Hey there! This is TOP episode 134. Learn English With Cat Stevens ‘Peace Train’
My name’s Ola and I am an English teacher. My goal is to help you start speaking English with confidence and get rid of speaking barriers. I believe it is achievable for you and it’s time you started speaking English fearlessly! Go to my website for full transcripts and worksheets to each episode. Happy learning!
Welcome and welcome back. This episode was supposed to be about a different song. It’s the last day of February when I’m recording it and it’s been five days since the war in Ukraine broke out. I didn’t feel like recording any other episode but about a song that lifts spirits. That’s what we all really need to focus on. On releasing the tension, fear and despair from our bodies. Instead, fill them up with peace.
Here we are, that’s our reality today, so let’s live. Let’s continue learning English. I can see in statistics that you are still listening and downloading the Worksheets, that’s great! That’s what we should do now, live normally, carry on, educate ourselves. So today you have song lyrics for repeating out loud, vocabulary extension and a practical part with even more sentences to repeat. Let’s dive in.
Now I’ve been happy lately
Thinking about the good things to come
And I believe it could be
Something good has begun
I’ve been happy lately – lately suggests it’s an ongoing thing hence we wanna use present perfect. The same goes for recently and these days.
I’ve been tired lately.
I’ve been thinking about you.
I’ve been waiting for you.
One more thing from this passage. It’s the pronunciation of the word ‘begun’. This is the third form of the verb ‘begin’. The past simple form is pronounced: ‘began’. So, one more time, it’s: begin – began – begun.
Let’s move on to the next verse:
Oh, I’ve been smiling lately
Dreaming about the world as one
And I believe it could be
Someday it’s going to come
Dreaming about – or maybe dreaming of? What’s the difference if there’s any? Well, dream off usually denotes your aspirations, goals, objectives. I dream of being an actress means I want to be an actress. Dream off is usually followed by a verb. I dream about means I had a dream and in that dream, I saw things.
I dream of going places.
I dream about summer.
In reality, we see those two expressions being used interchangeably. In my personal opinion to ream off sounds more poetic so to speak.
Let’s continue:
‘Cause I’m on the edge of darkness
There ride the Peace Train
Oh, Peace Train take this country
Come take me home again
I’m on the edge – to be on the edge means to be nervous, excited or easily made angry.
Paul felt on edge about meeting Lisa.
She is on the edge of despair.
Another verse, let’s go on:
Oh Peace Train sounding louder
Glide on the Peace Train
Come on now Peace Train
Yes, Peace Train holy roller
Everyone jump upon the Peace Train
Glide on the peace train – to glide is to move smoothly and quietly, especially as though it takes no effort. Hence a glider – a light aircraft that flies without an engine.
The plane managed to glide down to the runway.
Some people glide effortlessly through life with no real worries.
Come on now, Peace Train
Get your bags together,
Go bring your good friends, too
‘Cause it’s getting nearer
It’s getting nearer – the situation is dynamic, that’s why we’re using present continuous. The situation is changing gradually.
It’s getting late.
It’s getting warm.
Let’s go on, the next verse:
It soon will be with you
Now come and join the living,
It’s not so far from you
And it’s getting nearer,
Join the living – connect with those who live. Take part in life. Join hands, literally but also work together in doing something.
We must join hands with our friends in Europe.
Let us join hands with each other in friendship.
Let’s join hands to make a perfect future!
The last verse, let’s finish this lyrics:
Now I’ve been crying lately,
Thinkin’ about the world as it is
Why must we go on hating,
Why can’t we live in bliss.
to live in bliss – bliss is extreme happiness. Common collocations include:
sheer bliss
pure bliss
total bliss
What bliss to be going on holiday.
The first six months of marriage were sheer bliss.
Time for your practice. Listen and repeat the sentences out loud. Here we go:
I’ve been tired lately.
I’ve been thinking about you.
I dream of going places.
I dream about summer.
Paul felt on edge about meeting Lisa.
She is on the edge of despair.
Some people glide effortlessly through life with no real worries.
It’s getting late.
We must join hands with our friends in Europe.
The first six months of marriage were sheer bliss.
I’m glad you’ve made it! Well done. But don’t stop here. Go to your inbox and grab worksheet 134 in order to test yourself. Complete the gapped text with missing words. If you’re not a member of TOPeople download the worksheet at teacherola.com/134 and become one. It’s free.
I also have The Worksheet Set. This way you won’t have to download each worksheet separately. It’s gonna be much more convenient to work with this podcast. All the links are in the description below. Worksheet Sets are useful to all Polish listeners because they include translations from Polish.
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Thank you so much for listening and I’ll see you next Wednesday!! Till then, take care! Really take care of yourself. Especially if you help others. Find that peace in your heart. Happy learning. Stay fearless and say it out loud! Bye!