U2 – I still haven’t found what I’m looking for

To practise: Past Tenses, Present perfect, Present perfect simple
Band/singer:

This song comes with a worksheet to use in the classroomPractice the present perfect in your ESL class with this song, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For by U2.

The 8 different examples of the present perfect in this song are: “I have climbed / I have run / I have crawled / I have scaled / I still haven’t found / I have kissed… felt… / I have spoken / I have held”

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

YouTube player

Lyrics

I have climbed the highest mountains
I have run through the fields
Only to be with you
Only to be with you

I have run I have crawled
I have scaled these city walls
These city walls
Only to be with you
But I still haven’t found what I’m looking for
But I still haven’t found what I’m looking for

I have kissed honey lips
Felt the healing in the fingertips
It burned like fire
This burning desire
I have spoke with the tongue of angels
I have held the hand of a devil
It was warm in the night
I was cold as a stone
But I still haven’t found what I’m looking for
But I still haven’t found what I’m looking for

I believe in the Kingdom come
Then all the colors will bleed into one
Bleed into one
But yes I’m still running
You broke the bonds and you
You loosened the chains
You carried the cross
Of my shame
Oh my shame
You know I believe it
But I still haven’t found what I’m looking for
But I still haven’t found what I’m looking for

Suggested activity: fill the gaps

Download this exercise (PDF)

Put the verbs in brackets into the correct form of the present perfect simple. Then listen to the song to check.

I 1_______________ (climb) the highest mountains
I 2_______________ (run) through the fields
Only to be with you
Only to be with you

I 3_______________ (run) I 4_______________ (crawl)
I 5_______________ (scale) these city walls
These city walls
Only to be with you

But I still 6_______________ (not find) what I’m looking for

I 7_______________ (kiss) honey lips
Felt the healing in the fingertips
It burned like fire
This burning desire
I 8_______________ (speak) with the tongue of angels
I 9_______________ (hold) the hand of a devil
It was warm in the night
I was cold as a stone

But I still 10_______________ (not find) what I’m looking for

I believe in the Kingdom come
Then all the colors will bleed into one
Bleed into one
But yes I’m still running
You broke the bonds and you
You loosened the chains
You carried the cross
Of my shame
Oh my shame
You know I believe it

But I still 11_______________ (not find) what I’m looking for

U2Irish rock band

U2 are an Irish rock band formed in Dublin in 1976. The group consists of Bono, the Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr.. Initially rooted in post-punk, U2’s musical style has evolved throughout their career, yet has maintained an anthemic quality built on Bono’s expressive vocals and the Edge’s chiming, effects-based guitar sounds. Bono’s lyrics, often embellished with spiritual imagery, focus on personal and sociopolitical themes. Popular for their live performances, the group have staged several elaborate tours over their career.

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