First Conditional Songs


There are many songs to practice the 2nd Conditional, but not as many for the 1st Conditional. Also known as the future unreal conditional, the 1st conditional is important for students to learn. These two songs are both popular and effective at teaching this conditional. Both choruses use the structure of,

IF + SIMPLE PRESENT, SIMPLE FUTURE

Highlight these sentences for your students to expand on your lessons.

Below are the two videos with lyrics. For online cloze exercises, try these links:


First Conditional Music - If You Don't Know Me
First Conditional Music - If You Tolerate This



Manic Street Preachers - If You Tolerate This





The future teaches you to be alone
The present to be afraid and cold
So if I can shoot rabbits
Then I can shoot fascists

Bullets for your brain today
But we'll forget it all again
Monuments put from pen to paper
Turns me into a gutless wonder

And if you tolerate this
Then your children will be next
And if you tolerate this
Then your children will be next
Will be next
Will be next
Will be next

Gravity keeps my head down
Or is it maybe shame
At being so young and being so vain

Holes in your head today
But I'm a pacifist
I've walked La Ramblas
But not with real intent

And if you tolerate this
Then your children will be next
And if you tolerate this
Then your children will be next
Will be next
Will be next
Will be next
Will be next

And on the street tonight an old man plays
With newspaper cuttings of his glory days

And if you tolerate this
Then your children will be next
And if you tolerate this
Then your children will be next
Will be next
Will be next
Will be next





Simply Red - If You Don't Know Me By Now



If you don't know me by now
You will never never never know me

All the things that we've been through
You should understand me like I understand you
Now girl I know the difference between right and wrong
I ain't gonna do nothing to break up our happy home
Oh don't get so excited when I come home a little late at night
Cos we only act like children when we argue fuss and fight

If you don't know me by now (If you don't know me)
You will never never never know me (No you won't)
If you don't know me by now
You will never never never know me

We've all got our own funny moods
I've got mine, woman you've got yours too
Just trust in me like I trust in you
As long as we've been together it should be so easy to do
Just get yourself together or we might as well say goodbye
What good is a love affair when you can't see eye to eye, oh

If you don't know me by now (If you don't know me)
You will never never never know me (No you won't)
If you don't know me by now (You will never never never know me)
You will never never never know me (ooh)

2 comments:

  1. Thanks for the link!

    I found I'm your man by Leonard Cohen but it's a little slow for my class.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for the idea. I didn't know about that song, but after looking it up, I can see it is a wonderful example.

      I am going to post the lyrics here for anyone who would like to see how it uses the 1st conditional.

      Leonard Cohen
      I'm Your Man


      If you want a lover
      I'll do anything you ask me to
      And if you want another kind of love
      I'll wear a mask for you
      If you want a partner
      Take my hand
      Or if you want to strike me down in anger
      Here I stand
      I'm your man

      If you want a boxer
      I will step into the ring for you
      And if you want a doctor
      I'll examine every inch of you
      If you want a driver
      Climb inside
      Or if you want to take me for a ride
      You know you can
      I'm your man

      Ah, the moon's too bright
      The chain's too tight
      The beast won't go to sleep
      I've been runnin' through, these promises to you
      That I made and I could not keep

      Ah but a man never got a woman back
      Not by beggin' on his knees
      Or I'd crawl to you baby
      And I'd fall at your feet
      And I'd howl at your beauty
      Like a dog in heat
      And I'd claw at your heart
      And I'd tear at your sheet
      I'd say please
      I'm your man

      And if you've got to sleep
      A moment on the road
      I will steer for you
      And if you want to work the street alone
      I'll disappear for you
      If you want a father for your child
      Or only wanna walk with me a while
      Across the sand
      I'm your man

      If you want a lover
      I'll do anything you ask me to
      And if you want another kind of love

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