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, musician and political activist. He gained worldwide fame as the founder, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the Beatles. His songwriting partnership with Paul McCartney remains the most successful in history.

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