Song Don't Worry, Be Happy by Bobby McFerrin Language Translation by *********************** Link: 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. Translators: If you type inside of the asterisks (****Твои уши ***) the format is captured If you are having problems with a word or phrase highlight it and I will add some ideas. NOTE please leave English line size as 10pt and bold, translation should be 8pt and grey 1 Here's a little song | I wrote *******George******** 2 You might want to sing it | note for note *****is*********** 3 Don't worry, | be happy ********my******** 4 In every life | we have some trouble *******favorite********* 5 But | when you worry | you make it double ******coach********** 6 Don't worry, be happy | Don't worry, be happy now **********ever****** 7 (Refrain) **************** 8 Oo, oo-oo-oo, Don't worry **************** 9 Oo-oo-oo-oo-Be happy **************** 10 Oo-oo-oo-oo-Don't worry, | be happy **************** ---------------------------------------------------------11 (Refrain) **************** 12 Ain't got no place | to lay your head **************** 13 Somebody came | and took your bed **************** 14 Don't worry, | be happy **************** 15 The landlord say | your rent is late **************** 16 He may have to litigate **************** 17 Don't worry, | be happy **************** 18 Look at me, | I'm happy ****************19 (Refrain) **************** 20 Give you | my phone number **************** 21 When you worry, | call me, | I make you happy **************** 22 (Refrain) **************** 23 Ain't got no cash, | ain't got no style **************** 24 Ain't got no gal | to make you smile **************** 25 But don't worry, | be happy **************** 26 'Cause | when you worry, | your face will frown **************** 27 And that will bring everybody down **************** 28 So don't worry, | be happy **************** 29 Don't worry, be happy now **************** 30 (Refrain X2 & ad lib) **************** Note: The underlined words are non-standard English. Here are some notes (by line number) about them: 12 ain't got no -slang, proper form = I haven't got any 15 say -slang, proper word is says 16 litigate -uncommon term, it means to seek a judgement through legal avenues, e.g. go to court 20 give you -slang, proper form = I'll give you 21 I make -slang, proper form = I'll make 23, 24 ain't got no -slang, proper form = I haven't got any 26 'cause -poetic contraction for because 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. 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 Step 3 Complete exercise 1 (below) filling in the missing words. Exercise 1. Fill in the blanks Here's a ________ ________ I wrote You might want to sing it ________ for ________ Don't worry, be happy In every ________ we have some troubleBut when you worry you make it ________ Don't worry, be happy Don't worry, be happy now Ain't got no ________ to lay your ________ Somebody came and took your ________ Don't worry, be happy The ________ say your ________ is late He may have to litigate Don't worry, be happy Look at me, I'm happy Give you my ________ ________ When you worry, call me, I make you happy Ain't got no ________ , ain't got no ________ Ain't got no ________ to make you smile But don't worry, be happy 'Cause when you worry, your ________ will frown And that will bring ________ down So don't worry, be happy Don't worry, be happy now 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. 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 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) Here's a ________ ________ I wrote You might want to sing it ________ for ________ Don't worry, be happy In every ________ we have some trouble But when you worry you make it ________ Don't worry, be happy Don't worry, be happy now Ain't got no ________ to lay your ________ Somebody came and took your ________ Don't worry, be happy The ________ say your ________ is late He may have to litigate Don't worry, be happy Look at me, I'm happy Give you my ________ ________ When you worry, call me, I make you happy Ain't got no ________ , ain't got no ________ Ain't got no ________ to make you smile But don't worry, be happy'Cause when you worry, your ________ will frown And that will bring ________ down So don't worry, be happy Don't worry, be happy now 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 What did you write? A little song. What makes a song little? Maybe that it is short, or in this one, simple. 2 What does note for note mean. I think it means to simply mimic it one musical note at a time. 3 Who is worried? Bobby is telling everyone to worry less. Is that his idea? No it is the theme of many common philosophers. Like who? Like Jesus, but lately an Indian sage named Meher Baba. 4 Who has troubles? In every life, we all have troubles. 6 So why not worry over trouble? Because it makes things worse. How much worse? Double or twice as bad. Only double? Yes, because double rhymes with trouble. 13 Why don't you have a place to sleep? Somebody came and took my bed. Really? No silly, we are talking about this song.15 What is rent? The amount of money you agreed to pay for the use of your house or apartment. 16 What happens when someone litigates? It usually means you are taken to court to resolve a dispute. 23 Do I need cash to have style? Being stylish can be very expensive. How expensive? Some people spend all of their money to be considered stylish. What if you are poor? I think that stylish can also be how you present yourself, no matter your possessions. 24 Do gals make you smile? Yes, some women make me smile. What is the song trying to say? Don't worry, be happy. But how is that? He offers to be available to cheer you up. Can he really do that for everyone? He made this song for everyone and I think he does well every time I listen to it. Is this a good song? No, it is a great song. Is it a deep song? Not really, but simple may be much deeper or wiser than we realize. Is George a cool teacher? Oh yes, he believes in the message of this song and shares it with us. How cool is George? Not so much cool as fun, but that is very cool, in my opinion. Then, how is he fun? Look at the last two questions, he is playing with us. Song title: Don't Worry, Be Happy By: Bobby McFerrin Here's a little song I wrote You might want to sing it note for note Don't worry, be happy In every life we have some trouble But when you worry you make it double Don't worry, be happy Don't worry, be happy now (Refrain) Oo, oo-oo-oo, Don't worryOo-oo-oo-oo-Be happy Oo-oo-oo-oo-Don't worry, be happy ---------------------------------------------------------(Refrain) Ain't got no place to lay your head Somebody came and took your bed Don't worry, be happy The landlord say your rent is late He may have to litigate Don't worry, be happy Look at me, I'm happy (Refrain X2 & ad lib) 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/2010/10/26/dont-worry-be-happy/Free MP3 download http://beemp3.com/download.php?file=1276682&song=Don't+Worry+Be+Happy Wikipedia post http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don't_Worry,_Be_Happy YouTube link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9K4BKkLaCI 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