Practice the third conditional in your ESL class with this song, If it hadn’t been for love by The Steeldrivers and covered by Adele.
This song’s lyrics contain 9 different examples of the 3rd conditional.
- I never would’ve hitch-hiked to Birmingham if it hadn’t been for love
- I never would’ve caught the train to Louisiana if it hadn’t been for love
- I never would’ve run through the blindin’ rain […] if it hadn’t been for love
- I never would’ve seen the trouble that I’m in if it hadn’t been for love
- I would’ve been gone like a wayward wind if it hadn’t been for love
- I wouldn’t be wishing I was free if it hadn’t been for love
- I never would’ve gone to that side of town if it hadn’t been for love
- I never would’ve took a mind to track him down if it hadn’t been for love
- I never would’ve loaded up a forty-four […] if it hadn’t been for love
There is a suggestion on how to use this song in your ESL classes below, but for more ideas, click here.
Lyrics
I never would’ve hitch-hiked to Birmingham if it hadn’t been for love
I never would’ve caught the train to Louisiana if it hadn’t been for love
I never would’ve run through the blinding rain
Without one dollar to my name
if it hadn’t been, if it hadn’t been for love
I never would’ve seen the trouble that I’m in if it hadn’t been for love
I would’ve been gone like a wayward wind if it hadn’t been for love
Nobody knows it better than me
I wouldn’t be wishing I was free
if it hadn’t been, if it hadn’t been for love
Four cold walls against my will
At least I know he’s lying still
Four cold walls without parole
Lord have mercy on my soul
I never would’ve gone to that side of town if it hadn’t been for love
I never would’ve took a mind to track him down if it hadn’t been for love
I never would’ve loaded up a forty-four
And put myself behind a jailhouse door
If it hadn’t been, if it hadn’t been for love
Four cold walls against my will
At least I know he’s lying still
Four cold walls without parole
Lord have mercy on my soul
I never would’ve hitch hiked to Birmingham if it hadn’t been for love
I never would’ve caught the train to Louisiana if it hadn’t been for love
I never would’ve loaded up a forty-four
And put myself behind a jailhouse door
If it hadn’t been, if it hadn’t been for love
Suggested activity: find the mistakes
Download this exercise (PDF)
Listen to the song, and identify the 15 wrong words in the lyrics. How many can you hear? If you can, try to correct the mistakes!
I never would’ve hitch-hiked to London if it hadn’t been for love Birmingham
I never would’ve caught the bus to Louisiana if it hadn’t been for love
I never would’ve run through the blinding snow
Without one euro to my name
if it hadn’t been, if it hadn’t been for love
I never would’ve seen the problems that I’m in if it hadn’t been for love
I would’ve been flown like a wayward wind if it hadn’t been for love
Nobody knows it better than me
I wouldn’t be wishing I was free
if it hadn’t been, if it hadn’t been for love
Eight cold walls against my will
At least I know he’s lying still
Four cold walls without parole
Lord have mercy on my life
I never would’ve gone to that side of the city if it hadn’t been for love
I never would’ve took a mind to track him down if it hadn’t been for love
I never would’ve loaded up a forty-four
And put myself behind a jailhouse cell
If it hadn’t been, if it hadn’t been for love
Eight cold walls against my will
At least I know he’s lying still
Four cold walls without parole
Lord have mercy on my life
I never would’ve hitch hiked to London if it hadn’t been for love
I never would’ve caught the bus to Louisiana if it hadn’t been for love
I never would’ve loaded up a forty-four
And put myself behind a jailhouse cell
If it hadn’t been, if it hadn’t been for love
AdeleAdele Laurie Blue Adkins, known mononymously as Adele, is an English singer-songwriter. She is known for her mezzo-soprano vocals and sentimental songwriting. Adele has received numerous accolades including 16 Grammy Awards, 12 Brit Awards, an Academy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Golden Globe Award.
Not convinced?
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