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
a Canadian singer-songwriter who wrote this song in 2007 . It’s from her debut album “The Story of Your Life.”
Can you grab flowers in the plain old dark? Can you get back up when you’re feeling hurt When life doesn’t meet your great expectations?
Can you turn lemons into lemonade? Can you face the dark when you feel afraid When life doesn’t meet your great expectations?
You’re looking, you’re searching You don’t know if you’ll find the answer Hoping something’s gonna change
Oh, I hear you, days go by Does life feel like a revolving door? You’ve changed your mind You may not feel like you did before
Just takes some time to realize That walking out the door Could take you somewhere You’ve never been before You’ve never been before, no no
Can you break down but still be strong? When you disagree can you get along? When life doesn’t meet your great expectations When you look at yourself, tell me who do you see? Do you see yourself or who you want to be? Do you live up to your great expectations?
You’re looking, you’re searching You don’t know if you’ll find the answers You’re hoping something’s gonna change
Oh, I hear you, days go by Does life feel like a revolving door? You changed your mind You may not feel like you did before
Just takes some time to realize That walking out the door Could take you somewhere You’ve never been before
Vocabulary:
grab: put your hands around plain old dark: darkness and nothing else doesn’t meet: isn’t the same as great expectations: big plans for the future lemons: bad things that happen lemonade: something good face the dark: be brave gonna: going to (slang) go by: pass revolving door: the same things keep happening changed your mind: made a different decision realize: learn break down: lose control of yourself get along: be friendly live up to: to achieve your goal
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
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
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
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 herolies 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 herolies 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 herolies in you
That a hero lies in you… that a hero lies in you
an American jazz musician and singer who is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He recorded this song in 1967. It was written by Bob Thiele and George David Weiss.
Louis gives the following introduction to this song:
Some of you young folks (have) been saying to me, “Hey Pops. What do you mean ‘what a wonderful world?’ How about all them wars all over the place? You call them wonderful? And how about hunger and pollution? They ain’t so wonderful either.” But how about listening to old Pops for a minute? Seems to me it ain’t the world that’s so bad but what we’re doing to it, and all I’m saying is see what a wonderful world it would be if only we’d give it a chance. Love, baby, love. That’s the secret. Yeah. If lots more of us loved each other, we’d solve lots more problems, and then this world would be a gasser. That’s why old Pops keeps saying:
Pops: a name for an old man ain’t: aren’t (slang) gasser: something extraordinarily pleasing (old slang)
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.
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 never know.
And I think to myself,
What a wonderful world.
Yes, I think to myself,
What a wonderful world.
Oh, yeah!
Vocabulary:
bloom – open, become flowers blessed – special sacred – special
an American singer-songwriter who wrote this song with Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, Sandy Wilhelm and Ester Dean. It’s from her 2010 album, Teenage Dream.
Do you ever feel like a plastic bag, Drifting through the wind Wanting to start again? Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin Like a house of cards, One blow from caving in?
