Tag: Pop Song Study

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Ticket to Ride – Beatles

Ticket to Ride – Beatles

I think I’m gonna be sad,
I think it’s today, yeah
The girl that’s driving me mad
Is going away

She’s got a ticket to ride,
She’s got a ticket to ride,
She’s got a ticket to ride,
But she don’t care

She said that living with me
Is bringing her down yeah
For she would never be free
When I was around

She’s got a ticket to ride,
She’s got a ticket to ride,
She’s got a ticket to ride,
But she don’t care

I don’t know why she’s ridin’ so high,
She ought to think twice,
She ought to do right by me
Before she gets to saying goodbye,
She ought to think twice,
She ought to do right by me
I think I’m gonna be sad,
I think it’s today yeah
The girl that’s driving me mad
Is going away, yeah

She’s got a ticket to ride,
She’s got a ticket to ride,
She’s got a ticket to ride,
But she don’t care

I don’t know why she’s ridin’ so high,
She ought to think twice,
She ought to do right by me
Before she gets to saying goodbye,
She ought to think twice,
She ought to do right by me
She said that living with me,
Is bringing her down, yeah
For she would never be free
When I was around

Ah, she’s got a ticket to ride,
She’s got a ticket to ride,
She’s got a ticket to ride,
But she don’t care

My baby don’t care, my baby don’t care
My baby don’t care, my baby don’t care
My baby don’t care, my baby don’t care

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The High School Blues – James Purdie

The High School Blues (A True Story)

“What happens when James faces off with one of his old teachers, who berated him at his high school?

Tension and comedy, that’s what!! The story joins “Old Man Teacher” who knocks on James’ door. After the two face off, will there be forgiveness in the end? This is a little song I whipped up some time ago reflecting my high school Continue reading “The High School Blues – James Purdie”

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El Paso – Marty Robbins

This is an awesome country-western song to study.  It’s a very interesting “story-song”.  I taught every sentence to my Korean students.  They loved it.  

El Paso – Marty Robbins

Out in the West Texas town of El Paso
I fell in love with a Mexican girl
Night-time would find me in Rosa’s cantina
Music would play and Felina would whirl

Blacker than night were the eyes of Felina
Wicked and evil while casting a spell
My love was deep for this Mexican maiden
I was in love but in vain, I could tell

One night a wild young cowboy came in
Wild as the West Texas wind
Dashing and daring
A drink he was sharing
With wicked Felina
The girl that I loved

So in anger I
Challenged his right for the love of this maiden
Down went his hand for the gun that he wore
My challenge was answered in less than a heart-beat
The handsome young stranger lay dead on the floor

Just for a moment I stood there in silence
Shocked by the foul evil deed I had done
Many thoughts raced through my mind as I stood there
I had but one chance and that was to run

Out through the back door of Rosa’s I ran
Out where the horses were tied
I caught a good one
It looked like it could run
Up on its back
And away I did ride

Just as fast as I
Could from the West Texas town of El Paso
Out to the bad-lands of New Mexico

Back in El Paso my life would be worthless
Everything’s gone in life nothing is left
It’s been so long since I’ve seen the young maiden
My love is stronger than my fear of death

I saddled up and away I did go
Riding alone in the dark
Maybe tomorrow
A bullet may find me
Tonight nothing’s worse than this
Pain in my heart

And at last here I
Am on the hill overlooking El Paso
I can see Rosa’s cantina below
My love is strong and it pushes me onward
Down off the hill to Felina I go

Off to my right I see five mounted cowboys
Off to my left ride a dozen or more
Shouting and shooting I can’t let them catch me
I have to make it to Rosa’s back door

Something is dreadfully wrong for I feel
A deep burning pain in my side
Though I am trying
To stay in the saddle
I’m getting weary
Unable to ride

But my love for
Felina is strong and I rise where I’ve fallen
Though I am weary I can’t stop to rest
I see the white puff of smoke from the rifle
I feel the bullet go deep in my chest

From out of nowhere Felina has found me
Kissing my cheek as she kneels by my side
Cradled by two loving arms that I’ll die for
One little kiss and Felina, good-bye

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Hot – Avril Lavigne

“Hot” – Avril Lavigne

Ah, ah ah
You’re so good to me baby, baby

I wanna lock you up in my closet when no one’s around
I wanna put your hand in my pocket because you’re allowed
I wanna drive you into the corner and kiss you without a sound
I wanna stay this way forever I’ll say it loud

