) it’s short, (B) it uses some interesting words, and (C) I like it.Here are some words/phrases. Fit them into the song lyrics below. Then afterwards you can listen to check the answers.

brand new, cigar, drawer, guy, met, room, runs, single, supposed to, wonder, wrong

I look in my __________ for a __________ star
I looked in my __________ for my last __________
And I still can’t believe I dreamt this in a __________ day
I __________ a girl, we had some fun
Something happened, something __________
And I still can’t believe I dreamt this in a single day
And I __________ about myself
I wonder about you
I wonder what a __________’s __________ do
when he __________ into a wall like you.

note: supposed to is often pronounced spoze-ta