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.

Foundation: Kate Nash

This activity can be done with the song and the video or just with the song.

It talks about a couples relationship and has some very idiomatic and British slang.

Kate Nash is very popular at the moment in the UK and this song may just be good to introduce discussions on relationships.

Foundation Kate Nash

1. This is a girlfriend talking about her boyfriend. How does she feel about him?

2. Now listen to the song and match the underlines phrases to the phrases below

you drank too much I don´t care (x2) you are planning something

the relationship won´t last To provoke someone you are stupid white

good looking I can´t stand you stop talking about soemthing

Thursday night, every thing's fine, except you've got that look in your eye
when I'm tellin' a story and you find it boring, you're thinking of something to say.
You'll go along with it then drop it and humiliate me in front of our friends.

Then I'll use that voice that you find annoyin' and say something like
"yeah, intelligent input, darlin', why don't you just have another beer then?"

Then you'll call me a bitch and everyone we're with will be embarrassed,
and I won´t give a shit.

My finger tips are holding onto the cracks in our foundation,
and I know that I should let go,but I can't.
And every time we fight I know it's not right,
every time that you're upset and I smile.
I know I should forget, but I can't.

You said I must eat so many lemons,´cause i am so bitter.
I said "I'd rather be with your friends mate 'cause they are much fitter."

Yes, it was childish and you got aggressive,and I must admit that I was a bit scared, but it gives me thrills to wind you up.

(Chorus )

Your face is pasty 'cause you've gone and got so wasted, what a surprise.
Don't want to look at your face 'cause it's makin' me sick.
You've gone and got sick on my trainers,
I only got these yesterday.
Oh, my gosh, I cannot be bothered with this.

Well, I'll leave you there 'till the mornin', and I purposely won´t turn the heating on and dear God, I hope I'm not stuck with this one.
( Chorus )

After the song, discuss with your partner: -

3. What do you think will happen to this relationship? Now watch the video

Don´t Lie: Black Eyed Peas

This song, by the Black Eyed peas is very good to open a discussion about lying. I have found the subject and song particularly good for teenagers

Lying

Match the phrases together

1. Learn a) fibs

2. Sorry b)lies

3. Forge c) a signature

4.The truth d)lies

5.Feel e)for

6.Nose f) comes out

7. Tell a g)lesson

8.Tell h)like a fool

9.A book of i)for (doing)

Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry
Hey, baby ___________________
I noticed it be growing when I been ______ them _____
Now you say your trust's getting weaker
Probably coz my lies just started getting deeper
And the reason for my confession is that I ______ my _____
And I really think you ought to know the truth
Because I lied and I cheated and I lied a little more
But after I did it I don't know what I did it for
I admit that I have been a little immature
*&%&$ with your heart like I was the predator
In my book of lies I was the editor and the author
I ______ my ______ and now I _______ ____ what I did to you
Cos what you did to me I did to you

No,no, no, no baby, no, no, no, no don't lie

No, no, no, no, yeah, you know, know, know, know, you gotta try
What you gonna do when it all ______ _____

When I really see you & what you're all about
No, no, no baby, no, no, no, no don't lie
Yeah, you know, you know, you know, you know, you know, you gotta try

She said I'm leaving cos she can't take the pain
It's hard to continue this love it ain't the same
Can't forget the things that I've done inside her brain
Too many lies committed too many games
She _____________ getting on the last train
Trying to maintain but the feeling won't change
I'm sorry for the things that I've done and what I became
Caught up in living my life in the fast lane
Blinded by lights, cameras, you know the fame
I don't know the reason why I did these things
And I lie and I lie and I lie and I lie and now our emotions are drained (x2)
[Chorus]

[TABOO]
Yo, I'm lying to my girl even though I love her
And she all in my world I give her all my attention and diamonds & pearls
She's the one who makes me feel on top of the world
Still I lie to my girl, I do it

Questions

Use the language in the second part of the some and with your partner imagine you are the girls.

Explain to the man why you are leaving and how you feel

Answers

Nose is getting big

Tell fibs

A book of lies

Forge a signature

Tell lies

Apologize for

The truth comes out

Learn a lesson

Feel like a fool

Sorry for (doing)