Practice the perfect modal verb to express past obligation “should have” in your ESL class with this song, More Love by Al Jarreau.
The lyrics of this song include the following 4 examples of this modal verb repeated in the chorus: should have listened, should have been, should have touched & should have had” as well as 2 examples of “could have”.
To see suggestions on how to use this song in class, click here.
Lyrics
I should have listened more and listened well
I should have been your shelter in the rain
I should have touched you more and held you closer
‘Til I felt it melt your quiet pain
Should have had more time to spare for you
Should have been there for you, to care for you
with more love, more love
I could have given you the gifts I threw to total strangers
passing through my nights
I could have cuddled near your gentle flame
been warmer there than in these glaring lights
Should have had more time to spare for you
should have been there for you, to care for you
with more love, more love, more love
What would it have taken
if I only could have taken my eyes off me for a while
I’d have seen the hurting, hiding just behind the curtain of your smile
oh, I swear I didn’t know, which goes to show
How long it takes a man to be a man
but if I say enough
and try enough
and pray enough
and cry enough
I can still can
have more time to spare for you
always be there for you, to care for you
with more love, more love, more love needed just more love.
Al JarreauAlwin Lopez Jarreau was an American singer and songwriter. His 1981 album Breakin’ Away spent two years on the Billboard 200 and is considered one of the finest examples of the Los Angeles pop and R&B sound. The album won Jarreau the 1982 Grammy for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. In all, he won seven Grammy Awards and was nominated for over a dozen more during his career.
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