2nd Group Tasks on Song Lyrics Analyses

Activities for Analyzing Song Lyrics

Instructions: In groups of 3-5 students, please discuss the following questions in to order
to find out more and deeper comprehension on one of the songs you have chosen. So,
please select one of the following song lyrics.

A. SOCIAL FUNCTION (MEANING)

1. Please translate sentences of each verse/ stanza of the song you’ve chosen.
2. Then based on the meaning you’ve got, please interpret the meaning of each verse/
stanza.
3. What is the message or moral lesson of the song as a whole?

B. STRUCTURE AND LINGUISTIC FEATURES

4. How many types of figurative language can you find in the song lyric you’ve chosen?
What are they? Quote them and explain them one by one. (read PPT on slide 25-44)
5. What are the rhymes of each stanza? (read the PPT on slide 18)
6. What is the structure of the song as a whole? (read the PPT on slide 9-16)
7. What symbols can you find in the lyrics? Explain what each symbol means. (read PPT
on slide 22-24)

To work on Part B, you can read the PPT about Song Lyrics.

C. LITERACY AND CREATIVITY

8. Please find some facts about the song. You may browse the internet.
9. Please draw a poster that illustrates the song content.
10. What is your opinion about the song you’ve chosen?

Lyrics of Some Chosen Songs

1. Sound of Silence

By Simon and Gartfunkel

Hello darkness, my old friend

I've come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence

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In restless dreams, I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone
'Neath the halo of a street lamp
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence

And in the naked light, I saw

Ten thousand people, maybe more
People talking without speaking
People hearing without listening
People writing songs that voices never shared
And no one dared
Disturb the sound of silence

"Fools" said I, "You do not know

Silence like a cancer grows
Hear my words that I might teach you
Take my arms that I might reach you"
But my words, like silent raindrops fell
And echoed in the wells of silence

And the people bowed and prayed

To the neon god they made
And the sign flashed out its warning
In the words that it was forming
Then the sign said, "The words on the prophets are written on the subway walls
In tenement halls"
And whispered in the sound of silence

2. Father and Son

By Cat Stevens/ Ronan Keating

It's not time to make a change

Just relax, take it easy
You're still young, that's your fault
There's so much you have to know

Find a girl, settle down

If you want you can marry
Look at me, I am old
But I'm happy

I was once like you are now

And I know that it's not easy
To be calm when you've found
Something going on

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But take your time, think a lot
Think of everything you've got
For you will still be here tomorrow
But your dreams may not

How can I try to explain?

When I do he turns away again
It's always been the same
Same old story
From the moment I could talk
I was ordered to listen, now there's a way
And I know that I have to go away
I know I have to go

It's not time to make a change

Just sit down, take it slowly
You're still young, that's your fault
There's so much you have to go through

Find a girl, settle down

If you want you can marry
Look at me, I am old
But I'm happy

All the times that I've cried

Keeping all the things I knew inside
It's hard, but it's harder to ignore it
If they were right I'd agree
But it's them they know, not me
Now there's a way
And I know that I have to go away
I know I have to go

3. Ironic
By Alanis Morissette

An old man turned 98

He won the lottery and died the next day
It's a black fly in your Chardonnay
It's a death row pardon two minutes too late
And isn't it ironic, don't you think?

It's like rain on your wedding day

It's a free ride when you've already paid
It's the good advice that you just didn't take
And who would've thought, it figures

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Mr. Play It Safe was afraid to fly
He packed his suitcase and kissed his kids goodbye
He waited his whole damn life to take that flight
And as the plane crashed down, he thought
"Well, isn't this nice?"
And isn't it ironic, don't you think?

