ESLSongs

Practice vocabulary related to “the weather” with this classic song, I can see clearly now by Johnny Nash. There are 9 examples of weather-related words in this song, whose lyrics are appropriate for lower-level students: blue, bright, clouds, dark, day, rain, rainbow, skies, sunshiny.

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

Lyrics

I can see clearly now the rain has gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind

It’s gonna be a bright, sunshiny day
It’s gonna be a bright, sunshiny day

I think I can make it now the pain has gone
All of the bad feelings have disappeared
Here is that rainbow I’ve been praying for

It’s gonna be a bright, sunshiny day

Look all around, there’s nothing but blue skies
Look straight ahead, there’s nothing but blue skies

I can see clearly now the rain has gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Here is that rainbow I’ve been praying for

It’s gonna be a bright, sunshiny day…

Suggested activity: fill the gaps

Download this exercise (PDF)

Listen to the song and write the word that you hear from the list in the lyrics below: blue, bright, clouds, dark, day, rain, rainbow, skies, sunshiny

I can see clearly now the ¹________________ has gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the ²_______________ that had me blind

It’s gonna be a ³_______________, ⁴_______________ ⁵_______________

I think I can make it now the pain has gone
All of the bad feelings have disappeared
Here is that ⁶_______________ I’ve been praying for

It’s gonna be a ⁷_______________, ⁸_______________ ⁹_______________

Look all around, there’s nothing but ¹⁰_______________
Look straight ahead, there’s nothing but ¹¹_______________

I can see clearly now the ¹²_______________ has gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Here is that ¹³_______________ I’ve been praying for

It’s gonna be a ¹⁴_______________, ¹⁵_______________ ¹⁶_______________

Johnny Nash

John Lester Nash Jr. was an American singer and songwriter, best known in the United States for his 1972 hit “I Can See Clearly Now”. Primarily a reggae and pop singer, he was one of the first non-Jamaican artists to record reggae music in Kingston.