Donnie Iris – Joking

To practise: Reported speech
Band/singer:

This song comes with a worksheet to use in the classroomPractice reported speech in your ESL class with this song, Joking by Donnie Iris. These song lyrics use quite a lot of reported speech: “asked” (x2), “said” (x5) & “told” (x3).

There is a suggestion on how to use this song in your ESL classes below, but for more ideas, click here.

YouTube player

Lyrics

Remember last night when we were through with dinner
We watched the television lying on your bed
The lights were low and the wine went to your head
When you asked me if I still respect you
Remember when you told me this was your first time

So you wanted everything to be just right
And so I told you that I really loved you
I even said that I would marry you

But I was joking
I hope you realize
Baby Baby I was
Joking
Telling you those lies
J-j-j-joking
I was talking out my head
Joking
Don’t believe a word I said
All I wanted was little bit of…

Remember when you looked at me and said how was it
Remember when you asked if I was satisfied
And I said you were the best I ever had
Remember when I said that this was just like heaven
Remember when I said that this was ecstacy
And I never knew how kinky you could be
I told you you were beautiful
I told you I’d never leave you babe

But I was joking
I hope you realize
Joking
Telling you those lies
J-j-j-joking
Talking out my head
Joking
Don’t believe a word I said
Cause I all I wanted was a little bit

But I was joking
Messing up your head yeah
Joking
Don’t believe a word I said
J-j-j-joking
I hope you realize
Joking
Telling you those lies
Cause I all I wanted was a little bit
But I was joking
Talking out my head
Joking

Suggested activity: fill the gaps

Download this exercise (PDF)

Fill the gaps in the lyrics with the following expressions in reported speech:

  • I even said that I would marry you
  • you told me this was your first time
  • you asked me if I still respect you
  • I told you that I really loved you
  • I told you you were beautiful
  • I said that this was just like heaven
  • you asked if I was satisfied
  • I told you I’d never leave you babe
  • I said you were the best I’d ever had
  • I said that this was ecstasy

Remember last night when we were through with dinner
We watched the television lying on your bed
The lights were low and the wine went to your head
Remember when 1_______________________________________
Remember when 2_______________________________________
So you wanted everything to be just right
And so 3_______________________________________
4_______________________________________

Chorus:
But I was joking
I hope you realize, baby, baby
Joking
Telling you those lies
J-j-j-joking
I was talking out my head
Joking
Don’t believe a word I said
All I wanted was a little bit of…

Remember when you looked at me and said “how was it?”
Remember when 5_______________________________________
And 6_______________________________________
Remember when 7_______________________________________
Remember when 8_______________________________________
And I never knew how kinky you could be
9_______________________________________
10_______________________________________

Can you put the conversation into direct speech?

Donnie IrisAmerican rock musician

Donnie Iris is an American rock musician known for his work with the Jaggerz and Wild Cherry during the 1970s, and for his solo career beginning in the 1980s with his band, the Cruisers. He wrote the #2 Billboard hit, “The Rapper”, with the Jaggerz in 1970 and was a member of Wild Cherry after the group had a #1 hit with “Play That Funky Music.” He also achieved fame as a solo artist in the early 1980s with the #29 hit “Ah! Leah!” and the #37 hit “Love Is Like a Rock.”

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