It's like rain on your wedding day

It's a free ride when you've already paid
It's the good advice that you just didn't take
And who would've thought, it figures

Well, life has a funny way of sneaking up on you

When you think everything's okay and everything's going right
And life has a funny way of helping you out
When you think everything's gone wrong and everything blows up
In your face

A traffic jam when you're already late

A no-smoking sign on your cigarette break
It's like ten thousand spoons when all you need is a knife
It's meeting the man of my dreams
And then meeting his beautiful wife
And isn't it ironic, don't you think?
A little too ironic
And, yeah, I really do think

It's like rain on your wedding day

It's a free ride when you've already paid
It's the good advice that you just didn't take
And who would've thought, it figures

And, yeah, life has a funny way of sneaking up on you

Life has a funny, funny way of helping you out
Helping you out

4. What a wonderful world

By Louis Amstrong

I see trees of green

Red roses too
I see them bloom
For me and you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world

I see skies of blue

And clouds of white
The bright blessed day
The dark sacred night
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world

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The colors of the rainbow
So pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces
Of people going by
I see friends shaking hands
Saying, "How do you do?"
They're really saying
I love you

I hear babies cry

I watch them grow
They'll learn much more
Than I'll ever know
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world
Yes, I think to myself
What a wonderful world
Ooh, yes

5. My Way
By Frank Sinatra

And now, the end is near

And so I face the final curtain
My friend, I'll say it clear
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain
I've lived a life that's full
I traveled each and every highway
And more, much more than this
I did it my way

Regrets, I've had a few

But then again, too few to mention
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption
I planned each charted course
Each careful step along the byway
And more, much more than this
I did it my way

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew

When I bit off more than I could chew
But through it all, when there was doubt
I ate it up and spit it out
I faced it all, and I stood tall
And did it my way

I've loved, I've laughed and cried

I've had my fill, my share of losing
And now, as tears subside
I find it all so amusing
To think I did all that
And may I say, not in a shy way

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Oh, no, oh, no, not me
I did it my way

For what is a man, what has he got?

If not himself, then he has naught
To say the things he truly feels
And not the words of one who kneels
The record shows I took the blows
And did it my way

Yes, it was my way

6. You Raise Me Up
By Josh Groban

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary

When troubles come and my heart burdened be
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence
Until You come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up to more than I can be

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up to more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up to more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up to more than I can be.

You raise me up to more than I can be.

7. Awaken
By Maher Zain

We were given so many prizes

We changed the desert into oasis
We built buildings of different lengths and sizes
And we felt so very satisfied

We bought and bought

We couldn't stop buying
We gave charity to the poor
'Cause we couldn't stand their crying

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We thought we paid our dues
But in fact, to ourselves we're just lying

Oh, I'm walking with my head lowered in shame from my place

I'm walking with my head lowered from my race
Yes, it's easy to blame everything on the west
When in fact all focus should be on ourselves

I'm walking with my head lowered in shame from my place

I'm walking with my head lowered from my race
Yes, it's easy to blame everything on the west
When in fact all focus should be on ourselves

We were told what to buy and we'd bought

We went to London, Paris and Costa Del Sol
We made show, we were seen in the most exclusive shops
Yes, we felt so very satisfied

We felt our money gave us infinite power

We forgot to teach our children about history and honor
We didn't have any time to lose when we were (Were)
So busy feeling so satisfied

I'm walking with my head lowered in shame from my place

I'm walking with my head lowered from my race
Yes, it's easy to blame everything on the west
When in fact all focus should be on ourselves

I'm walking with my head lowered in shame from my place

I'm walking with my head lowered from my race
Yes, it's easy to blame everything on the west
When in fact all focus should be on ourselves

We became individuals without a soul

Despite the heat
Our homes felt so empty and cold
To fill the emptiness, we bought and bought
Maybe all the fancy cars and bling will make us feel satisfied

My dear brother and sister

It's time to change inside
Open your eyes
Don't throw away what's right aside
Before the day comes when there's nowhere to run and hide
Now ask yourself 'cause Allah's watching you
Is He satisfied?
Is Allah satisfied?
Is Allah satisfied?
Is Allah satisfied?

Oh, I'm walking with my head lowered in shame from my place

I'm walking with my head lowered from my race
Yes, it's easy to blame everything on the west
When in fact all focus should be on ourselves

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I'm walking with my head lowered in shame from my place
I'm walking with my head lowered from my race
Yes, it's easy to blame everything on the west
When in fact all focus should be on ourselves

8. Bohemian Rhapsody
By Queen

Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?

