by Neil Diamond

an American singer-songwriter and musician.   Since he started singing in the 1960s, Neil has sold over 100 million records worldwide.  Diamond was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1984 and into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2011.  This song was co-written in 1982 by Neil Diamond, Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager.

Come back again
I want you to stay next time
‘Cause sometimes this world ain’t kind
When people get lost like you and me

I just made a friend
A friend is someone you need
But now that he had to go away
I still hear the words that he might say

Turn on your heartlight
Let it shine wherever you go
Just let it make a happy glow
For all the world to see

Turn on your heartlight
In the middle of a young boy’s dream
Don’t wake me up too soon
We’re gonna take a ride across the moon
You and me

He’s looking for home
Yea ’cause everyone needs a place
And home’s the most excellent place of all
And I’ll be right here if you should call me

Turn on your heartlight
Let it shine wherever you go
Just let it make a happy glow
For all the world to see

Turn on your heartlight
In the middle of a young boy’s dream
Don’t wake me up too soon
We’re gonna take a ride across the moon

Turn on you heartlight now
Turn on you heartlight now
Turn on you heartlight now

Vocabulary:

’cause:  because
ain’t:  isn’t (slang)
glow:  shine like a light
gonna:  going to

© 2015 Ambien Malecot for vocabulary lesson only

by Shawn Mendes

a Canadian singer-songwriter who was discovered online by artist manager Andrew Gertler in January 2014, signing him to Island Records.  He released this song as his first single in June 2014.  A month before his 16th birthday, this song debuted in the top 25 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it to number 24 for the week ending July 12, 2014

I love it when you just don’t care
I love it when you dance like there’s nobody there
So when it gets hard, don’t be afraid
We don’t care what them people say
I love it when you don’t take no
I love it when you do what you want ’cause you just said so
Let them all go home, we out late
We don’t care what them people say

We don’t have to be ordinary
Make your best mistakes
‘Cause we don’t have the time to be sorry
So baby be the life of the party
I’m telling you to take your shot it might be scary
Hearts are gonna break
‘Cause we don’t have the time to be sorry
So baby be the life of the party

Together we can just let go
Pretend like there’s no one else here that we know
Slow dance fall in love as the club track plays
We don’t care what them people say

We don’t have to be ordinary
Make your best mistakes
‘Cause we don’t have the time to be sorry
So baby be the life of the party
I’m telling you to take your shot it might be scary
Hearts are gonna break
‘Cause we don’t have the time to be sorry
So baby be the life of the party

Come out tonight, come out tonight
There’s no one standing in your way
Come out tonight, come out tonight
We don’t care what them people say
We don’t care what them people say

We don’t have to be ordinary
Make your best mistakes
‘Cause we don’t have the time to be sorry
So baby be the life of the party
I’m telling you to take your shot it might be scary
Hearts are gonna break
‘Cause we don’t have the time to be sorry
So baby be the life of the party

Yeah, yeah, yeah
Life of the party
So don’t let them keep you down
Oh you know you can’t give up
We don’t have the time to be sorry
So baby be the life of the party

Vocabulary:

them people:  those people [bad grammar]
don’t take no:  don’t stop when someone says no
’cause:  because [slang]
we out:  we are out [slang]
the life of the party:  someone who has fun
take your shot:  do what you want
gonna:  going to [slang]]
let go:  not care
track:  music
keep you down:  stop you from enjoying yourself
give up:  quit

© 2015 Ambien Malecot for vocabulary lesson only

by Ben Lee

an Australian musician and actor.  He began his career as a musician at the age of 14 with the Sydney band Noise Addict, which broke up in 1995.  He has released nine solo studio albums since that time.  This song is from his fifth album, Awake is the New Sleep.

Woke up this morning, I suddenly realized
We’re all in this together
I started smiling ‘cause you were smiling
And we’re all in this together

I’m made of atoms, you’re made of atoms
And we’re all in this together
And long division just doesn’t matter
‘Cause we’re all in this together

I saw you walking in the city
We’re all in this together
The city’s changing ‘cause we are changing
And we’re all in this together

Every twelve seconds someone remembers
That we’re all in this together
In the kitchen of your rent-control apartment
We’re all in this together

C’mon baby
I don’t mean to rush you
I only wanted to reach out and touch you
I’ve got to start to open my heart

I know you think about jumping ship before it sinks
But we’re all in this together
Ask a scientist, it’s quantum physics
We’re all in this together

And on the subway we feel like strangers
But we’re all in this together
Yeah I love you, and you love her, and she loves him
But we’re all in this together

You know, baby
There’s never been protection
In all the history of human connection
Come on darling
It’s alright to show me
You don’t ever need to be lonely
Once you start to open your heart

I saw you crying, I started crying
‘Cause we’re all in this together
And then religion, it’s a big decision
But we’re all in this together, yeah

We are all in this together
We’re all in this together
We’re all in this together
We’re all in this together …

Vocabulary:

realized:  knew for the first time
this:  this life experience
‘cause:  because
atoms:  tiny, tiny particles that are in everything
long division:  an old way of dividing one number into another
doesn’t matter:  isn’t important
rent-control:  cheap rent controlled by the government
c’mon / come on:  do this
rush you:  make you go faster
jumping ship before it sinks:  getting out of something before it ends
quantum physics:  a science that tells us that everything is waves and possibilities
subway:  underground train
protection:  safety
once:  when

© 2015 Ambien Malecot for vocabulary lesson only

by Vanessa Hudgens

an American actress and singer. She became famous playing Gabriella Montez in the High School Musical series.  This song, originally sung by Tammin Sursock,  is from her album V , released in early October 2006.