Do you ever feel already buried deep? 6 feet under screams but no one seems to hear a thing Do you know that there’s still a chance for you ‘Cause there’s a spark in you
You just gottaignite the light, and let it shine Just own the night like the 4th of July
‘Cause baby you’re a firework Come on, show ’em what you’reworth Make ’em go “Oh, oh, oh” As you shoot across the sky-y-y
Baby, you’re a firework Come on, let your colors burst Make ’em go “Oh, oh, oh” You’re gonna leave ’em all inawe, awe, awe
You don’t have to feel like a wasted space You’re original, cannot be replaced If you only knew what the future holds After a hurricane comes a rainbow
Maybe your reason why all the doors are closed So you could open one that leads you to the perfect road Like a lightning bolt, your heart will glow And when it’s time, you’ll know
You just gottaignite the light, and let it shine Just own the night like the 4th of July
‘Cause baby you’re a firework Come on, show ’em what you’re worth Make ’em go “Oh, oh, oh” As you shoot across the sky-y-y
Baby, you’re a firework Come on, let your colors burst Make ’em go “Oh, Oh, Oh” You’re gonna leave ’em all inawe, awe, awe“
Boom, boom, boom Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon It’s always been inside of you, you, you And now it’s time to let it through-ough-ough
‘Cause baby you’re a firework Come on, show ’em what you’reworth Make ’em go “Oh, Oh, Oh” As you shoot across the sky-y-y
Baby, you’re a firework Come on, let your colors burst Make ’em go “Oh, Oh, Oh” You’re gonna leave ’em all inawe, awe, awe
Boom, boom, boom Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon Boom, boom, boom Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon
Vocabulary:
plastic – a thin clear material drifting – moving slowl paper thin – very thin, thin as paper house of cards – playing cards stacked to look like a house caving in – falling down buried – put under the ground screams – loud yells spark – a small piece of fire gotta – got to ignite – set on fire 4th of July – U.S. celebration of independence you’re worth – you deserve shoot – fly fast burst – explode gonna – going to in awe – very surprised wasted space– someone who shouldn’t be here original – the only one like you replaced – put someone in your place holds – will be hurricane – strong windy storm rainbow – beautiful arc of light lightning bolt – electricity shooting across the sky glow – shine brightly brighter – with more light boom – the sound of fireworks exploding
an American singer-songwriter and guitarist who has won 5 Grammy Awards. This song is from his 1976 album, In the Pocket.
You can play the game; you can act out the part Though you know it wasn’t written for you Tell me how do you stand there with your broken heart Ashamed of playing the fool
When one thing can lead to another It doesn’t take any sacrifice Oh father and mother and sister and brother If it feels nice, don’t think twice, just
Shower the people you love with love Show them the way that you feel Things are gonna turn out fine If we only will; what I mean to say tonight is
Shower the people you love with love Show them the way you feel Things are gonna be much better If we only will
You can run but you cannot hide This is widely known And what do you plan to do with your foolish pride When you’re all by yourself alone?
Once you tell somebody the way that you feel You can feel it beginning to ease I guess it’s true what they say about the squeaky wheel Always getting the grease; it’s better to
Shower the people you love with love Show them the way that you feel Things are gonna be just fine If you only will now; what I mean to say to you is to
Shower the people you love with love Show them the way you feel Things are gonna be much better If you only will
Oh, shower the people you love with love Show them the way that you feel (repeat) [Enjoy the rest of the song without any words]
Vocabulary:
act out – be like an actor part – the character an actor plays though – but ashamed – feeing like you’ve done something bad playing the fool – believing it was real love when it wasn’t lead to – take you to sacrifice – hard work think twice – think that you are making the wrong decision gonna – going to turn out– become Lord – God widely – by most people foolish pride – not wanting to think you’re wrong by yourself – with no one else once – when ease – get easier squeeky wheel – a wheel that makes a lot of noise when it’s used damn – a word you say when something is giving you a problem grease – an oil product used to stop squeeks
the lead singer in the Canadian band of the same name with guitarist and keyboardist Phil Deschambault. This song was released in March of 2012.
Standing up straight; I’m ten feet tall I like this look; I love you all A hundred feet off the ground it seems That a beautiful day is gracing me
Don’t let your feet touch ground And don’t look down; Oh, Oh Don’t let your feet touch ground And don’t look down; Oh, Oh
I pull my boots up to my knees No coats or hats, thank you please I dig up dirt and I find no wrong All while singing a silly song
Don’t let your feet touch ground And don’t look down; Oh, Oh Don’t let your feet touch ground And don’t look down; Oh, Oh
There are no mistakes Up in our secret place We’re not just getting by Everything is fine
Don’t let your feet touch ground And don’t look down; Oh, Oh Don’t let your feet touch ground And don’t look down; Oh, Oh
Don’t let your feet touch ground And don’t look down; Oh, Oh
Vocabulary:
off – above gracing me – making my life better boots – shoes that come up the legs dig up dirt – find out something bad about someone while – at the same time silly – ridiculous, foolish getting by – having just enough money but no more