Caught in a landslide, no escape from reality
Open your eyes, look up to the skies and see
I'm just a poor boy, I need no sympathy
Because I'm easy come, easy go, little high, little low
Any way the wind blows doesn't really matter to me, to me

Mama, just killed a man

Put a gun against his head, pulled my trigger, now he's dead
Mama, life had just begun
But now I've gone and thrown it all away
Mama, ooh, didn't mean to make you cry
If I'm not back again this time tomorrow
Carry on, carry on as if nothing really matters

Too late, my time has come

Sends shivers down my spine, body's aching all the time
Goodbye, everybody, I've got to go
Gotta leave you all behind and face the truth
Mama, ooh (any way the wind blows)
I don't wanna die
I sometimes wish I'd never been born at all

I see a little silhouetto of a man

Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you do the Fandango?
Thunderbolt and lightning, very, very frightening me
(Galileo) Galileo, (Galileo) Galileo, Galileo Figaro, magnifico
But I'm just a poor boy, nobody loves me
He's just a poor boy from a poor family
Spare him his life from this monstrosity

Easy come, easy go, will you let me go?

‫َّٰل‬
‫ِب ْس ِم ٱل ِه‬
No, we will not let you go (let him go)
‫َّٰل‬
‫ِب ْس ِم ٱل ِه‬
We will not let you go (let him go)
‫َّٰل‬
‫ِب ْس ِم ٱل ِه‬

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We will not let you go (let me go)
Will not let you go (let me go)
Never, never, never, never let me go
No, no, no, no, no, no, no

Oh, mamma mia, mamma mia

Mamma mia, let me go
Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me, for me, for me

So you think you can stone me and spit in my eye?

So you think you can love me and leave me to die?
Oh, baby, can't do this to me, baby
Just gotta get out, just gotta get right outta here

Ooh
Ooh, yeah, ooh, yeah

Nothing really matters, anyone can see

Nothing really matters
Nothing really matters to me

9. Heal the World

By Michael Jackson

"Heal The World"

Think about—um—the generations and they say we wanna make it a better

place for our children, and our children's children, so that they they they
know it's a better world for them, and think if they can make it a better place

There's a place in your heart

And I know that it is love
And this place could be much brighter than tomorrow

And if you really try

You'll find there's no need to cry
In this place you'll feel there's no hurt or sorrow

There are ways to get there

If you care enough for the living
Make a little space
Make a better place

Heal the world

Make it a better place

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 For you and for me
And the entire human race
There are people dying
If you care enough for the living
Make a better place
For you and for me

If you want to know why

There's a love that cannot lie
Love is strong
It only cares for joyful giving

If we try we shall see

In this bliss we cannot feel
Fear or dread
We stop existing and start living

Then it feels that always

Love's enough for us growing
Make a better world
To make a better world

Heal the world

Make it a better place
For you and for me
And the entire human race
There are people dying
If you care enough for the living
Make a better place
For you and for me

And the dream we were conceived in

Will reveal a joyful face
And the world we once believed in
Will shine again in grace

Then why do we keep strangling life

Wound this Earth, crucify its soul?
Though it's plain to see
This world is heavenly
Be God's glow

We could fly so high

Let our spirits never die
In my heart I feel you are all my brothers

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 Create a world with no fear
Together we'll cry happy tears
See the nations turn their swords into plowshares

We could really get there

If you cared enough for the living
Make a little space
To make a better place

Heal the world

Make it a better place
For you and for me
And the entire human race
There are people dying
If you care enough for the living
Make a better place
For you and for me

Heal the world

Make it a better place
For you and for me
And the entire human race
There are people dying
If you care enough for the living
Make a better place
For you and for me

Heal the world (Heal the world)

Make it a better place
For you and for me
And the entire human race
There are people dying
If you care enough for the living
Make a better place
For you and for me

There are people dying

If you care enough for the living
Make a better place
For you and for me

There are people dying

If you care enough for the living
Make a better place
For you and for me

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 You and for me
Make a better place (You and for me)
Make a better place (You and for me)
Make a better place (You and for me)
(You and for me)

Heal the world we live in (You and for me)

Save it for our children (You and for me)
Heal the world we live in (You and for me)
Save it for our children (You and for me)
Heal the world we live in (You and for me)
Save it for our children (You and for me)
Heal the world we live in (You and for me)
Save it for our children

10. November Rain

By Guns N’ Roses

When I look into your eyes

I can see a love restrained
But darlin' when I hold you
Don't you know I feel the same?