Sometimes I feel like I’m a bird with broken wings
At times I dread my now and envy where I’ve been
But that’s when quiet wisdom takes control
At least I’ve got a story no one’s told

I finally learned to say whatever will be will be
I’ve learned to take the good, the bad and breathe
‘Cause although we like to know what life’s got planned
No one knows if shooting stars will land

These days it feels naïve to put your faith in hope
To imitate a child falling backwards on the snow
‘Cause that’s when fears will usually lead you blind
But now I try to under-analyze

I finally learned to say whatever will be will be
I’ve learned to take the good, the bad and breathe
‘Cause although we like to know what life’s got planned
No one knows if shooting stars will land

Is the rope I walk wearing thin
Is the life I love caving in?
Is the weight on your mind
A heavy black bird caged inside?

Say whatever will be will be
Take the good, the bad just breathe
‘Cause although we like to know what life’s got planned
No one knows if shooting stars will land

I finally learned to say whatever will be will be
I’ll learn to take the good, the bad and breathe
‘Cause although we like to know what life’s got planned
Things like that are never in your hands
No one knows if shooting stars will land

Vocabulary:

dread:  hate
envy:  want to have
wisdom:  good thinking
whatever:  anything, everything
’cause:  because
shooting stars:  meteorites
land:  hit the ground
naive:  stupid
faith:  belief
imitate:  copy, do the same as
blind:  not able to see
under-analyze:  not think about very much
wearing thin:  getting dangerous
caving in:  being destroyed
caged:  trapped
in your hands:  under your control

© 2015 Ambien Malecot for vocabulary lesson only

by Jordin Sparks

an American singer and actress.  In 2007, she rose to fame after winning the sixth season of American Idol at age 17.  She was the youngest winner ever on that TV show.

There was a time I packed my dreams away
Living in a shell, hiding from myself

There was a time when I was so afraid
I thought I’d reached the end
Baby that was then
But I am made of more than my yesterdays

This is my now, and I am breathing in the moment
As I look around, I can’t believe the love I see
My fears behind me, gone are the shadows and doubt
That was then, this is my now.

And I have the courage like never before, yeah
I’ve settled for less, now I’m ready for more
Ready for more

This is my now, and I am breathing in the moment
As I look around, I can’t believe the love I see
My fears behind me, gone are the shadows and doubt
That was then, this is my now

I can’t believe the love I see
My fears behind me, gone are the shadows and doubt
That was then, this is my now.

This is my now

Vocabulary:

in a shell:  without showing any emotions
behind me:  not effecting me anymore, in my past
shadows:  bad things that could happen
doubt:  not believing in herself
courage:  willingness to do something scary
settled for:  gotten comfortable with

© 2015 Ambien Malecot for vocabulary lesson only

sung by Dionne Warwick with Elton John, Gladys Knight & Stevie Wonder.

This song was written by Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager.  It was recorded in 1985 as a benefit song for the American Foundation for AIDS Research, which raised over $3 million dollars for that cause.

by Colbie Caillat

an American pop singer-songwriter and acoustic guitarist from Malibu, California. This song is from her 5th album, Gypsy Heart, released in September, 2014.

Put your make-up on
Get your nails done
Curl your hair
Run the extra mile
Keep it slim so they like you,
Do they like you?

Get your sexy on,
Don’t be shy, girl
Take it off
This is what you want,
To belong so they like you
Do you like you?

You don’t have to try so hard
You don’t have to give it all away
You just have to get up, get up, get up, get up
You don’t have to change a single thing

You don’t have to try, try, try, try
You don’t have to try, try, try, try
You don’t have to try, try, try, try
You don’t have to try
You don’t have to try

Get your shopping on
At the mall
Max your credit cards
You don’t have to choose
Buy it all so they like you
Do they like you?

Wait a second
why should you care
what they think of you?
When you’re all alone by yourself
Do you like you?
Do you like you?

You don’t have to try so hard
You don’t have to give it all away
You just have to get up, get up, get up, get up
You don’t have to change a single thing

You don’t have to try so hard
You don’t have to bend until you break
You just have to get up, get up, get up, get up
You don’t have to change a single thing

You don’t have to try, try, try, try
You don’t have to try, try, try, try
You don’t have to try, try, try, try
You don’t have to try

You don’t have to try, try, try, try
You don’t have to try, try, try, try
You don’t have to try, try, try, try
You don’t have to try
You don’t have to try

You don’t have to try so hard
You don’t have to give it all away
You just have to get up, get up, get up, get up
You don’t have to change a single thing

You don’t have to try, try, try, try
You don’t have to try, try, try, try
You don’t have to try
You don’t have to try

Take your make-up off
Let your hair down
Take a breath
Look into the mirror at yourself
Don’t you like you?
Cause I like you

Vocabulary

nails:  fingernails
curl:  make curly
the extra mile:  more than you think is necessary
slim:  with no fat, slender, thin
get your sexy on:  dress so that men look at you
give it all away:  lose your identity
max:  charge up to your maximum
credit cards:  Mastercard, Visa, etc.

