by Connie Talbot (with Jordan Jansen)

Connie is a 13-year-old English singer and songwriter who became famous in 2007 when she came in second in the TV competition Britain’s Got Talent.  Jordan is a 15-year-old Australian singer and songwriter who has half a million followers on Twitter.

You spend all day lying on the couch
Walk in your boxers round the house
Look at your pale ugly face
Enough to make a mirror break

More half-asleep than half-awake
Complaining that your body aches
Feeling sorry for yourself
Won’t get you anywhere

So I’m singing you a happy song
Just to cheer you up
When you got it rough
So I’m singing you a happy song
Just to cheer you up
I know how it sucks
Yeah, I’m singing you a happy song
But it can’t be that bad
Why you look so sad?
‘Cause better times ahead, oooh

The room smells like bad Mexican
Pull up those blinds let air come in
Your promises and blah-blah-blah
Won’t fix the strings on my guitar

We’ve been friends for much too long
For me to watch you carry on
Like this I miss the you I knew
You’d do the same for me

So I’m singing you a happy song
Just to cheer you up
I know how it sucks
Yeah I’m singing you a happy song
But it can’t be that bad
There’s better times ahead
So I’m singing you a happy song
But it can’t be that bad
Why you look so sad?

Watching shapes in the clouds all day
It’s okay sometimes we make mistakes
Let it go oh, oh
If it’s out of your control
Shrug it off like it’s a silly joke

So I’m singing you a happy song
Just to cheer you up
I know how it sucks
Yeah I’m singing you a happy song
But it can’t be that bad
There’s better times ahead
Yeah I’m singing you a happy song
But it can’t be that bad
Why you look so sad?
There’s better times ahead, oh
Better times ahead, oh
Better times ahead, oooh
Better times ahead

Vocabulary:

couch:  sofa
boxers:  underwear
pale:  colorless, white
aches:  hurts
feeling sorry for yourself:  feeling like something bad was done to you but not doing anything about it
won’t get you anywhere:  solve your problems
cheer you up:  make you feel happier
you got it rough:  life is hard for you
it sucks:  your situation is bad
ahead:  in the future
Mexican:  Mexican food
blinds:  window coverings
blah-blah-blah:  all of that stuff
carry on:  do things you shouldn’t
let it go:  don’t keep it inside of you
control:  power to fix
shrug it off:  don’t give it any importance
silly:  not serious
joke:  a quick story that makes you laugh

© 2015 Ambien Malecot for vocabulary lesson only

by Ace of Base

a Swedish band whose members are Ulf “Buddha” Ekberg, Jonas “Joker” Berggren, Malin “Linn” Berggren, and Jenny Berggren.  This song comes from their 1996 album “The Bridge.”

You can do what you want;  just seize the day
What you’re doing tomorrow’s gonna come your way
Don’t you ever consider giving up,
You will find, oooh

It’s a beautiful life, oooh
It’s a beautiful life, oooh
It’s a beautiful life, oooh
I just wanna be here beside you
And stay until the break of dawn

Take a walk in the park when you feel down
There’s so many things there
That’s gonna lift you up
See the nature in bloom, a laughing child
Such a dream, oooh

It’s a beautiful life, oooh
It’s a beautiful life, oooh
It’s a beautiful life, oooh
I just wanna be here beside you
Oh yeah, all right
I just wanna be here beside you
And stay until the break of dawn

You’re looking for somewhere to belong
You’re standing all alone
For someone to guide you on your way
Now and forever

It’s a beautiful life, oooh
It’s a beautiful life, oooh
It’s a beautiful life, oooh
I just wanna be anybody
Living a different way

It’s a beautiful life
I’m gonna take you to a place I’ve never been before, oh yeah
It’s a beautiful life
I’m gonna take you in my arms and fly away with you tonight
Yeah, alright;  it’s a beautiful life
Yeah, alright;  it’s a beautiful life
It’s a beautiful life, oooh
It’s a beautiful life, oooh
It’s a beautiful life, oooh
It’s a beautiful life
It’s a beautiful life alright, oooh
It’s a beautiful life, oooh
It’s a beautiful life alright, oooh
It’s a beautiful life

Vocabulary:

seize the day:  live the day 100%
gonna:  going to
your way:  to you
consider:  think about
giving up:  quitting
wanna:  want to
break of dawn:  first light in the morning
down:  sad
lift you up:  make you feel happier
in bloom:  with flowers
belong:  feel like it’s home
guide you:  show you the right direction to go

More info about Ace of Base: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ace_of_Base

© 2015 Ambien Malecot for vocabulary lesson only 

by Michael Jackson

an American singer-songwriter and philanthropist who was the most successful entertainer in history.  He started singing in 1965 at the age of six.  He died 44 years later in 2009.  This song was released in 1991 on his album “Dangerous.”

