Hey there! This is TOP episode 158. Learn English With Elvis ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’
My name’s Ola and I am an online English teacher. I believe you can eliminate your language blockade. It is 100% guaranteed. The secret word here is consistency. There are other secret words too. That is why I record this podcast’s episodes, and each comes with a little worksheet, a one-pager to help you digest and test what you’ve practised here. You can speak English with more confidence, slay that fear and enjoy new freedoms.
Visit my website for full transcripts and worksheets to each episode. Visit my shop at teacherola.com and enjoy your journey to fluency! Happy learning!
Well, hello! Thank you for tuning in! Elvis lives my dear! Let’s look at the lyrics of his most famous song and learn some vocabulary.
Before we get into the lyrics. Let me tell you, I am working on my Speak English with tv series course, a programme focused on one skill only, speaking. Grab a checklist, the link is in the description and see if the course is for you.
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Let’s begin with song facts. The melody is based on a popular French love song composed in 1784. The song was initially written from the perspective of a woman as “Can’t Help Falling in Love with Him”, which explains the first and third lines ending on “in” and “sin” rather than words rhyming with “you”. Elvis Presley’s version of the song topped the British charts in 1962, spending four weeks at no. 1. In the United States, the song peaked at No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100. There’s nothing to explain more really, it’s a love song and that’s all. No hidden meaning, no stories to tell 😉 Let’s get to the lyrics. Listen and repeat each line.
Wise men say
Only fools rush in
But I can’t help falling in love with you
Wise men say – if somebody is wise, he or she is able to make sensible decisions and give good advice because of the experience and knowledge that you have. It’s quite different from being smart or intelligent. Wisdom comes with age and in consequence, with experience. Wise decisions are based on knowledge, they are sensible. Based on good judgement.
The adjective is gradable, it’s: wise – wiser – the wisest.
I picked three idioms with the word ‘wise’ and here is the list.
One.
Be none the wiser – to not understand something, even after receiving explanations and information about it.
I’ve read the instructions, but I’m still none the wiser.
Two.
It’s easy to be wise after the event – It is easier to understand how something bad could have been prevented after it has already occurred, after it happened.
I wouldn’t have gone to her if I had known she wanted to boast so much. Well, it’s easier to be wise after the event.
Three.
Penny-wise and dollar-foolish. – It’s used to describe someone who is so concerned with saving money in any way possible that he or she fails to set enough money to solve large problems, ultimately forcing one to spend more in the long run. An example sentence:
Don’t let yourself become penny-wise and dollar-foolish when it comes to your health.
Only fools rush in – to act carelessly or recklessly; to undertake something without preparation. Also: to rush through, to rush out. All these phrasal verbs indicate doing something quickly. Here’s an example to illustrate the definition:
I wouldn’t rush in if I were you. You don’t know this guy too well.
I can’t help falling in love – if you can’t help doing something it’s impossible to avoid something. For instance:
I can’t help thinking he is telling lies.
I always end up buying something sweet, I don’t know why, I just can’t help it.
Let’s return to the song, listen and repeat:
Shall I stay?
Would it be a sin
If I can’t help falling in love with you?
Shall I stay? – This is an offer expressed in a form of a question. All I’m gonna do now is direct to to another episode of Teacher Ola Podcast, episode 83 titled Shall We? Offers. Episode 83.
Would it be a sin – here I chose a few phrases with the word ‘sin’. Let’s see them now:
One.
Ugly as sin – extremely unattractive. An example sentence:
This old car is ugly as sin, but it’s still going and I have great memories with it.
Two.
For your sins – as a punishment for someone’s dids. Hear the sentence:
Let me guess, I have to clean the whole house for my sins.
Three:
Sin City – a nickname for Las Vegas, based on its reputation for providing all kinds of entertainment, including gambling, strip clubs, illigal substances and so on.
When you visit Nevada, don’t forget to see Sin City!
And now, last but one part of the song:
Like a river flows
Surely to the sea
Darling, so it goes
Some things are meant to be
Surely – for sure, absolutely, certainly, definitely, indeed, undoubtetly, inevitably. Ok, now repeat these synonyms after me:
surely
absolutely
certainly
definitely
indeed
undoubtedly
inevitably
An example sentence:
Inevitably, the meeting will be cancelled.
So it goes – This is just the ordinary way life unfolds. That is the kind of thing that happens. That’s life.
Some things are meant to be – Some things are destined to take place, exist. For instance:
I’ve felt since I was a young girl that I was meant to be a nurse.
I’m happy they’ve moved in together. They’re meant to be.
The final verse of the song. Listen and repeat:
Take my hand
Take my whole life, too
For I can’t help falling in love with you
Now, time for practice. Listen and repeat the sentences:
I’ve read the instructions, but I’m still none the wiser.
I wouldn’t have gone to her if I had known she wanted to boast so much. Well, it’s easier to be wise after the event.
Don’t let yourself become penny-wise and dollar-foolish when it comes to your health.
I wouldn’t rush in if I were you. You don’t know this guy too well.
I can’t help thinking he is telling lies.
I always end up buying something sweet, I don’t know why, I just can’t help it.
This old car is ugly as sin, but it’s still going and I have great memories with it.
Let me guess, I have to clean the whole house for my sins.
When you visit Nevada, don’t forget to see Sin City!
Inevitably, the meeting will be cancelled.
I’ve felt since I was a young girl that I was meant to be a nurse.
I’m happy they’ve moved in together. They’re meant to be.
Great job! Now, go to your inbox and get the worksheet to test yourself. Complete the gapped lyrics while listening to Elvis. If you aren’t a member of TOPeople download the worksheet from teacherola.com/158.
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