by Carrie Underwood

an American country music singer, songwriter and actor.  Her career started when she won the fourth season of American Idol in 2005.  She has since won six Grammy Awards.  This song is from her second album, Carnival Ride, released in 2007.

What you got if you ain’t got love?
The kind that you just wanna give away
It’s okay to open up
Go ahead and let the light shine through

I know it’s hard on a rainy day
You wanna shut the world out
And just be left alone
But don’t run out on your faith

‘Cause sometimes that mountain you’ve been climbing
Is just a grain of sand
And what you’ve been out there searching for forever
Is in your hands

And when you figure out
Love is all that matters after all
It sure makes everything else
Seem so small

It’s so easy to get lost inside
A problem that seems so big at the time
It’s like a river that’s so wide
It swallows you whole

While you’re sitting around thinking about what you can’t change
And worrying about all the wrong things
Time’s flying by, moving so fast
You better make it count ’cause you can’t get it back

Sometimes that mountain you’ve been climbing
Is just a grain of sand
And what you’ve been out there searching for forever
Is in your hands

Oh, and when you figure out
Love is all that matters after all
It sure makes everything else
Seem so small

Sometimes that mountain you’ve been climbing
Is just a grain of sand
And what you’ve been out there searching for forever
Is in your hands

And then you figure out
Love is all that matters after all
It sure makes everything else
Oh, it sure makes everything else
Seem so small

Vocabulary:

ain’t got:  don’t have
wanna:  want to
open up:  let your feelings out
run out:  stop believing
faith:  beliefs
grain:  one small piece
figure out:  discover
matters:  is important
lost inside:  not know what to do
make it count:  do something with it

© 2015 Ambien Malecot for vocabulary lesson only

by Sara Bareilles

an American singer-songwriter.  This song is from her fourth album, released in 2013, entitled The Blessed Unrest.   She wrote it with Jack Antonoff  from the band Fun.

an American musician, singer-songwriter and pianist.  This song, released in 2013 on her album The Blessed Unrest, was written by Bareilles and Jack Antonoff.

You can be amazing
You can turn a phrase into a weapon or a drug
You can be the outcast
Or be the backlash of somebody’s lack of love
Or you can start speaking up
Nothing’s gonna hurt you the way that words do
When they settle ‘neath your skin
Kept on the inside and no sunlight
Sometimes a shadow wins
But I wonder what would happen if you

Say what you wanna say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave
With what you want to say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave

I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
Just wanna see you
I wanna see you be brave
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
Just wanna see you
I wanna see you be brave

Everybody’s been there, everybody’s been stared down
By the enemy
Fallen for the fear and done some disappearing
Bow down to the mighty
Don’t run, stop holding your tongue
Maybe there’s a way out of the cage where you live
Maybe one of these days you can let the light in
Show me how big your brave is

Say what you wanna say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave
With what you want to say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave

And since your history of silence
Won’t do you any good
Did you think it would?
Let your words be anything but empty
Why don’t you tell them the truth?

Say what you wanna say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave
With what you want to say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave

I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I wanna see you be brave
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
See you be brave

I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you

Vocabulary:

phrase:  words that you say
weapon:  something that can hurt you
drug:  something that makes you feel good
outcast:  someone who doesn’t belong there
backlash:  reaction
lack:  not having any
speaking up:  saying what you think
gonna:  going to
settle ‘neath your skin:  stay in your mind for a long time
shadow:  bad thing
wanna:  want to
brave:  able to do something that scares you
been there:  had bad experiences
stared down:  looked at until you feel bad
the enemy:  people who are against you
fallen for the fear:  let your fear control you
done some disappearing:  not tried to solve the problem
bow down:  accept your low position
the mighty:  people who are powerful
holding your tongue:  not saying what you should say
cage:  prison
one of these days:  some time in the future
let the light in:  understand what the right thing to do is
your brave:  your braveness
empty:  meaningless

© 2015 Ambien Malecot for vocabulary lesson only

by The Alternate Routes

an American rock band formed in 2002 by Tim Warren and Eric Donnelly with drummer Kurt Leon and base player Mike Sembos.  This song was released as a single in 2013.