Now you’re in, and you can’t get out

[Chorus]
You make me so hot
Make me wanna drop
It’s so ridiculous
I can barely stop
I can hardly breathe
You make me wanna scream
You’re so fabulous
You’re so good to me baby, baby
You’re so good to me baby, baby

I can make you feel all better, just take it in
And I can show you all the places you’ve never been
And I can make you say everything that you’ve never said
And I will let you do anything again and again

Now you’re in, and you can’t get out

[Chorus]

Kiss me gently
Always I know
Hold me, love me
Don’t ever go
Ooh, yeah yeah

[Chorus X2]

You’re so good

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“Tennis Court” – Lorde

Here she is Lorde, one of the best new artists in our modern age.  She’s a true original.  So try to get “a feel” for what she is singing about it and listen to your soul.  Don’t judge based upon appearances.

“Tennis Court” – Lorde

Don’t you think that it’s boring how people talk
Making smart with their words again, well I’m bored
Because I’m doing this for the thrill of it, killin’ it
Never not chasing a million things I want
And I am only as young as the minute is full of it
Getting pumped up on the little bright things I bought
But I know they’ll never own me
(Yeah)

Baby be the class clown
I’ll be the beauty queen in tears
It’s a new art form showing people how little we care (yeah)
We’re so happy, even when we’re smilin’ out of fear
Let’s go down to the tennis court, and talk it up like yeah (yeah)

Pretty soon I’ll be getting on my first plane
I’ll see the veins of my city like they do in space
But my head’s filling up fast with the wicked games, up in flames
How can I fuck with the fun again, when I’m known
And my boys trip me up with their heads again, loving them
Everything’s cool when we’re all in line for the throne
But I know it’s not forever
(Yeah)

Baby be the class clown
I’ll be the beauty queen in tears
It’s a new art form showing people how little we care (yeah)
We’re so happy, even when we’re smilin’ out of fear
Let’s go down to the tennis court, and talk it up like yeah (yeah)

It looked alright in the pictures (yeah)

Getting caught’s half of the trip though, isn’t it?
I fall apart with all my heart (yeah)
And you could watch from your window (yeah)
[Laughs]
And you can watch from your window

Baby be the class clown
I’ll be the beauty queen in tears
It’s a new art form showing people how little we care (yeah)
We’re so happy, even when we’re smilin’ out of fear
Let’s go down to the tennis court, and talk it up like yeah (yeah)

And talk it up like yeah (yeah)
And talk it up like yeah (yeah)
Let’s go down to the tennis court, and talk it up like yeah (yeah)
And talk it up like yeah (yeah)
And talk it up like yeah (yeah)
Let’s go down to the tennis court, and talk it up like yeah
(Yeah)

 

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“Crazy” – Seal

 
 

Seal’s “Crazy” was definitely one of my favorite songs of the last 20 years.  People need to realize that music is like pure spirituality and it just totally enriches your soul.  I can’t imagine many teaching methods better than that. Here’s the lyrics.  I just love music.

“Crazy”

In a church by the face
He talks about the people going under
Only child know
A man decides after seventy years
That what he goes there for
Is to unlock the door
While those around him criticize and sleep
And through a fracture on that breaking wall
I see you my friend and touch your face again
Miracles will happen as we trip
But we’re never gonna survive unless
We get a little crazy
No we’re never gonna survive unless
We are a little
Cray cray crazy
Crazy are the people walking through my head
One of them got a gun to shoot the other one
And yet together they were friends at school
Get it, get it, get it, yeah!
If all were there when we first took the pill
Then maybe then maybe then maybe then maybe
Miracles will happen as we speak
But we’re never gonna survive unless
We get a little crazy
No we’re never gonna survive unless
We are a little
Crazy
No no we’ll never survive unless we get a little bit
A man decides to go along after seventy years
Oh darling
In a sky full of people only some want to fly
Isn’t that crazy
In a world full of people only some want to fly
Isn’t that crazy
Crazy
In a heaven of people there’s only some want to fly
Ain’t that crazy
Oh babe Oh darlin’
In a world full of people there’s only some want to fly
Isn’t that crazy
Isn’t that crazy Isn’t that crazy Isn’t that crazy
Oh
But we’re never gonna survive unless we get a little crazy crazy
No we’re never gonna to survive unless we are a little crazy
But we’re never gonna survive unless we get a little crazy crazy
No we’re never gonna to survive unless we are a little crazy
No no never survive unless we get a little bit
And then you see things
The size of which you’ve never known before
They’ll break it
Someday
Only child know
Them things
The size
Of which you’ve never known before
Someday