Boring! That’s what comes to our mind when we think about classic English lessons. However, what if there is a way to learn English in a fun way? What if…
Songs have always been an integral part of our culture through the history in one way or the other. We have passed down prayers, myths, stories, motivational speeches through rhymes and songs.
Songs are easy to remember, and the music helps the words stick in our memory. When you listen to a song, you can hear phrasal verbs in real context, not just in a textbook. For example, in Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up” the singer promises:
- “Never gonna give you up” → give up means to stop trying or abandon.
- “Never gonna let you down” → let down means to disappoint someone.
- “Never gonna run around and desert you” → run around and desert mean to act unfaithfully or leave someone.
Listed below are videos of some popular songs, along with explanations of the phrasal verbs they contain. This is how you use the list of songs:
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- Click the video links and listen to the songs carefully.
- Focus on the phrasal verbs in context.
- Sing along to reinforce memory.
Don’t Give Up – Peter Gabriel & Kate Bush
- Phrasal verb: give up
- Lyric: “Don’t give up ’cause you have friends...”
- Meaning: to stop trying, to surrender
- Phrasal verb: hold on
- Lyric: “Hold on for one more day…”
- Meaning: to wait or endure difficulty
- Phrasal verb: let go
- Lyric: “Let it go, let it go!”
- Meaning: to release emotion or control
- Phrasal verb: stand by
- Lyric: “ So darlin’, darlin’, stand by me…”
- Meaning: to support someone
Don’t Look Back in Anger – Oasis
- Phrasal verb: look back
- Lyric: “But don’t look back in anger, I heard you say…”
- Meaning: to think about the past
- Phrasal verb: break free
- Lyric: “I want to break free from your lies.”
- Meaning: to escape or be liberated
- Phrasal verb: go on
- Lyric: “The show must go on.”
- Meaning: to continue despite difficulties
Get Out of My Head – Kylie Minogue
- Phrasal verb: get out of
- Lyric: “ I just can’t get you out of my head.. ”
- Meaning: to leave, escape, or stop thinking about something
- Phrasal verb: turn around
- Lyric: “Turn around, every now and then I get a little bit lonely…”
- Meaning: to reverse direction or change a situation
- Phrasal verb: turn back
- Lyric: “If only I could turn back time…”
- Meaning: to reverse or go back
- Phrasal verb: walk on by
- Lyric: “Walk on by, walk on by, don’t make me feel your love…”
- Meaning: to physically pass someone without stopping, or ignoring someone
I Want to Get Away – Lenny Kravitz
- Phrasal verb: get away
- Lyric: “I want to get away. I want to fly away…”
- Meaning: to escape, take a break, or leave a situation
Beautiful – Christina Aguilera
- Phrasal verb: bring down
- Lyric: “Yes, words can’t bring us down, oh, no…So don’t you bring me down today…”
- Meaning: To make someone sad or worsen their mood
Learning phrasal verbs through songs is fun, practical, and memorable. You can enjoy your favourite music while improving your English!