Improve your listening and writing skills by filling in the blanks in the song lyrics. These activities are designed for Beginners and Intermediates to learn new vocabulary related to a specific topic in a quick and fun way.
Today we propose a well-known ballad from the 1970’s, You’ve Got A Friend by the American singer James Taylor. Originally written by Carole King, this song reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and won two Grammy Awards. Enjoy it!
Exercise
Fill in the missing words: friend – wherever – there – eyes – summer – loving – be – name – running – you – am – good – out – dark – friend – head – name – spring – running – darkest – take. ⇩
Grammar
Contractions and slangs
Many times, in lyrics, we can find an informal type of vocabulary. This is why we find things like contractions and slang words. Here are some examples of contractions and slang we can find in lyrics:
– ’bout = about
– don’tcha = don’t you
– ain’t = am not, is not, are not, has not or have not
– ’cause / ‘coz = because
– -in’ ending like in thinkin’ or losin’ (it looses the g in -ing to sound more informal)
– dunno = don’t know
– lemme = let me
– gimme = give me
– gonna = going to
– gotta = got to
– wanna = want to
– kinda = kind of
Related Course Units
I enjoyed this song and the activity of filliing in the blanks
Thank you for your comment.
Thank you, I can’t find lesson only for beginners. Please create more for this level.. There are los of lessons to begginers and intermedite. Regards
Thank you for sharing your comment with us. 🙂
I think that this song is talking about God. Wherever you are you can pray or call him and he will be there for you.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts 🙂
I was a teenager in the 70s and this was an anthem for us…Thank you Sunny! I’d like to hear more Taylor and King’s songs…Up on the roof, Carolina in my mind, Handyman, Baby boom baby… an endless list….
At thé beginning, on thé audio, James Taylor seems to say helping hand ? not loving care ? Am I wrong ? Thanks for helping me !