ESLSongs

Practice adjectives of personality with this song, Don’t try to change me by Alan Smith Robertson.

These song lyrics include 20 adjectives of personality: generous, hardworking, outgoing, strong, reliable, sensitive, perfect, unique, selfish, unsympathetic, lazy, unfriendly, unsociable, bad-tempered, moody, happy, sad, jealous, insecure & stubborn.

This song comes with a worksheet and and is also available on Spotify as well as for download in mp3. To see other suggestions on how to use this song in class, click here.

Lyrics

VERSE 1
She said that she wanted a generous man
Hardworking, outgoing, with family plans
Strong and reliable and sensitive
I told her that man didn’t exist

CHORUS
So don’t try to change the way I am
I know that I’m not perfect and I don’t give a damn
Don’t try to change me, I’m unique
Don’t you try to change me, You won’t succeed

VERSE 2
She said I was selfish, that’s how she began
Unsympathetic, that I don’t understand
She told me I’m lazy, and that I live like a pig
She said I’m unfriendly, an unsociable freak

CHORUS

BRIDGE
Why should I care what others think? What’s the big deal?
Why do you care what they think of me? Why do you worry?

VERSE 3
I told her she wasn’t that much of a catch
Bad-tempered and moody, first she’s happy then sad
I said she was jealous and so insecure
She insisted she wasn’t, ’cause she’s stubborn too

CHORUS

Suggested activity: fill the gaps

Download this exercise (PDF)

Listen to the song, and fill the gaps with the adjectives that you hear: bad-tempered, generous, happy, hardworking, insecure, jealous, lazy, moody, outgoing, perfect, reliable, sad, selfish, sensitive, strong, stubborn, unfriendly, unique, unsociable & unsympathetic

She said that she wanted a _____________ man
_____________, _____________ with family plans
_____________ and _____________ and _____________
I told her that man didn’t exist

CHORUS
So don’t try to change the way I am
I know that I’m not _____________ and I don’t give a damn
Don’t try to change me, I’m _____________
Don’t you try to change me, you won’t succeed

She said I was _____________, that’s how she began
_____________, that I don’t understand
She told me I’m _____________, and that I live like a pig
She said I’m _____________, an _____________ freak

Why should I care what others think? What’s the big deal?
Why do you care what they think of me? Why do you worry?

I told her she wasn’t that much of a catch
_____________ and _____________, first she’s _____________ then _____________
I said she was _____________ and so _____________
She insisted she wasn’t, ’cause she’s _____________ too

If you enjoyed the song or if you think it will be useful for your students at least, remember this song comes with a worksheet and is available on Spotify as well as for download in mp3.