ESLSongs

Practise the imperative in your ESL class with this classic song, Hey Jude by The Beatles.

The lyrics of this song contain 13 examples of both the positive and negative imperative: take, make, remember, refrain, go, get, let it out, let it in, begin, don’t make, don’t be, don’t carry & don’t let me down.

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

Lyrics

Hey Jude, don’t make it bad.
Take a sad song and make it better.
Remember to let her into your heart,
Then you can start to make it better.

Hey Jude, don’t be afraid.
You were made to go out and get her.
The minute you let her under your skin,
Then you begin to make it better.

And anytime you feel the pain, hey Jude, refrain,
Don’t carry the world upon your shoulders.
For well you know that it’s a fool who plays it cool
By making his world a little colder.

Hey Jude, don’t let me down.
You have found her, now go and get her.
Remember to let her into your heart,
Then you can start to make it better.

So let it out and let it in, hey Jude, begin,
You’re waiting for someone to perform with.
And don’t you know that it’s just you, hey Jude, you’ll do,
The movement you need is on your shoulder.

Hey Jude, don’t make it bad.
Take a sad song and make it better.
Remember to let her under your skin,
Then you’ll begin to make it
Better better better better better better, oh.

Na na na nananana, nannana, hey Jude…

Suggested activity: fill the gaps

Download this exercise (PDF)

Listen to the song. Put the words in the list into the affirmative or the negative imperative form of the verb: be, begin, carry, get, go, let (x2), make (x3), refrain, remember (x3) & take (x2)

Hey Jude, ¹__________ it bad.
²__________ a sad song and ³__________ it better.
⁴__________ to let her into your heart,
Then you can start to make it better.

Hey Jude, ⁵__________ afraid.
You were made to go out and get her.
The minute you let her under your skin,
Then you begin to make it better.

And anytime you feel the pain, hey Jude, ⁶__________,
⁷__________  the world upon your shoulders.
For well you know that it’s a fool who plays it cool
By making his world a little colder.

Hey Jude, ⁸__________ me down.
You have found her, now ⁹__________ and ¹⁰__________ her.
¹¹__________ to let her into your heart,
Then you can start to make it better.

So ¹²__________ it out and let it in, hey Jude, ¹³__________,
You’re waiting for someone to perform with.
And don’t you know that it’s just you, hey Jude, you’ll do,
The movement you need is on your shoulder.

Hey Jude, ¹⁴__________ it bad.
¹⁵__________ a sad song and make it better.
¹⁶__________ to let her under your skin,
Then you’ll begin to make it
Better better better better better better, oh.

Na na na nananana, nannana, hey Jude…

The Beatles

The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960, comprising John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the most influential band of all time and were integral to the development of 1960s counterculture and the recognition of popular music as an art form. Rooted in skiffle, beat and 1950s rock ‘n’ roll, their sound incorporated elements of classical music and traditional pop in innovative ways. The band also explored music styles ranging from folk and Indian music to psychedelia and hard rock. As pioneers in recording, songwriting and artistic presentation, the Beatles revolutionized many aspects of the music industry and were often publicized as leaders of the era’s youth and sociocultural movements.