Karin's ESL PartyLand/Copyright 1999 by Karin M. Cintron/Reproducible for Classroom Use

 

U2: Tryin'  to Throw Your Arms Around the World

Part One: Before You Listen—Discussion Questions

Discuss the following questions with a partner or in a small group:

  1. What do you know about U2? Where are they from? Are they popular in your country? What U2 songs do you know? What is the significance of the name U2?
  2. What is surrealism? Who were some well-known surrealists and what did the.
  3. What does it mean to throw your arms around someone or something? What type of emotion does throwing your arms around something make you think of?

Part Two: Vocabulary

With your group, write one original sentence for each of the following vocabulary words. If you need to, you may use your dictionaries.

  1. Still (adj.)
  2. Nosebleed (n.)
  3. The eye of a needle
  4. Gonna (you won’t find this in your dictionary!)
  5. Warning (n.)
  6. Breathe (v.)
  7. "I guess."

Part Three: Listening

We will listen to the song twice. The first time we listen, close your eyes and try to see a picture of the song in your head. The second time we listen, try to fill in the missing words. One blank space means one word is missing.

Tryin' To Throw Your Arms Around The World

6.00 ____ _____ _____________

You're the last ___ _______ ______ ___________

You've been trying to throw your arms around the world

You've been _____________ _______ _______ ____________

Your _______ move but _________ _________ ________

Tryin' to throw your arms around the world

I'm gonna run to you...run to you… ______ _______

I'm gonna run to you...run to you...woman I will

_________ like a ____________

Your _______ ________ and you ________ __________

You been tryin' to throw you arms around the world

______ ________ ______ _________ ______

Before you ______ ________ _______ __________ _________?

_________ _________ ________ to throw your arms around the world

I'm gonna run to you...run to you...________ _____ ________

I'm gonna run to you...run to you...woman I will

____ _______ ______ ____ ______ Dali

With a supermarket trolley

He _____ ________ to throw ______ _____ _______ a girl

He took an open top beetle

Through _____ eye ____ ____ _________

He _____ _________ ____ ______ his arms around the world

I'm _________ _______ ______ ______ ...run to you...woman be still

I'm _________ run to you...run to you...woman I will

_________ _______ ____ ______ ___ ________

Just _____ _______ _____ _____ ____ _______

Been trying to throw your arms around the world

A _______ _______ _____ man

Like ______ fish _______ _____ ____________

________ ________ tryin' to throw your arms _________ _____ _______

I'm gonna run to you...run to you

I'm gonna run to you...run to you

I'm gonna run to you...run to you

__________ ______ _________..._________ _____ ________

_______ ________... woman be still

__________ _____ _________

(Lyrics copyright 1992 by U2)

Now, get together with your partner or group and compare your answers. Working together, try to find the words you’re still missing. You can ask other students in the class for help. You can also ask to hear the song again.

Part Four: After You Listen—Discussion Questions

After you have all the lyrics, discuss these questions with your partner or group:

  1. What is this song about? Is this a love song? Why or why not?
  2. Usually we say you have to find your way back home. Why do the lyrics to this song say lose your way back home?
  3. According to this song, does a woman need a man?