John Lennon – Jealous guy

To practise: Past continuous, Past Tenses
Band/singer: ,

This song comes with a worksheet to use in the classroomPractice the past continuous in your ESL class with this song, Jealous Guy by John Lennon. The lyrics of this song include the following 7 examples of the past continuous: I was dreaming, my heart was beating, I was feeling, I was shivering, I was trying, you was (sic) trying, I was swallowing

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 was dreaming of the past
And my heart was beating fast
I began to lose control
I began to lose control
I didn’t mean to hurt you
I’m sorry that I made you cry
Oh my I didn’t want to hurt you
I’m just a jealous guy

I was feeling insecure
You might not love me anymore
I was shivering inside
I was shivering inside
Oh I didn’t mean to hurt you
I’m sorry that I made you cry
Oh my I didn’t want to hurt you
I’m just a jealous guy

I didn’t mean to hurt you
I’m sorry that I made you cry
Oh my I didn’t want to hurt you
I’m just a jealous guy

I was trying to catch your eyes
Thought that you was trying to hide
I was swallowing my pain
I was swallowing my pain
I didn’t mean to hurt you
I’m sorry that I made you cry
Oh no I didn’t want to hurt you
I’m just a jealous guy
Watch out baby I’m just a jealous guy
Look out baby I’m just a jealous guy

Suggested activity: fill the gaps

Download this exercise (PDF)

Listen to the song, and put the verbs (in brackets) in the correct tense, either the past simple or the past continuous.

I 1_______________ (dream) of the past
And my heart 2_______________ (beat) fast
I 3_______________ (begin) to lose control
I 4_______________ (begin) to lose control

Chorus
I 5_______________ (not mean) to hurt you
I’m sorry that I 6_______________ (make) you cry
Oh my I 7_______________ (not want) to hurt you
I’m just a jealous guy

I 8_______________ (feel) insecure
You might not love me anymore
I 9_______________ (shiver) inside
I 10_______________ (shiver) inside

Chorus

Chorus

I 11_______________ (try) to catch your eyes
(I) 12_______________ (think) that you was trying to hide
I 13_______________ (swallow) my pain
I 14_______________ (swallow) my pain

Chorus

Watch out baby I’m just a jealous guy
Look out baby I’m just a jealous guy

John LennonEnglish musician and member of the Beatles (1940–1980)

John Winston Ono Lennon was an English singer, songwriter and musician. He gained worldwide fame as the founder, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the Beatles. His work included music, writing, drawings and film. His songwriting partnership with Paul McCartney remains the most successful in history as the primary songwriters in the Beatles.

Not convinced?

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

  1. Alan Smith Robertson Alan Smith Robertson – Alien Superstar

    Practise narrative tenses in the ESL classroom with this fun song, Alien Superstar by Alan Smith Robertson. These song lyrics include 12 examples of narrative tenses; six examples of the past continuous…

  2. Celine Dion – Because you loved me

    Practice the past simple (especially irregular verbs) in your ESL class with this song, Because you loved me by Celine Dion. The 14 irregular verbs which appear in these song lyrics are: stood, made,…

  3. Queen – We are the champions

    Practice the present perfect tense in your ESL class with this song, We are the Champions by Queen. These song lyrics include 7 examples of the present perfect simple: “I’ve paid”, “I’ve done”, “I’ve made”,…

  4. Mariah Carey – All my life

    Practice the present perfect continuous in your ESL class with this song, All My Life by Mariah Carey. These song lyrics include 6 examples of the present perfect continuous: “I’ve been waiting/wishing/praying/taking”,…

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

    Practice 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:…

  6. 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…

  7. Amy Studt – Testify

    Practice the present perfect continuous in your ESL class with this song, Testify by Amy Studt. These song lyrics include 5 examples of the present perfect continuous, and 3 examples of the…

  8. Elvis Presley – Return to Sender

    Practice irregular verbs in the past simple in your ESL class with this song, Return to Sender by Elvis Presley. There is 1 regular verb and 7 irregular verbs in this song:…

  9. Alan Smith Robertson Alan Smith Robertson – Gimme some Love

    Practice the prepositions ON, AT & IN with expressions of time with this fun song, Gimme some Love by Alan Smith Robertson. This song’s lyrics include 12 examples of the prepositions on,…

  10. The Kinks – Come Dancing

    Practice used to and would with this song, Come Dancing by The Kinks. These song lyrics include 7 examples of “used to” and 8 examples of “would” meaning “used to”, as well…

  11. Eagles – Hotel California

    Revise multiple tenses, but especially the past simple in your ESL class with this song, Hotel California by Eagles. These song lyrics include 29 different verbs in 6 different tenses: There is a suggestion…

  12. Justin Bieber – Love yourself

    Practice past simple verbs in your ESL class with this song, Love yourself by Justin Bieber. There are 12 different verbs in the simple past tense in this song (8 of which…