To be humble, to be kind.
It is the giving of the peace in your mind.
To a stranger, to a friend
To give in such a way that has no end.

We are love, we are one
We are how we treat each other when the day is done.
We are peace, we are war
We are how we treat each other and nothing more

To be bold, to be brave.
It is the thinking that the heart can still be saved
And the darkness can come quick
The danger’s in the anger and the hanging on to it.

We are love, we are one
We are how we treat each other when the day is done.
We are peace, we are war
We are how we treat each other and nothing more

Tell me what it is that you see
A world that’s filled with endless possibility?
Heroes don’t look like they used to, they look like you do.

We are love, we are one
We are how we treat each other when the day is done.
We are peace, we are war
We are how we treat each other and nothing more
We are how we treat each other and nothing more
We are how we treat each other

Vocabulary:

humble:  not thinking you’re important
peace: calmness
treat: interact with (others)
bold:  not afraid
brave:  fearless, courageous
hanging on:  keeping, not releasing
heroes:  people who do brave things
used to:  did in the past

© 2015 Ambien Malecot for vocabulary lesson only  

by Simon & Garfunkel

an American duo who started recording songs in 1957.  They became popular with the younger generation in the 60s. Paul Simon wrote all the songs and Art Garfunkel sang the harmony.  This song was on their 1966 album “Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme.”

Slow down, you’re moving too fast
You gotta make the morning last
Just kicking down the cobblestones
Looking for fun and feeling groovy
Ba da da da da da da, feeling groovy

Hello lamppost; what you knowing?
I’ve come to watch your flowers growing
Ain’t you got no rhymes for me?
Doo-it-in-doo doo, feeling groovy
Ba da da da da da da, feeling groovy

I got no deeds to do, no promises to keep
I’m dappled and drowsy and ready to sleep
Let the morning time drop all its petals on me
Life I love you, all is groovy

Ba da da da da da da …

Vocabulary:

gotta:  got to (have to)
kicking down:  walking slowly with no destination
cobblestones:  an old road made of stones
groovy:  wonderful, happy
lamppost:  street light
you:  pronounced “cha” after a word ending in “t”
ain’t you got no:  (slang) don’t you have any
rhymes:  inspiration for lyrics for a song
deeds:  tasks, little jobs
dappled:  lying under a tree with spots of sunlight on me
drowsy:  feeling sleepy
petals:  blossoms from the tree

© 2015 Ambien Malecot for vocabulary lesson only 

by Savage Garden

an Australian pop duo consisting of singer Darren Hayes and instrumentalist Daniel Jones.  Formed in 1994, the duo achieved international success in the late 1990s and early 2000s.  This is the title song from their second album, Affirmation, which was recorded in 1999.  The duo disbanded in 2001, and Hayes continued as a solo artist.

I believe the sun should never set upon an argument
I believe we place our happiness in other people’s hands
I believe that junk food tastes so good because it’s bad for you
I believe your parents did the best job they knew how to do
I believe that beauty magazines promote low self esteem
I believe I’m loved when I’m completely by myself alone

I believe in Karma what you give is what you get returned
I believe you can’t appreciate real love till you’ve been burned
I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side
I believe you don’t know what you’ve got until you say goodbye

I believe you can’t control or choose your sexuality
I believe that trust is more important than monogamy
I believe you’re most attractive features are your heart and soul.
I believe that family is worth more than money or gold
I believe the struggle for financial freedom is unfair
I believe the only ones who disagree are millionaires

I believe in Karma what you give is what you get returned
I believe you can’t appreciate real love till you’ve been burned
I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side
I believe you don’t know what you’ve got until you say goodbye

I believe forgiveness is the key to your own happiness
I believe that wedded bliss negates the need to be undressed
I believe that God does not endorse TV evangelists
I believe in love surviving death into eternity