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
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, 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 on 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
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

Vocabulary:

sorrow:  deep sadness
heal:  make (something) better or healthier
joyful:  very happy
shall: will
bliss:  feeling of great joy
dread:  great fear
existing:  living with no emotion
entire:  whole
conceived in:  born into
reveal:  show
grace:  goodness
strangling:  killing
crucify:  kill in a very bad way
soul:  spirit
plain:  easy
heavenly:  a wonderful place
glow:  light
spirits:  willingness to do it
create:  make
nations:  countries
swords:  weapons, things that kill
plowshares:  tools for farming

© 2015 Ambien Malecot for vocabulary lesson only  

by John Lennon

a former member of the famous British group, the Beatles, who wrote this song in May, 1971.  It was his best selling song of his single career.

Imagine there’s no heaven
It’s easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
living for today

Imagine there’s no countries
It isn’t hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You might say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will live as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world

You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will live as one

Vocabulary:

heaven:  a reward after you die for living a good life
hell:  a punishment after you die for living a bad life
dreamer:  a person with a dream of a better world
possessions:  things that belong only to you
greed:  the wanting of more and more for yourself only
brotherhood:  all the people who share the same ideals
sharing:  letting other people use what you have

© 2015 Ambien Malecot for vocabulary lesson only 

By Natalie Cole

This song was given to her dad Nat King Cole by Charlie Chaplin, who wrote the song.  Chaplin composed the music in 1936, and John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons added the lyrics and title in 1954.

Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though it’s breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
You’ll get by if you

Smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe, maybe tomorrow
You’ll see the sun come shining through
Oh, just for you

Come on and light up your face with gladness
Hide every little trace of sadness
Although a tear may be
Ever so near, well

That’s the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what’s the use in crying
You’ll find that life is still worthwhile
Oh, if you, if you just smile

Oh, that’s the time that you must keep on trying
Smile, tell me what’s the use in crying
You’ll find that life is still worthwhile
Oh if you, if you just, just smile
Ooo Smile

Vocabulary:

by Ali Slaight

a Canadian singer-songwriter who wrote this song in 2007 .  It’s from her debut album “The Story of Your Life.”

by Ali Slaight

Written in 2008, this song was also the title of her first album.  This song reached the top 10 in Canada in February 2009.

Do you ever stop and wonder where this road will take you?
What’s around the corner; will it make or break you?
Is this your destination, or is it the start of something new?

What will you accomplish; which way will the wind blow
For every door that closes, find an open window
And everyone is watching as you write the story of your life, of your life

And you won’t look back ’cause it feels so right
And no matter what, it’ll be alright
In the brightest day or the darkest night
You will find yourself in the story of, in the story of your life

Will you do the choosing, or be the lucky one that’s chosen
Will you recognize the greatness in your smallest moments
And every step you’re taking, you’ll write another chapter
In the story of your life

And you won’t look back ‘cause it feels so right
And no matter what, it’ll be alright
In the brightest day or the darkest night
You will find yourself in the story of, in the story of your life

Everything you are, and everything you do
Anything you want, it’s right in front of you
It’s right in front of you

And if I turn left, or if I go right
No matter what, I’ll be alright
Standing in the shadows or the spotlight
Here I find myself in the story of my life

And you won’t look back ‘cause it feels so right
And no matter what, it’ll be alright
In the brightest day or the darkest night
You will find yourself in the story of, in the story of your life

Vocabulary:

wonder:  imagine in my mind
make or break you:  make you successful or destroy you
destination:  the place that you’re going to
accomplish:  make or do something you’re proud of
’cause:  because
no matter what:  if any of the possibilities happen
recognize:  know
greatness:  importance
chapter:  small part of a bigger story
shadows:  dark places
spotlight:  the brightest place

© 2015 Ambien Malecot for vocabulary lesson only 

by Kris Allen

an American musician who won season 8 of American Idol.  This song was released  on November 17, 2009.

Sometimes we fall down, can’t get back up
We’re hiding behind skin that’s too tough
How come we don’t say I love you enough? ‘
Till it’s to late, it’s not too late

Our hearts are hungry for a food that won’t come
And we could make a feast from these crumbs
And we’re all staring down the barrel of a gun
So if your life flashed before you, what would you wish you would’ve done?

