by Ali Slaight

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

© 2015 Ambien Malecot for vocabulary lesson only 

by Kris Allen

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

© 2015 Ambien Malecot for vocabulary lesson only

by Yael Naim

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

© 2015 Ambien Malecot for vocabulary lesson only

by Mariah Carey

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 hero lies 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 hero lies 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 hero lies in you
That a hero lies in you… that a hero lies in you

Vocabulary:

by James Taylor

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

© 2015 Ambien Malecot for vocabulary lesson only 

by Ash Koley

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

© 2015 Ambien Malecot for vocabulary lesson only  

by Patrick Norman

a Canadian country musician from Quebec.  This is the title song from his 2006 album of the same name.

So you say you feel your foolish heart is turning upside down,
And you see your love affairs keep right on going round and round.
Don’t be blue.  You’re not the only lover longing for a friend.
Keep your faith in love, look inside your heart and you will understand.

They say it’s hard to be
In love eternally
But all broken hearts agree
Only love sets you free.

You and I, we know down deep inside life’s not a fairy tale.
We get lost and feel so helpless on a ship without a sail. 
So take care.  Don’t let your right to happiness escape my friend
Keep your faith in love, look inside your heart and you will understand.

They say it’s hard to be
In love eternally, 
But all broken hearts agree
Only love sets you free.

Like a song that makes it to the top and then just fades away
Then again someone just comes along and brings it back someday
Every time it fills your heart with those unwanted memories
Keep your faith in love, look inside your heart and you will understand.

They say it’s hard to be
In love eternally
But all broken hearts agree
Only love sets you free.

They say it’s hard to be
In love eternally
But all broken hearts agree
Only love sets you free.  

Vocabulary:

foolish – not smart, not wise
turning upside down – not feeling right
affairs – relationships
going round and round – repeating themselves, going nowhere
blue – sad
longing – really wanting
faith – belief
eternally – forever, without end
broken hearts – people whose lovers have left them
fairy tale – children’s story that always has a happy ending
helpless – unable to do anything to help
without – not having
right – something you can do without anyone’s permission
escape – go away, get away
makes it to the top – becomes very popular
fades away – disappears slowly
memories – things you remember

© 2015 Ambien Malecot for vocabulary lesson only 

by Boyzone

an Irish band consisting of Keith Duffy, Stephen Gately, Mikey Graham, Ronan Keating, and Shane Lynch.  The song was written in 1996 by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jim Steinman.

No matter what they tell us
No matter what they do
No matter what they teach us
What we believe is true

No matter what they call us
However they attack
No matter where they take us
We’ll find our own way back

I can’t deny what I believe
I can’t be what I’m not
I know I’ll love forever
I know, no matter what

If only tears were laughter 
If only night was day 
If only prayers were answered 
Then we would hear God say

No matter what they tell you
No matter what they do 
No matter what they teach you
What you believe is true

And I will keep you safe and strong
And sheltered from the storm
No matter where it’s barren
A dream is being born

No matter who they follow
No matter where they lead
No matter how they judge us
I’ll be everyone you need

No matter if the sun don’t shine (sun don’t shine)
Or if the skies are blue (skies are blue)
No matter what the end is
My life began with you

I can’t deny what I believe (what I believe, yeah)
I can’t be what I’m not
(I know, I know) I know this love’s forever
That’s all that matters now no matter what
No, no matter what; no, no matter what

No, no matter what
That’s all that matters to me (x7)

Vocabulary:

no matter – it doesn’t matter, it isn’t important
they – everyone else, society
however – in whatever way,  in any way
deny – say it isn’t true
prayers – wishes
sheltered – protected
barren – lifeless
they lead – they are going
judge us – think that we’re bad
matters – is important

© 2015 Ambien Malecot for vocabulary lesson only 

by Amanda Marshall

a Canadian singer-songwriter who wrote this song with Eric Bazilian for her second album, “Tuesday’s Child”, released in 1999.

Somewhere there’s a river, looking for a stream
Somewhere there’s a dreamer, looking for a dream
Somewhere there’s a drifter, trying to find his way
Somewhere someone’s waiting to hear somebody say

I believe in you,  I can’t even count the ways that
I believe in you, and all I want to do is help you to believe in you

Somewhere someone’s reaching, trying to grab that ring
Somewhere there’s a silent voice learning how to sing
Some of us can’t move ahead, we’re paralyzed with fear
And everybody’s listening, cause we all need to hear

I believe in you, and I can’t even count the ways that
I believe in you, and all I want to do is help you to believe in you

I will hold you up, I will help you stand
I will comfort you when you need a friend
I will be the voice that’s calling I …

I believe in you and there are just so many ways that
I believe in you, baby what else can I do but believe in you
I believe in you,  all I want to know is you believe yeah believe in you

Vocabulary:

stream – small moving water that feeds a river
dream – something you want in life
drifter – someone who travels and has no home
way – path through life
ring – prize, windfall, something you want
silent – quiet, not saying anything
ahead – forward, into the future
paralyzed – unable to move
cause – because
yeah – a form of ‘yes’ [something you say when you really believe something]

© 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