I believe in Karma what you give is what you get returned
I believe you can’t appreciate real love till you’ve been burned
I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side
I believe you don’t know what you’ve got until you say goodbye

I believe in Karma what you give is what you get returned
I believe you can’t appreciate real love till you’ve been burned
I believe the grass is no more greener on the other side
I believe you don’t know what you’ve got until you say goodbye

Until you say goodbye
No, no, no, no, no, no, no,

Vocabulary:

argument:  words of disagreement
promote: cause
self-esteem:  how you feel about yourself
Karma:  the belief that what happens to you is the result of what you do to others
appreciate:  see the value in (something/someone)
burned:  hurt by a lover who leaves you
grass is no more greener on the other side:  things don’t get better just because you change location
sexuality:  male or female, gender
monogamy:  having only one special lover
features:  parts of your body
worth more:  more valuable
struggle:  hard work
financial freedom:  not having to worry about money
millionaires:  people with over a million dollars
forgiveness:  not continuing to be angry with someone
key:  the one thing that can cause something to happen
wedded bliss:  the joy of marriage
negates:  cancels
endorse:  support with words
TV evangelists:  religious teachers on TV
surviving:  continuing after
eternity:  time forever

© 2015 Ambien Malecot for vocabulary lesson only 

by Pharrell Williams

an American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, and fashion designer.  Pharrell is the lead singer and drummer of the funk-rock band, N*E*R*D.  He wrote this song for the animated movie Despicable Me 2, released in July, 2013.

It might seem crazy what I’m about to say
Sunshine she’s here, you can take a break
I’m a hot air balloon that could go to space
With the air, like I don’t care baby by the way

Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do

Here come bad news talking this and that
Yeah, give me all you got, don’t hold back
Yeah, well I should probably warn you I’ll be just fine
Yeah, no offense to you, don’t waste your time
Here’s why

Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do

Bring me down… can’t nothing…
Bring me down… your love is too high…
Bring me down… can’t nothing…
Bring me down, I said I’ll tell you about it
Bring me down… can’t nothing…
Bring me down… your love is too high…
Bring me down… can’t nothing…
Bring me down, I said

Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do

Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do

Bring me down… can’t nothing…
Bring me down… your love is too high…
Bring me down… can’t nothing…
Bring me down, I said I’ll tell you about it
Bring me down… can’t nothing…
Bring me down… your love is too high…
Bring me down… can’t nothing…
Bring me down, I said

Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do

Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
Because I’m happy
Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do

Vocabulary:

wanna:  want to
this and that:  about different things
hold back:  keep your thoughts and feelings inside
no offense:  I’m not saying anything bad
waste your time:  spend your time for no result
Bring me down… can’t nothing:  Nothing can make me unhappy

© 2015 Ambien Malecot for vocabulary lesson only 

by American Authors

an American band consisting of Zachary Barnett, James Adam Shelley, Dave Rubin, and Matt Sanchez.  This song is from their debut album “American Authors.”

I had a dream so big and loud
I jumped so high I touched the clouds
Wo-o-o-o-o-oh, wo-o-o-o-o-oh
I stretched my hands out to the sky
We danced with monsters through the night
Wo-o-o-o-o-oh, wo-o-o-o-o-oh

I’m never gonna look back, wo
I’m never gonna give it up, no
Please don’t wake me now

Oo-o-o-o-oo
This is gonna be the best day of my life
My li-i-i-i-i-ife
Oo-o-o-o-oo
This is gonna be the best day of my life
My li-i-i-i-i-ife

I howled at the moon with friends
And then the sun came crashing in
Wo-o-o-o-o-oh, wo-o-o-o-o-oh
But all the possibilities
No limits just epiphanies
Wo-o-o-o-o-oh, wo-o-o-o-o-oh

I’m never gonna look back, wo
I’m never gonna give it up, no
Just don’t wake me now

Oo-o-o-o-oo
This is gonna be the best day of my life
My li-i-i-i-i-ife
Oo-o-o-o-oo
This is gonna be the best day of my life
My li-i-i-i-i-ife