© 2015 Ambien Malecot for vocabulary lesson only

by John Denver

an American singer-songwriter and actor who was among the most beloved entertainers of his time.  He wrote over 200 songs in his career.  This song is from his 1971 album  entitled Poems, Prayers and Promises.

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high

If I had a day that I could give you
I’d give to you a day just like today
If I had a song that I could sing for you
I’d sing a song to make you feel this way

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high

If I had a tale that I could tell you
I’d tell a tale sure to make you smile
If I had a wish that I could wish for you
I’d make a wish for sunshine all the while

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high

Sunshine almost all the time makes me high
Sunshine almost always

Vocabulary:

lovely:  pretty, beautiful
high:  happy
tale:  story
while:  time

by The Calling

an American rock band from Los Angeles, California.  This song, written and composed by Alex Band and Aaron Kamin, is from the group’s second album in 2004 titled Two.

Is there love, tonight
When everyone’s dreaming of a better life
In this world divided by fear
We’ve got to believe that there’s a reason we’re here
Yeah, there’s a reason we’re here, oh, yeah

‘Cause these are the days worth living
These are the years we’re given
And these are the moments
These are the times
Let’s make the best out of our lives

See the truth all around
Our faith can be broken
And our hands can be bound
Oh, but open our hearts and fill up the emptiness
With nothing to stop us, is it not worth the risk?
Yeah, is it not worth the risk? No, yeah

‘Cause these are the days worth living
These are the years we’re given
And these are the moments
These are the times
Let’s make the best out of our lives

And even if hope was shattered
I know it wouldn’t matter
‘Cause these are the moments
These are the times
Let’s make the best out of our lives

We can’t go on
Thinking it’s wrong
To speak our minds
I’ve got to let out what’s inside

Is there love, tonight
When everyone’s dreaming
Well, can we get it right?
Yeah, can we get it right?

‘Cause these are the days worth living
These are the years we’re given
And these are the moments
These are the times
Let’s make the best out of our lives

And even if hope was shattered
I know it wouldn’t matter
‘Cause these are the moments
These are the times
Let’s make the best out of our lives

Oh, yeah, let’s make the best out of our lives
Oh, yeah, let’s make the best out of our lives

Vocabulary:

’cause:  because
worth:  have value for
moments:  short times
make the best out of :  do as well as possible with
faith:  belief
bound:  tied up
risk:  danger of failing
shattered:  broken into small pieces
matter:  be important
speak our minds:  say what we think
get it right:  do the right thing

© 2015 Ambien Malecot for vocabulary lesson only 

sung by Mariah Carey & Whitney Houston

two American superstars in the music world.  This song was written by Stephen Schwart for the 1998 DreamWorks musical animated feature The Prince of Egypt.

Many nights we pray with no proof anyone could hear
In our heart’s a hopeful song we barely understood
Now we are not afraid although we know there’s much to fear
We were moving mountains long before we knew we could

Oh yes, there can be miracles when you believe
Though hope is frail, it’s hard to kill
Who knows what miracle you can achieve
When you believe, somehow you will
You will when you believe

In this time of fear when prayer so often proves in vain
Hope seems like the summer birds, too swiftly flown away
And now I’m standing here, my heart’s so full I can’t explain
Seeking faith and speaking words I never thought I’d say

There can be miracles when you believe (when you believe)
Though hope is frail, it’s hard to kill
Who knows what miracles you can achieve (you can achieve)
When you believe, somehow you will
You will when you believe

They don’t always happen when you ask and
And it’s easy to give in to your fear
But when you’re blinded by your pain
Can’t see your way safe through the rain
Thought of a still resilient voice says love is very near

There can be miracles (miracles)
When you believe (when you believe)
Though hope is frail, it’s hard to kill (hard to kill)
Who knows what miracles you can achieve (you can achieve)
When you believe, somehow you will (somehow, somehow, somehow)
Somehow you will, you will when you believe

You will when you believe
You will when you believe
Just believe
You will, you will
Just believe
You will, when you believe

Vocabulary:

pray:  talk to God
proof:  something that says that something else is true
barely:  hardly, only a little
miracles:  good results that come as if by magic
frail:  weak
achieve:  do, make real
somehow:  in some unknown way
prayer:  words to God
in vain:  useless
swiftly:  quickly
seeking faith:  looking for the ability to believe
give in:  stop fighting
blinded:  unable to see or know anything
way:  journey
rain:  problems in your life
resilient:   lasting, still there

© 2015 Ambien Malecot for vocabulary lesson only