Showing posts with label lyrics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lyrics. Show all posts

Friday, February 21, 2014

Barbra Streisand singing When in Rome - gap fill and question

What is the song about? An American woman is explaining to her boyfriend that she loves him but when she travels she is unfaithful.

The idiom, 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do' means that when you visit a different place or culture, you must try to follow their customs and practices.

Below are the song's lyrics:
that when you are visiting a different place or culture, you should try to follow their customs and practices.
Read more at http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/when+in+rome,+do+as+the+romans+do.html#HoEgaiyuI4WgdzIz.99
that when you are visiting a different place or culture, you should try to follow their customs and practices.
Read more at http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/when+in+rome,+do+as+the+romans+do.html#HoEgaiyuI4WgdzIz.99

When in Rome, music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Carolyn Leigh.

When on foreign shores I am
Very truly yours I am
But if inclined to play I am
Sweetheart that's the way I am

When in Spain for reasons I don't explain
I remain enjoying a brew
Don't deplore my fondness for Fundador
You know how a Fundador can lead to a few
And baby when in Rome
I do as the Romans do

If per chance I'm saying farewell to France
And romance drops in from the blue
Cherchez l'amour
I beg of you please endure
My taking a brief detour with somebody new
It's just that when in Rome
I do as the Romans do

And though from Italy I lie to you prettily
Oh don't think of me bitterly
But know that I'm true
Except now and then in Rome
I get that old yen in Rome
And naturally when in Rome
I do as the Romans do

E molto difficile resistere agli uomini di Italia
Per esempio, per esempio I biondi,
I biondi di Firenze, di Venezia
E I bruni di Palermo, di Milano

You know what I mean?

If I write happily
Best wishes from Napoli
Don't cable me snappily
To tell me we're through
'Cause I'm once again in Rome
In somebody's den in Rome
Well honey bunch when in Rome
I do as the Romans do

So just disregard the signs and the omens
When in Rome I do as the Romans do

Veni. Vidi. Vincie?*

*This is a play on words. It should be 'Veni, vidi, vici.' Vincie is the diminutive of the man's name, Vince or Vincent.

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Friday, April 26, 2013

Frank Sinatra performing New York, New York - gap fill & question answers

Vinnie Falcone takes the baton now to conduct one of the most exciting pieces of music of all my years. This Don Costa arrangement of the Fred Ebb, John Kander love song to the city that never sleeps and the ball team that lost.

Start spreading the news
I'm leaving today
I want to be a part of it
New York, New York

These vagabond shoes
They are longing to stray
Right through the very heart of it
New York, New York

I want to wake up in the city
That doesn't sleep
And find I'm king of the hill
Top of the heap

My small town blues
They are melting away
I will make a brand new start of it
In old New York

If I can make it there
I'll make it anywhere
It's up to you
New York, New York

In New York, New York

I want to wake up in a city
That doesn't sleep
And find that I'm number one
Top of the list
Head of the heap
King of the hill

These little town blues
They're all melting away
I'm gonna make a brand new start of it
Back in old New York

And if I can make it there
I know, I'll make it just about anywhere
It's up to you
New York, New York
New York 

Questions and answers:

Q. What does the line 'start spreading the news' mean?
A. Begin telling people.
Q. What does the line 'these vagabond shoes' mean?
A. The person wearing these shoes does not like to stay in one city or town very long.
Q. What does the line 'longing to stray' mean?
A. Wanting to leave.*
Q. What do the lines 'little town blues' and 'small town blues' mean?
A. Sadness about being in a small town, probably because there is not much to do and no opportunity.
Q. What does the line 'melting away' mean?
A. Disappearing.
Q. What does the line 'if I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere' mean?
A. If I can become a success in that place, I will be able to to be successful anyplace.
Q. What does the line 'it's up to you' mean?
A. The decision is yours.
Q. What is the story the song is telling?
A. The song is about a person from a small town who is moving to New York. The person is very happy about moving there, because New York is very different from a small town – New York is an exciting city with lots of opportunity for success.

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*The opposite of 'longing to stray' is 'longing to stay,' which means 'wanting to remain.'

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

I heard it Through the Grapevine - Answers

True / False: 
A. T
B. T
C. F
D. F
E. T
F. F
G. T

Vocabulary Exercise:
1. infidelity B. unfaithfulness 
2. shelved C. deferred 
3. issued E. released  
4. suitable D. appropriate 
5. out sold F. sold more than  
6. usurped A. displaced
7. to have no clue G. to be unaware 


Lyrics to the Marvin Gaye version:

I Heard It Through the Grapevine 
Ooh, ooh, I bet you're wonderin' how I knew
About you're plans to make me blue
With some other guy you knew before.
Between the two of us guys
You know I love you more.
It took me by surprise I must say,
When I found out yesterday.
Don't you know...

I heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine.
Oh, I heard it through the grapevine,
And I'm just about to lose my mind.
Honey, honey, yeah.

(I heard it through the grapevine not much longer would you be my baby!)

I know a man ain't supposed to cry,
But these tears I can't hold inside.
Losin' you would end my life you see,
Cause you mean that much to me.
You could have told me yourself
That you love someone else.
Instead...

I heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine.
Oh I heard it through the grapevine,
And I'm just about to lose my mind.
Honey, honey, yeah.

(I heard it through the grapevine not much longer would you be my baby!)

People say believe half of what you see,
Son, and none of what you hear.
I can't help being confused
If it's true please tell me dear
Do you plan to let me go
For the other guy you loved before?
Don't you know...

I heard it through the grapevine
Not much longer would you be mine.
Oh I heard it through the grapevine,
And I'm just about to lose my mind.
Honey, honey, yeah.

(I heard it through the grapevine not much longer would you be my baby!)

Honey, honey, I know that you're letting me go!
I said, I heard it through the grapevine!
Yeah, I heard it through the grapevine!

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