How to listen to this song: Somewhere over the Rainbow

How to listen to this song: Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Use this song to practice the Present Simple verb tense.

First Listen to the song Somewhere Over the Rainbow

(If the above link doesn’t work, you can listen here, here, or here.)

Second Answer this question: Is this a happy song or a sad song? Why?

Third Listen to the song again. This time, read the lyrics to the song too. (The lyrics are below. Scroll down to see them.)

Fourth Think about the Present Simple verb tense. One thing we use the Present Simple for is things that are sometimes, usually, or always true. The time isn’t important. For example: Skies are blue. Yes, sometimes, the sky is black or grey or red, but skies are blue in the past, present, and future.

Sixth Answer these questions:

Can you find another example of present simple? Where? What does it mean?

What does “dreams come true” mean?

Why does the singer want to go over the rainbow?

Lyrics

Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high,
There’s a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby.

Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue,
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true.

Someday I’ll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far
Behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That’s where you’ll find me.

Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly,
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can’t I?

Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly,
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh why can’t I?

If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow
Why, oh, why can’t I?

Answers

Can you find another example of present simple? Where? What does it mean? Bluebirds fly. It’s a habit of bluebirds. It means bluebirds can fly. They fly in the past, the present, and the future.

What does “dreams come true” mean? A dream is like a wish. A dream come true is a wish the really happens. For example, Barack Obama wanted to become president. It was his dream. He became president, so his dream came true. In the song, dreams come true in the past, present, and future. Over the rainbow, dreams come true.

Why does the singer want to go over the rainbow? She thinks that she’ll be happier there.

How to listen to this song: “Rainbow Connection” by Kermit the Frog

Rainbow Connection

Use this song to practice asking questions in Present Simple, Past Simple, and Present Perfect.

First Listen to the song “Rainbow Connection” by Kermit the Frog. If the above link doesn’t work, you can listen here, or here.

(Also, the lyrics are a little different, but you can also hear Jason Mraz’s version here and The Carpenters’ version here.)

Second Answer these questions: What is a rainbow? What is a connection? What do you think a “rainbow connection” is? (Hint: There isn’t just one answer. It’s an opinion.)

Third Listen to the song again. This time, read the lyrics to the song too. (The lyrics are below. Scroll down to see them.)

Fourth There are three main questions in the song. They are:

Why are there so many songs about rainbows and what’s on the other side?

Who said that every wish would be heard and answered, when wished on the morning star?

Have you been half asleep and have you heard voices?

The first question uses present simple. That’s a question about things that are always true.

The second question uses past simple. That’s a question about something that happened one time in the past. When it happened in the past is important.

The third question uses present perfect. That’s a question about something that started in the past, but is important for now.

Go to this site to learn more about asking questions in different verb tenses.

Fifth Answer these questions:

What does the singer think about rainbows?

He says that the rainbow connection is “the lovers, the dreamers, and me”. What do you think? What is the connection between lovers, dreams, and him? How are they the same?

He asks “what’s so amazing that keeps us stargazing?” It means, why do people keep looking at the stars. Why do you think people enjoy looking at the stars?

What is “the sweet sound that called the young sailors”?

Lyrics

Why are there so many songs about rainbows
and what’s on the other side?
Rainbows are visions, but only illusions,
and rainbows have nothing to hide.
So we’ve been told and some choose to believe it.
I know they’re wrong, wait and see.
Someday we’ll find it, the rainbow connection.
The lovers, the dreamers and me.

Who said that every wish would be heard
and answered, when wished on the morning star?
Somebody thought of that and someone believed it.
Look what it’s done so far.
What’s so amazing that keeps us star gazing,
and what do we think we might see?
Someday we’ll find it, the rainbow connection.
The lovers, the dreamers and me.

All of us under its spell, we know that it’s probably magic.

Have you been half asleep and have you heard voices?
I’ve heard them calling my name.
Is this the sweet sound that called the young sailors?
The voice might be one and the same.
I’ve heard it too many times to ignore it.
It’s something that I’m supposed to be.
Someday we’ll find it, the rainbow connection.
The lovers, the dreamers and me.

La da da di da da do. La da da da da di da do.

Answers

There aren’t exact answers to these questions. These answers are just opinions.

What does the singer think about rainbows?

He thinks they are amazing. They make him dream and wonder about how everyone is the same. He thinks everyone is connected.

He says that the rainbow connection is “the lovers, the dreamers, and me”. What do you think? What is the connection between lovers, dreamers, and him? How are they the same?

Maybe he thinks lovers, dreamers, and he are the same. They all think softly about life. They are connected because everyone is connected. They all look at rainbows and dream.

He asks “what’s so amazing that keeps us stargazing?” It means, why do people keep looking at the stars. Why do you think people enjoy looking at the stars?

Maybe everyone feels the same when they look at the stars. They dream about their future and their place in the world. Stars make us feel peaceful.

What is “the sweet sound that called the young sailors”?

It something that’s in a young sailor’s heart. Sometimes young people just want to get away and travel.

Do you have questions about this song? Do you have different opinions? Post in the comments:)