Yeah, we gotta start looking at the hands of the time we’ve been given
If this is all we got, then we gotta start thinking
If every second counts on a clock that’s ticking
Gotta live like we’re dying
We only got 86,400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or to throw it all away
We gotta tell ’em that we love ’em while we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we’re dying

And if your plane fell out of the skies
Who would you call with your last goodbye?
Should be so careful who we left out of our lives
And when we long for absolution, there will be no one on the line

Yeah, we gotta start looking at the hands of the time we’ve been given
If this is all we got, then we gotta start thinking
If every second counts on a clock that’s ticking
Gotta live like we’re dying
We only got 86,400 seconds in a day to
 Turn it all around or to throw it all away
We gotta tell ’em that we love ’em while we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we’re dying, oh, like we’re dying, oh, like we’re dying
Like we’re dying, oh, like we’re dying

We only got 86,400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or to throw it all away
Gotta tell ’em that we love ’em while we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we’re dying

You never know a good thing till it’s gone
You never see a crash till it’s head on
Why do we think we’re right when we’re dead wrong?
You never know a good thing till it’s gone

Yeah, gotta start looking at the hands of the time we’ve been given
If this is all we got, then we gotta start thinking
If every second counts on a clock that’s ticking
Gotta live like we’re dying
We only got 86,400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or to throw it all away
Gotta tell ’em that we love ’em while we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we’re dying, oh, like we’re dying, oh, like we’re dying
Like we’re dying, oh, like we’re dying

Vocabulary:

get back up:  stand up again
skin that’s too tough:  strong protection against our feelings getting hurt
feast:  large meal for many people
crumbs:  small pieces of food that are not eaten
staring down:  looking into with fear
barrel:  the longest part where the bullet comes out
life flashed before you:  you saw your whole life in a second
gotta:  have got to / have to
hands:  the things that point to the numbers of a clock
counts:  is important
ticking:  making a noise every second
turn it all around:  make it all better
’em:  them
left out:  didn’t include
long for absolution:  want forgiveness
on the line:  on the telephone
crash:  when a vehicle hits something
head on:  coming right at you from the front
dead wrong: absolutely wrong

© 2015 Ambien Malecot for vocabulary lesson only

by Yael Naim

born in Paris, France, this singer-songwriter moved to Israel at age 4.  This song became popular in 2008 when Apple used it to advertise their MacBook Air.

I’m a new soul
I came to this strange world
Hoping I could learn a bit ’bout how to give and take.
But since I came here
Felt the joy and the fear
Finding myself making every possible mistake

La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la…

I’m a young soul in this very strange world
Hoping I could learn a bit ’bout what is true and fake.
But why all this hate?
Try to communicate
Finding trust and love is not always easy to make.

La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la…

This is a happy end
Cause you don’t understand
Everything you have done
Why’s everything so wrong?

This is a happy end
Come and give me your hand
I’ll take your far away.

I’m a new soul
I came to this strange world
Hoping I could learn a bit ’bout how to give and take
But since I came here
Felt the joy and the fear
Finding myself making every possible mistake

La-la-la-la-la-la-la-la…

[Enjoy the rest of the song with no lyrics]

Vocabulary:

soul – spirit
strange – unusual
joy – great happiness
fear – the feeling of being afraid
mistake – wrong choice
fake – not real
trust – an understanding that someone is on your side.
cause – because

© 2015 Ambien Malecot for vocabulary lesson only

by Mariah Carey

a superstar American singer-songwriter and actress.  This song is from her third album, Music Box, published in 1993.

There’s a hero if you look inside your heart
You don’t have to be afraid of what you are
There’s an answer if you reach into your soul
And the sorrow that you know will melt away

And then a hero comes along with the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside, and you know you can survive
So when you feel like hope is gone, look inside you and be strong
And you’ll finally see the truth that a hero lies in you

It’s a long road when you face the world alone
No one reaches out a hand for you to hold
You can find love if you search within yourself
And that emptiness you felt will disappear

And then a hero comes along with the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside, and you know you can survive
So when you feel like hope is gone, look inside you and be strong
And you’ll finally see the truth that a hero lies in you

Lord knows dreams are hard to follow
But don’t let anyone tear them away
Just hold on.  There will be tomorrow
And in time you’ll find the way

And then a hero comes along with the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside, and you know you can survive
So when you feel like hope is gone, look inside you and be strong
And you’ll finally see the truth that a hero lies in you
That a hero lies in you… that a hero lies in you

Vocabulary: