Michael Jackson – What more can I give?

To practise: How many, Interrogative, Questions
Band/singer:

Practice interrogatives in your ESL class with this song, What More Can I Give? by Michael Jackson & Friends.

These song lyrics include 11 examples of questions: “how many… will…”, “how many times…”, “what have I got…”, “what more can…” & “why do…”.

To see suggestions on how to use this song in class, click here.

YouTube player

Lyrics

How many people will have to die before we will take a stand?
How many children will have to cry before we do all we can?
If sending your love is all you can give to help one live

How many times can we turn our heads and pretend we cannot see?
Healing the wounds of our broken earth we are one global family
Just sending your prayers is something you’ll feel, helping one heal

What have I got that I can give?
(What have I got that I can give? Tell me)
What have I got that I can give?
To love and to teach you
To hold and to need you
What more can I give?

Say the words
I’ll lay me down for you
Just call my name
I am your friend
See, then why do they keep teaching us such hate and cruelty?
We should give over and over again

What have I got that I can give?
(We should give over and over again!)
What have I got that I can give?
(Oh my god, oh my god)
To love and to teach you
To hold and to need you
What more can I give?

Michael JacksonAmerican singer (1958–2009)

Michael Joseph Jackson was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the “King of Pop“, he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Over a four-decade career, his contributions to music, dance, and fashion, along with his publicized personal life, made him a global figure in popular culture. Jackson influenced artists across many music genres. Through stage and video performances, he popularized street dance moves such as the moonwalk, which he named, and the robot.

Not convinced?

Try one of these songs below, that practise the same grammar or vocabulary as this one:

  1. Shakin’ Stevens – Yes, I do

    Practice basic level yes/no questions and short answers in your ESL class with this song, Yes, I do by Shakin’ Stevens. The interrogatives which appear in these song lyrics are: “is it…”,…

  2. Shania Twain – Whose bed have your boots been under?

    Practice the present perfect simple tense and/or the interrogative with the question word “whose” in your ESL class with this song, Whose bed have your boots been under? by Shania Twain. You can find the following…

  3. Pink Floyd – Mother

    Practice the interrogative and/or reported speech in your ESL class with this song, Mother by Pink Floyd. The questions that appear in these song lyrics are: do you…, should I…, will they…,…

  4. The Bee Gees – How can you mend a broken heart?

    Practice questions and the modal verbs can & could in your ESL class with this song, How Can you Mend a Broken Heart? by the Bee Gees. The questions, repeated several times,…

  5. Marvin Gaye – How deep is the ocean?

    Practice the “how + adjective” question word interrogative in your ESL class with this song, How deep is the ocean? by Marvin Gaye. These song lyrics include 5 examples of questions with the “how”…

  6. Slade – Merry Christmas Everybody

    Practice questions in your ESL class with this Christmas song, Merry Christmas Everybody by Slade. These song lyrics include 10 examples of the interrogative in the present continuous (are you hanging…? are…

  7. ABBA – The name of the game

    Practice questions in your ESL class with this song, The Name of the Game by ABBA. These song lyrics include a lot of examples of the interrogative following these patterns: “what is…”,…

  8. The Bangles – Eternal Flame

    Practice questions in your ESL class with this song, Eternal Flame by The Bangles. These song lyrics include often repeated examples of the interrogative in the present simple following these four patterns:…

  9. Thomas F. Wilson – The Question Song

    If your students are fans of the movie Back to the Future then practice questions in your ESL class with this song, The Question Song by Thomas F. Wilson (Biff Tanner in…

  10. Alan Smith Robertson Alan Smith Robertson – How Many Fools

    “How Many Fools” is a song written for English teachers to use in the ESL classroom to practise the interrogative, and more specifically, subject questions and it comes with an easy-to-use worksheet!…

  11. Alan Smith Robertson Alan Smith Robertson – Come back home

    “Come back home” is a song written for English teachers to use in the ESL classroom to practise the interrogative and it comes with an easy-to-use worksheet! This song contains 17 questions…

  12. Bob Dylan – Blowing in the Wind

    Practice the modal verbs “must” and “can” as well as the interrogative in your ESL class with this classic song, Blowing in the Wind by Bob Dylan. There are 6 examples of…