Nothin' lasts forever

And we both know hearts can change
And it's hard to hold a candle
In the cold November rain

We've been through this such a long long time

Just tryin' to kill the pain, ooh yeah
Love is always coming, love is always going
No one's really sure who's lettin' go today
Walking away

If we could take the time to lay it on the line

I could rest my head just knowin' that you were mine
All mine
So if you want to love me then darlin' don't refrain
Or I'll just end up walkin' in the cold November rain

Do you need some time on your own?

Do you need some time all alone?
Ooh, everybody needs some time on their own
Ooh, don't you know you need some time all alone

I know it's hard to keep an open heart

When even friends seem out to harm you
But if you could heal a broken heart
Wouldn't time be out to charm you?
Oh, oh, oh

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Sometimes I need some time on my own
Sometimes I need some time all alone
Ooh, everybody needs some time on their own
Ooh, don't you know you need some time all alone

And when your fears subside

And shadows still remain, oh yeah
I know that you can love me when there's no one left to blame
So never mind the darkness, we still can find a way
'Cause nothin' lasts forever, even cold November rain

Don't ya think that you need somebody?

Don't ya think that you need someone?
Everybody needs somebody
You're not the only one
You're not the only one

Don't ya think that you need somebody?

Don't ya think that you need someone?
Everybody needs somebody
You're not the only one
You're not the only one

Don't ya think that you need somebody?

Don't ya think that you need someone?
Everybody needs somebody
You're not the only one
You're not the only one

Don't ya think that you need somebody?

Don't ya think that you need someone?
Everybody needs somebody

11. Tears in Heaven

By Eric Clapton

Would you know my name?

If I saw you in heaven
Would it be the same?
If I saw you in heaven

I must be strong
And carry on
'Cause I know I don't belong
Here in heaven

Would you hold my hand?

If I saw you in heaven
Would you help me stand?
If I saw you in heaven

I'll find my way

Through night and day

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'Cause I know I just can't stay
Here in heaven

Time can bring you down

Time can bend your knees
Time can break your heart
Have you begging please
Begging please

Beyond the door

There's peace, I'm sure
And I know there'll be no more
Tears in heaven

Would you know my name?

If I saw you in heaven
Would you be the same?
If I saw you in heaven

I must be strong
And carry on
'Cause I know I don't belong
Here in heaven

12. Morning Has Broken

By Cat Stevens

Morning has broken like the first morning

Blackbird has spoken like the first bird
Praise for the singing
Praise for the morning
Praise for them springing fresh from the Word

Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from heaven

Like the first dew fall on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where His feet pass

Mine is the sunlight

Mine is the morning
Born of the One Light Eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise every morning
God's recreation of the new day

Morning has broken like the first morning

Blackbird has spoken like the first bird
Praise for the singing
Praise for the morning
Praise for them springing fresh from the Word

13. Annie’s Song

By John Denver

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 You fill up my senses like a night in the forest,
like the mountains in springtime, like a walk in the rain,
like a storm in the desert, like a sleepy blue ocean.
You fill up my senses, come fill me again.

Come let me love you, let me give my life to you,

let me drown in your laughter, let me die in your arms,
let me lay down beside you, let me always be with you.
Come let me love you, come love me again.

You fill up my senses like a night in the forest,

like the mountains in springtime, like a walk in the rain,
like a storm in the desert, like a sleepy blue ocean.
You fill up my senses, come fill me again.

