Learn with music – JLS, “They Ain’t”
Play the video and listen carefully two or three times. Try to repeat the words and phrases that you are able to identify. Then, read the lyrics and see if you can identify the missing words.
Transcript
They say that some things are too good to be _____
But I just hope they ain’t talking about you
I heard that everything must come to an ____
But I just can’t imagine me without you
Don’t tell me I’m dreamin’
‘Cause if I’ve _____ dreamin’
I don’t ever want to wake up
So in love with this feelin’
Tonight I’ll be sleepin’
Sleepin’ with my eyes _____ shut
Out of sight they say out of mind
But your image will remain till the end of time
I’m strong but hearts are easy to break
Don’t want to fall if there ain’t no one to catch me
Me without you, me without you
Oh, I don’t ever want to wake up
Don’t tell me I’m dreamin’
Cause if I’ve been dreamin’
I don’t _____ want to wake up
So in love with this feelin’
Tonight I’ll be sleepin’
Sleepin’ with my eyes wide ____
Missing words:
true – end – been – wide – ever – shut
Language notes
Here are some notes about the language used in the song.
Ain’t
“But I just hope they ain’t talking about you”
This is a frequently used de-formation of standard English.
It conjugates as “ain’t” with all personal pronouns: I ain’t, you ain’t, he ain’t, she ain’t, it ain’t, we ain’t, you ain’t, they ain’t.
It replaces am not, is not and are not in the present continuous tense.
It also replaces have not and has not in the present perfect tense.
A frequently used phrase is “You ain’t seen nothin’ yet!” or “Lo mejor está por venir!”
In standard English, this would be “You haven’t seen anything yet!”
…ing
In spoken English, when a word ends with “…ing” we usually leave off the final “g” and say: feelin’ – sleepin’ – drivin’…
“‘Cause if I’ve been dreamin’’”
Other resources
You can see a sample series of exercises based around this music clip:
Eyes wide shut – Practice exercises
Here are some more examples of language learning resources that we use:
Learn with humour – Train privatisation
Learn with adverts – Mac Haik, Chevrolet dealer