Song Father and Son Language Mandarin
Translation by Yan
Step 1
Get the song mp3 and print this worksheet.
Review song in native language twice to understand general story, try to imagine a short movie in your mind.
1 (Father:) It's not time | to make a change,
现在还不是时候 去做出改变
2 Just relax, | take it easy. 请放松 别紧张
3 You're still young, | that's your fault,
你仍然太年轻 那是你的缺点
4 There's so much | you have to know.
还有很多东西 你需要学习的
5 Find a girl, | settle down,
找个女孩 安定下来
6 If you want | you can marry.
如果你想 那么你可以步入婚姻的殿堂
7 Look at me, | I am old, | but I'm happy.
看着我 我已经老去 但我活得很开心
8 I was once | like you are now, | and I know | that it's not easy,
我也曾经 像你现在一样年轻过 而且我知道 那并不容易
9 To be calm | when you've found something | going on.
冷静下来 当你发现有些事情 正在发生
10 But take your time, | think a lot,
但是给你时间 多想想
11 Why, think of everything | you've got.
为什么，思考一切 你所拥有的
12 For you will still be here tomorrow, | but your dreams may not.
明天你的人依然会在这里 而你的梦却并非如此
13 (Son:) How can I try | to explain, | when I do | he turns away again. 我该怎么 向你解释 事实总是 和意愿背道而驰
14 It's always been the same, | same old story.
历史不断犯着相似的错误 同样的故事正在发生
15 From the moment | I could talk | I was ordered | to listen.
此时此刻 我应该教导你 我也应该 聆听你的倾诉
16 Now there's a way | and I know that | I have to go away.
那不是最好的方式 我知道 是的，我必须走
17 I know | I have to go.
是的 我必须走
18 (Father:) It's not time | to make a change,
现在不是时候 去做出改变
19 Just sit down, | take it slowly. 请坐下 慢慢去找出解决的
20 You're still young, | that's your fault,
你仍然太年轻了 那是你的缺点
21 There's so much | you have to go through.
更多的风雨 你需要去经历和洗礼
22 Find a girl, | settle down,
找个女孩 安定下来
23 if you want | you can marry.
如果你想 那么你可以享受幸福的婚姻
24 Look at me, | I am old, | but I'm happy.
看着我 我老了 但我仍然很高兴
25 (Son:) All the times | that I cried, | keeping all the things I knew inside,
多少次 我曾独自流泪 将这所有的一切深藏心底
26 It's hard, | but it's harder | to ignore it.
这是不容易的 但更难得是 要去忽视它
27 If they were right, | I'd agree, | but it's them they know | not me.
如果那是对的 我将支持你 但你知道 那不是我的想法
28 Now there's a way | and I know | that I have to go away.
但现在该怎么做了 我知道 了 我会离开，自己闯荡
29 I know | I have to go.
是的 我该走了
Note: The underlined words are non-standard English. Here are some notes (by line number) about them: 1 ah – just an idle sound like “uh” to keep song beat 4 ’cause – slang for because 5 no more – double negative ( don’t + no) 6 I got – proper English = I’ve got 11 same double negative 22 So long = good bye
Please feel free to post further questions at the original song posting on www.myeslfriends.com
Step 2
Come to class and recite the English lyrics with your coach.
Circle the words he/she says were not perfect.
Sing the song 25 times carefully mimicking the circled words.
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16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Step 3
Complete exercise 1 (below) filling in the missing words.
Exercise 1. Fill in the blanks
It's not time to make a ____________ Just relax, take it easy. .
You're still ____________ , that's your fault, There's so much you have to know. .
Find a ____________ , settle down, If you want you can marry. .
Look at ____________ , I am ____________ , but I'm happy.
.
I was once like ____________ are now, and I know that it's not ____________ , .
To be ____________ when you've found something going on. .
But take your ____________ , think a lot, .
Why, think of ____________ you've got. For you will still be here tomorrow, but your ____________ may not.
Step 4
Record yourself reading the words and recircle the imperfect words (or class recital).
Sing or speak the words with the mp3 another 25 times but pretend that you are in a movie performing the parts with real people.
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16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Step 5
Complete exercise 2 (below) filling in the missing words with funny and crazy words. It must not make sense. Then read it a few times trying to imagine the new story.