14. That’s What Friends are For

By Elton John, Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder

And I never thought I'd feel this way

And as far as I'm concerned
I'm glad I got the chance to say
That I do believe I love you
And if I should ever go away
Well, then close your eyes and try
To feel the way we do today
And then if you can remember

Keep smilin', keep shinin'

Knowing you can always count on me for sure
That's what friends are for
For good times and bad times
I'll be on your side forever more
That's what friends are for

Well, you came and opened me

And now there's so much more I see
And so by the way I thank you
Oh and then for the times when we're apart
Well, then close your eyes and know
These words are coming from my heart
And then if you can remember

Oh, keep smilin' and keep shinin'

Knowing you can always count on me for sure
That's what friends are for
In good times and bad times

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I'll be on your side forever more
Oh, that's what friends are for

Keep smilin', keep shinin'

Knowing you can always count on me for sure
That's what friends are for
For good times and bad times
I'll be on your side forever more
That's what friends are for

Keep smilin', keep shinin'

Knowing you can always count on me for sure
'Cause I tell you that's what friends are for
For good times and for bad times
I'll be on your side forever more
That's what friends are for (that's what friends are for, ya)

On me for sure (count on me for sure, count on me for sure)

That's what friends are for

Keep smilin', keep shinin'

15. A Thousand Years

By Katie Perri

The day we met

Frozen I held my breath
Right from the start
I knew that I'd found a home for my heart

Beats fast
Colors and promises
How to be brave?
How can I love when I'm afraid to fall?
But watching you stand alone
All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow

One step closer

I have died every day waiting for you

Darling, don't be afraid, I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

Time stands still

Beauty and all she is
I will be brave
I will not let anything take away
What's standing in front of me
Every breath, every hour has come to this

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One step closer

I have died every day waiting for you

Darling, don't be afraid, I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

And all along I believed I would find you

Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

Ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh
I love you for a thousand more
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh

One step closer

I have died every day waiting for you

Darling, don't be afraid, I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

And all along I believed I would find you

Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

16. Somewhere Only We Know

By Keane

I walked across an empty land

I knew the pathway like the back of my hand
I felt the earth beneath my feet
Sat by the river and it made me complete

Oh, simple thing, where have you gone?

I'm getting old, and I need something to rely on
So, tell me when you're gonna let me in
I'm getting tired, and I need somewhere to begin

I came across a fallen tree

I felt the branches of it looking at me
Is this the place we used to love?
Is this the place that I've been dreaming of?

Oh, simple thing, where have you gone?

I'm getting old, and I need something to rely on
So, tell me when you're gonna let me in
I'm getting tired, and I need somewhere to begin

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And if you have a minute, why don't we go
Talk about it somewhere only we know?
This could be the end of everything
So, why don't we go somewhere only we know?
Somewhere only we know

Oh, simple thing, where have you gone?

I'm getting old, and I need something to rely on
So, tell me when you're gonna let me in
I'm getting tired, and I need somewhere to begin

And if you have a minute, why don't we go

Talk about it somewhere only we know?
This could be the end of everything
So, why don't we go?
So, why don't we go?

Ooh, oh-oh
Ah, oh

This could be the end of everything

So, why don't we go somewhere only we know?
Somewhere only we know
Somewhere only we know

17. Amazing Day

By Coldplay

Sat on a roof
Named every star
Shed every bruise and showed every scar

Hope has its proof put your hand in mine, singing

Life has a beautiful, crazy design
And time seemed to say
Forget the world and all its weight
Here I just wanna stay

Amazing day
Amazing day

Sat on a roof
Named every star and
Showed me a place
Where you can be who you are

And the view

The whole Milky Way
In your eyes

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 I'm drifting away
And in your arms
I just wanna sway

Amazing day
Amazing day
Amazing day
Amazing day

And I asked every book

Poetry and chime
"Can there be breaks
In the chaos of times?"
Oh, thanks God
You must've heard when I prayed
Because now I always
Want to feel this way

Amazing day
Amazing day
Amazing day
Amazing day
Yeah, today

18. Fix you

By Coldplay

When you try your best, but you don't succeed

When you get what you want, but not what you need
When you feel so tired, but you can't sleep
Stuck in reverse

And the tears come streaming down your face

When you lose something you can't replace
When you love someone, but it goes to waste
Could it be worse?

Lights will guide you home

And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

And high up above, or down below

When you're too in love to let it go
But if you never try, you'll never know
Just what you're worth

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Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

Tears stream down your face

When you lose something you cannot replace
Tears stream down your face, and I

Tears stream down your face

I promise you I will learn from my mistakes
Tears stream down your face, and I

Lights will guide you home

And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you

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