Rocky Raccoon: The Beatles

Beatles: Rocky Raccoon

This song is an interestingly funny story about a Wild West Gunfight over a the love of a woman. The Beatles wrote it similar to Limericks (or Anti-Limericks) and if you don´t know what these are they are traditionally quick invented poems that follow the same basic patterns. They are also seen as jokes and can be written about anyone and anything. Very Creative.

Before introducing Limericks have students try to reorder this song to make the story. Here is the activity below. Then play the song to check. (Paste a copy to use this activity)

Rocky Raccoon Sung

by Lennon and McCartney.

1.Now somewhere in the black mining hills of Dakota
2. There lived a young boy named Rocky Raccoon
__So one day he walked into town
__Hit young Rocky in the eye
__And one day his woman ran off with another guy
__ Rocky didn't like that he said I'm gonna get that boy
__Booked himself a room in the local saloon.

__His rival it seems had broken his dreams
__Rocky Raccoon checked into his room
__Only to find Gideon's bible
__Rocky had come equipped with a gun
__By stealing the girl of his fancy.
__To shoot off the legs of his rival

__Were in the next room at the hoedown
__Her name was Magil and she called herself Lil
__Now she and her man who called himself Dan
__But Daniel was hot-he drew first and shot
__Rocky burst in and grinning a grin
__He said Danny boy this is a showdown
__But everyone knew her as Nancy
__And Rocky collapsed in the corner.

__And Rocky said, Doc it's only a scratch
__And proceeded to lie on the table
__The doctor came in stinking of gin
__He said Rocky you met your match
__And I'll be better I'll be better doc as soon as I am able.

__Now Rocky Raccoon he fell back in his room
__To help with good Rocky's revival.

__Only to find Gideon's bible

__A Gideon checked out and he left it no doubt

Then write the section from the song on the baord and get students to notice the pattern of the poem

His rival it seems
Had broken his dreams
by steeling the girl of his fancy
Her name was Magil and she she called herself Lil
But every one knew her as Nancy

Have students see the rhyme and the pattern then ask them to look for Limericks online and see how they are formed. For homework, they could look for a clean on and if they are adults a dirty one and after produce their own.

The Beatles: When I´m 64

This is the first simple exercise for a song which is easy on the ears. I bit different than the normal gap-fill. The song may be well known to many students and good for introducing or discussing the process adding a few more years to your life.

Because of this and depending on the level you might like to try and fill in the correct work from the 3 options first, before playing the song

There are questions at the end to discuss getting old. Notice the use of get here which can be used for teaching lexis "lose my hair/my hearing/teeth, do the garden, stay at home, go for a ride, look after the grandchildren, have more free time"

Copy this section below onto a page and give it to your students.. If I can find out of this blog allows attachments I´ll change this post at a later stage but for now highlight and copy to a word document.

When I'm Sixty Four (64) ~ The Beatles

When I get older losing my ______ sight/hair/teeth
Many years from now.
Will you still be sending me a card/cheque/valentine
Birthday ______ bottle of wine. greetings/messages/cards

If I'd been out till quarter to three
Would you _____ the door, open/shut/lock
Will you still need me, will you still _____ me, feed/love/hug
When I'm sixty-four.

You'll be older too,
And if you say the word,
I could stay with you.

I could be _____, mending a fuse useful/handy/here
When your lights have ______. Done/gone/been
You can knit a _______ by the fireside cardigan/jumper/sweater
Sunday ________ go for a ride, morning/afternoon/evening

Doing the garden, ______ the weeds, planting/digging/killing
Who could ask for more.
Will you still need me, will you still _____ me, feed/love/hug
When I'm sixty-four.

Every summer we can ______ a cottage, hire/rent/buy
In the Isle of Wight, if it's not too ______ expensive/cheap/dear
We shall scrimp and ______ save/pay/eat
Grandchildren on your ____ lap/shoulder/knee
Vera ,Chuck & Dave

Send me a postcard, _____ me a line, send/drop/give
Stating point of view
Indicate _____ what you mean to say exactly/precisely/correctly
Yours ______, wasting away sincerely/with love/faithfully

Give me your answer, _____ in a form complete/fulfill/fill
Mine for evermore
Will you still need me, will you still _____ me, feed/love/hug
When I'm sixty-four.

Talk to your partner

1. Could this describe your life in the future?

2. What do you think will change when you get old