Exercise 2 Fill in new words (nouns + adjectives)
It's not time to make a ____________ Just relax, take it easy. .
You're still ____________ , that's your fault, There's so much you have to know. .
Find a ____________ , settle down, If you want you can marry. .
Look at ____________ , I am ____________ , but I'm happy.
.
I was once like ____________ are now, and I know that it's not ____________ , .
To be ____________ when you've found something going on. .
But take your ____________ , think a lot, .
Why, think of ____________ you've got. For you will still be here tomorrow, but your ____________ may not.
Step 6
Get the Q&A mp3
Come to class and recite the English questions and answers (below) with your coach. Circle the words he/she says were not perfect.
Speak the song and Q&A's 25 times (with the mp3) carefully mimicking the circled words.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Questions and answers (remember to practice simo-speak)
1 Who is saying that it's not time yet?
The father is telling the son.
2 Is he angry with the son?
I don't think so, he seems to be gently advising him.
3 Didn't the father say it was his fault?
In the context, we see that it is not a fault the puts blame on the son.
5 Is the father trying to distract the son?
It would seem so.
7 Why not let the son do as he wishes?
Maybe the father is older and wiser.
But all men wish to go out on their own, it is a natural thing.
Yes and wisdom is not a natural thing for young men.
So how does one get wisdom.
Maybe the start is in listening to wiser men.
13 Why doesn't the father listen to the son?
Maybe it only feels like the father doesn't listen.
15 Can't you feel the frustration in the son's plea?
Oh yes, it is experienced by most young men when they "come of age".
So is rebellion from the father a normal thing?
I am afraid so.
Is it then also good?
I think good can come of it, but no, rebellion is a break in relationship.
How do you think the father feels during the song?
I think he feels ________________________.
What do you think happens to the son?
I think he __________________________________
What is Cat Stevens' name now?
His name is now Yusuf Islam.
Was he always Muslim or did he convert?
He was ____________________________.
Song title: Father and Son
By: Cat Stevens
Father: It's not time to make a change, Just relax, take it easy. You're still young, that's your fault, There's so much you have to know. Find a girl, settle down, If you want you can marry. Look at me, I am old, but I'm happy.
I was once like you are now, and I know that it's not easy, To be calm when you've found something going on. But take your time, think a lot, Why, think of everything you've got. For you will still be here tomorrow, but your dreams may not.
Son: How can I try to explain, when I do he turns away again. It's always been the same, same old story. From the moment I could talk I was ordered to listen. Now there's a way and I know that I have to go away. I know I have to go.
Father: It's not time to make a change, Just sit down, take it slowly. You're still young, that's your fault, There's so much you have to go through. Find a girl, settle down, if you want you can marry. Look at me, I am old, but I'm happy. Son: All the times that I cried, keeping all the things I knew inside, It's hard, but it's harder to ignore it. If they were right, I'd agree, but it's them they know not me. Now there's a way and I know that I have to go away. I know I have to go.
Step 7
Recite (rehearse) questions and answers with a friend.
Step 8
Come to class and participate in conversation about the song. Remember to have some opinions and ideas about why you liked this song.
Karaoke ESL blog post for class recording, additional information and exercises:
http://myeslfriends.com/wordpress/2011/01/27/father-and-son/
Wikipedia post
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Father_and_Son_(song)
YouTube link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q29YR5-t3gg
Classes
all Karaoke ESL classes
http://www.wiziq.com/class/search.aspx?qry=kesl
all by George
http://www.wiziq.com/class/search.aspx?qry=machlan
Home page links:
http://myeslfriends.com/wordpress/category/kesl/
www.myESLfriends.com
Techniques
Left Brain filters and Right Brain learning
Speed (normal or faster)
Simultaneous Repetition (song and simo-speak)
Body Movements (expressions, hands-arms-etc., dance,pantomime)
Passion (feel it, excitement, voice inflection...)
Voice: song, whisper, yell, beat/cadence, sarcasm-funny
Twext (subliminal messages)
Smile (should be enjoyable)
Story think about the word-movie (once upon a time...)
Out LOUD... no benefit to system without using voice
Play (not study) find someone to play together
LET GO!!!! no rules, no pressure, allow right brain to do it's own thing