I hear it calling outside my window
I feel it in my soul (soul)
The stars were burning so bright
The sun was out till midnight
I say we lose control (control)

Oo-o-o-o-o
This is gonna be the best day of my life
My li-i-i-i-i-ife
Oo-o-o-o-o
This is gonna be the best day of my life
My li-i-i-i-i-ife
This is gonna be, this is gonna be, this is gonna be
The best day of my life
Everything is looking up, everybody up now
This is gonna be the best day of my life
My li-i-i-i-i-ife

Vocabulary:

stretched:  reached
monsters:  part human animals that scare people
gonna:  going to
give it up:  stop doing it
howled:  screamed in a high voice like a wolf
crashing in:  coming where it’s not wanted
epiphanies:  moments of realizing something important
soul:  spirit
was out:  was shining
lose control:  become wild
looking up:  getting better

© 2015 Ambien Malecot for vocabulary lesson only 

by Miley Cyrus

an American actress and recording artist.  She was the star of the Disney Channel television series Hannah Montana, where she was the character Miley Stewart.  The song was written by Jessi Alexander and Jon Mabe and was performed for the 2009 film Hannah Montana: The Movie. 

I can almost see it.
That dream I’m dreaming, but
There’s a voice inside my head saying
You’ll never reach it
Every step I’m taking
Every move I make
Feels lost with no direction,
My faith is shaken
But I, I gotta keep trying
Gotta keep my head held high

There’s always gonna be another mountain
I’m always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Sometimes I’m gonna have to lose
Ain’t about how fast I get there
Ain’t about what’s waiting on the other side
It’s the climb

The struggles I’m facing
The chances I’m taking
Sometimes might knock me down, but
No I’m not breaking
I may not know it
But these are the moments that
I’m gonna remember most, yeah
Just gotta keep going
And I, I gotta be strong
Just keep pushing on, ’cause

There’s always gonna be another mountain
I’m always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Sometimes I’m gonna have to lose
Ain’t about how fast I get there
Ain’t about what’s waiting on the other side
It’s the climb

Yeah

There’s always gonna be another mountain
I’m always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Somebody’s gonna have to lose
Ain’t about how fast I get there
Ain’t about what’s waiting on the other side
It’s the climb

Yeah, yeah yeah

Keep on moving, keep climbing
Keep the faith baby
It’s all about, it’s all about the climb
Keep the faith, keep your faith, whoa, whoa, oh.

Vocabulary:

reach it:  make your dream real
faith is shaken:  beliefs could be wrong
gotta:  have got to
head held high:  dignity, self respect
gonna:  going to
mountain:  problem in life, difficult journey
wanna:  want to
uphill battle:  difficult struggle
ain’t:  it isn’t
struggles:  times when the work is hard
knock me down:  defeat me, make me lose
keep the faith:  don’t stop believing

© 2015 Ambien Malecot for vocabulary lesson only 

by Jessie J

an English singer and songwriter who wrote and recorded this song for her  2011 album, “Who Are You.”  This song was released as a single before the album, and it topped the charts in 19 countries.

Okay, Coconut Man, Moon Heads and P.  You ready?
Seems like everybody’s got a price,
I wonder how they sleep at night
When the sale comes first
And the truth comes second
Just stop a minute and smile

Why is everybody so serious?
Acting so damn mysterious?
Got your shades on your eyes
And your heels so high
That you can’t even have a good time

Everybody look to their left
Everybody look to their right
Can you feel that, yeah
We’re paying with love tonight?

It’s not about the money, money, money
We don’t need your money, money, money
We just wanna make the world dance,
Forget about the price tag
Ain’t about the (uh) cha-ching cha-ching
Ain’t about the (yeah) ba-bling ba-bling
Wanna make the world dance,
Forget about the price tag

We need to take it back in time,
When music made us all unite
And it wasn’t low blows and video hos,
Am I the only one getting tired?

Why is everybody so all obsessed?
Money can’t buy us happiness
Can we all slow down and enjoy right now?
Guarantee we’ll be feeling alright

Everybody look to their left
Everybody look to their right
Can you feel that, yeah
We’re paying with love tonight?

