by Sarah McLachlan

a Canadian superstar singer-songwriter who recorded this song for the 2006 movie, “Charlotte’s Web.”  It was written by Glen Ballard and David A. Stewart from the band “Eurythmics.”

It’s not that unusual
When everything is beautiful
It’s just another ordinary miracle today

The sky knows when it’s time to snow
Don’t need to teach a seed to grow
It’s just another ordinary miracle today

Life is like a gift they say
Wrapped up for you every day
Open up and find a way
To give some of your own

Isn’t it remarkable?
Like every time a raindrop falls
It’s just another ordinary miracle today

Birds in winter have their fling
They always make it home by spring
It’s just another ordinary miracle today

When you wake up everyday
Please don’t throw your dreams away
Hold them close to your heart
‘Cause we’re all a part of the ordinary miracle

Ordinary miracle
Do you want to see a miracle?

It seems so exceptional
That things just work out after all
It’s just another ordinary miracle today

Sun comes up and shines so bright
And disappears again at night
It’s just another ordinary miracle today

It’s just another ordinary miracle today

Vocabulary:

ordinary:  usual, not special
miracle:  something that is caused by God
gift:  something given to you
wrapped:  with beautiful paper around it
some of your own: something you can give
remarkable:  very special
fling: a time when they can be free
’cause:  because
exceptional:  very unusual
work out:  are good in the end
after all:  after all that has happened
disappears:  goes away

© 2015 Ambien Malecot for vocabulary lesson only 

by Danny Gokey

an American country music singer who became known on the 8th season of American Idol.  The song is from his 2010 debut album, “My Best Days.”

Blowing out the candles on another birthday cake
Old enough to look back and laugh at my mistakes
Young enough to look at the future and like what I see

My best days are ahead of me

Life hasn’t always been a party, but mostly it’s been good
There’s only one or two things that I’d change if I could
I don’t get lost in the past or get stuck in some sad memory, yeah

My best days are ahead of me

Age ain’t nothing but a number
Sometimes I have to wonder what does it really mean
But hey, I’m still putting it together
I keep getting better
If I keep getting better, I can be whatever I want to be

My best days are ahead of me

Age ain’t nothing but a number
Sometimes I have to wonder what does it really mean
Hey, I’m still putting it together
I keep getting better
If I keep getting better, I can be whatever I want to be

My best days are ahead of me

I got sunsets to witness, dreams to dance with
Beaches to walk on, and lovers to kiss
There’s a whole lot of world out there that I can’t wait to see

My best days are ahead of me

My best days are ahead of me

Vocabulary:

look back – look into my past
party –  a lot of fun
get lost in – think too much about
stuck – not able to come out
memory – something I remember
ahead of me – in my future
ain’t nothing – isn’t anything
wonder – think about
putting it together – trying to find the meaning
whatever – anything
witness – see

© 2015 Ambien Malecot for vocabulary lesson only   

By Natasha Bedingfield

a  British singer-songwriter.  This song is from her 2004 debut album of the same name.  It was written by Danielle Brisebois with a little help from Natasha and Wayne Rodriguez.

I am unwritten
Can’t read my mind
I’m undefined
I’m just beginning
The pen’s in my hand
Ending unplanned

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words
That you cannot find
Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten, yeah

Oh, oh
I break tradition
Sometimes my tries
Are outside the lines
We’ve been conditioned
To not make mistakes
But I can’t live that way, oh

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words
That you cannot find
Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words
That you cannot find
Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten
The rest is still unwritten
The rest is still unwritten

Vocabulary:

undefined – there’s no definition for me
staring – looking at continuously
blank – nothing written on it
illuminate – shine bright light so you can see
reaching for – trying hard to get
release – let go
inhibitions – the voice inside that tells you what you should do
let it in – experience it fully
drench – make very wet
the rest – everything else
tradition – things that everybody has always done
my tries – things that I try to do
outside the lines – not a good job
conditioned – trained

© 2015 Ambien Malecot for vocabulary lesson only   

by Jimmy Cliff

a Jamaican musician, singer and actor who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010.  In 1993 he recorded this song, which was written by Johnny Nash in 1972.

I can see clearly now the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It’s gonna be a bright, bright sunshiny day
It’s gonna be a bright, bright sunshiny day

Oh yes, I can make it now the pain is gone
All of the bad feelings have disappeared
Here is the rainbow I’ve been praying for
It’s gonna be a bright, bright sunshiny day

Look all around, there’s nothing but blue skies
Look straight ahead, there’s nothing but blue skies

I can see clearly now the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Here is the rainbow I’ve been praying for
It’s gonna be a bright, bright sunshiny day
It’s gonna be a bright, bright sunshiny day
Real, real, real, real bright, bright sunshiny day
Yeah, hey, it’s gonna be a bright, bright sunshiny day
It’s gonna be a bright, bright sunshiny day
It’s gonna be a bright, bright sunshiny day

Vocabulary:

obstacles:  things that slow you down and make things harder
blind:  not able to see
gonna:  going to
make it: have a good life
disappeared: gone away
rainbow: colorful curved light at the end of a rain storm
praying: asking God
nothing but: only
ahead: in front of you

© 2015 Ambien Malecot for vocabulary lesson only 

by Shiloh

a Canadian singer and songwriter, whose idol is Michael Jackson.  This song is from her 2009 debut album, “Picture Imperfect.”

Life is a song meant to be sung
And dreams are the words that tickle your tongue
No time to lose, singing the blues, stuck in a memory
You get what you give, so let yourself live
And be what you’re meant to be

Alright! Everything’s gonna be so bright
Welcome to your destiny
Believe in yourself, the answers will come
Alright! Everything’s gonna be so bright
Life is but a melody
Heaven knows, heaven knows you’ve waited so long
And soon you’ll be singing your song

Don’t be afraid, just jump right in
Sometimes you lose, sometimes you win
You make your mistakes,
That’s what it takes for you to find your way
Trust in yourself, nobody else
Knows what you want to say

Alright! Everything’s gonna be so bright
Welcome to your destiny
Believe in yourself, the answers will come
Alright! Everything’s gonna be so bright
Life is but a melody
Heaven knows, heaven knows you’ve waited so long
(And soon you’ll be singing your song)

Oh, This is your destiny
Oh, Be what you’re meant to be
Oh, Keep your convictions strong
Oh, This is your song

Alright! Everything’s gonna be so bright
Welcome to your destiny
Believe in yourself, the answers will come
Alright! Everything’s gonna be so bright
Life is but a melody
Heaven knows, heaven knows you’ve waited so long
And soon you’ll be singing your song

Vocabulary:

meant to:  supposed to
tickle your tongue:  inspire you to sing
the blues: sad songs
stuck in:   not able to get out of
gonna:  going to
destiny:  future
but:  only
melody:  song
jump right in:  start doing it
find your way:  become successful
convictions:  things that you know are true

© 2015 Ambien Malecot for vocabulary lesson only  

By Bobby McFerrin

an American singer and conductor who has won 10 Grammy Awards.  He is best know for this song, which he recorded in 1988.

Vocabulary:

double – twice as much
ain’t got – don’t have
landlord – the person you pay rent to
litigate – take  you to court to get money from you
style – nice clothes to wear 
gal – girl
frown – look angry
bring everybody down – make everybody unhappy
whatever it is – it doesn’t matter what it is

© 2015 Ambien Malecot for vocabulary lesson only