It’s not about the money, money, money
We don’t need your money, money, money
We just wanna make the world dance,
Forget about the price tag
Ain’t about the (uh) cha-ching cha-ching
Ain’t about the (yeah) ba-bling ba-bling
Wanna make the world dance,
Forget about the price tag, ha

[B.o.B]
Yeah yeah
Well, keep the price tag and take the cash back
Just give me six strings and a half stack
And you can, can keep the cars; leave me the garage
And all I, yes all I need are keys and guitars
And guess what, in 30 seconds I’m leaving to Mars
Yeah, we leaving across these undefeatable odds
It’s like this, man, you can’t put a price on a life
We do this for the love, so we fight and sacrifice every night
So we ain’t gonna stumble and fall, never
Waiting to see a sign of defeat, uh uh
So we gonna keep everyone moving their feet
So bring back the beat and then everyone sing
And then everyone sing

It’s not about the money, money, money
We don’t need your money, money, money
We just wanna make the world dance,
Forget about the price tag
Ain’t about the (uh) cha-ching cha-ching
Ain’t about the (yeah) ba-bling ba-bling
Wanna make the world dance,
Forget about the price tag

It’s not about the money, money, money
We don’t need your money, money, money
We just wanna make the world dance,
Forget about the price tag
Ain’t about the (uh) cha-ching cha-ching
Ain’t about the (yeah) ba-bling ba-bling
Wanna make the world dance,
Forget about the price tag

Vocabulary:

everybody’s got a price:  people will do things for the right price
damn:  (a bad word), darn
mysterious:  secretive, not telling anyone what they’re doing
shades:  sunglasses
heels:  high heeled shoes
wanna:  want to
price tag:  the cost of something
ain’t:  it isn’t
cha-ching:  the sound of money
bling:  jewelry
unite:  come together
low blows:  words that attack somebody unfairly
video hos:  Sexy women dancing in videos
obsessed:  thinking only about one thing
guarantee:  it will surely happen
cash:  money
six strings:  a guitar
half stack:  an amplifier that makes the guitar louder
undefeatable odds:  impossible action
sacrifice:  give up something
stumble:  hit our feet on something
we gonna:  we are going to

© 2015 Ambien Malecot for vocabulary lesson only

by Christina Aguilera

an America singer-songwriter, record producer and actress.  She is one of the 4 judges on the popular American TV show “The Voice.”  She has sold over 50 million albums worldwide.   This song is on her 4th album, Stripped, recorded in 2002.

Young girl, don’t cry
I’ll be right here when your world starts to fall, oooh
Young girl, it’s all right
Your tears will dry, you’ll soon be free to fly, oooh

When you’re safe inside your room you tend to dream
Of a place where nothing’s harder than it seems
No one ever wants or bothers to explain
Of the heartache life can bring and what it means

When there’s no one else, look inside yourself
Like your oldest friend just trust the voice within
Then you’ll find the strength that will guide your way
You’ll learn to begin to trust the voice within

Young girl, don’t hide
You’ll never change if you just run away, oooh
Young girl, just hold tight
Soon you’re gonna see your brighter day, oooh

Now in a world where innocence is quickly claimed
It’s so hard to stand your ground when you’re so afraid
No one reaches out a hand for you to hold
When you’re lost outside, look inside to your soul

When there’s no one else, look inside yourself
Like your oldest friend just trust the voice within
Then you’ll find the strength that will guide your way
You will learn to begin to trust the voice within
Yeah…

Life is a journey
It can take you anywhere you choose to go
As long as you’re learning
You’ll find all you’ll ever need to know
You’ll make it, you’ll make it
Just don’t go forsaking yourself
No one can stop you
You know that I’m talking to you

When there’s no one else, look inside yourself
Like your oldest friend just trust the voice within
Then you’ll find the strength that will guide your way
You will learn to begin to trust the voice within

Young girl don’t cry
I’ll be right here when your world starts to fall

Vocabulary: