Language functions: listening comprehension; reading comprehension; discussing issues

Grammar focus: WOULD

Lesson based on: song by James Blunt – 1973

1973
ST UDENT W OR KSH EET

Who is Ja mes Bl unt?

James Blunt is an English singer and
musician, whose debut album – Back
to Bedlam and number one hit –
You’re Beautiful brought him to fame
in 2005. His style has been described
as a mix of jazz, rock and soul, and
comparisons have been made
between him and early Elton John.

Blount (he changed his name for his music career) was born at a British Army hospital, the son and
grandson of senior army officers. He was sent to board at Elstree School aged seven, and at thirteen was
accepted into Harrow School. While there, and aged only sixteen, he became one of the youngest holders
of a UK Private Pilot Licence. He read aeronautical engineering at Bristol University on an army bursary,
which required him to enlist on graduation. He joined the Life Guards the senior regiment in the British
Army. During his four years service he was promoted to Captain with the British Army and served as a
NATO peacekeeper in Kosovo, one of the first to enter those areas where war crimes had been
committed. It was this experience that led to his writing of the song "No Bravery". After his tour of duty in
Kosovo he was sent to Switzerland where he became the captain of the Household Cavalry downhill ski
team. One of his final duties in the army before retirement was the funeral of the Queen Mother on April 9,
2002, where he carried her coffin.

Withing a year of leaving the army, Blunt signed to EMI Music Publishing as a singer/songwriter, but
recorded his first album – Back to Bedlam in Los Angeles with produce Tom Rothrock. Blunt’s third single
– You’re Beautiful was his breakout hit. The song rose to the number 1 position six weeks after its debut.
After the success of You’re Beautiful in the UK, the song became a big summer hit in Europe and the U.S,
eventually climbing to number 1 on the U.S. Hot 100.

www.english-4U.com: SEPTEMBER 2007 1

focus on talking
ACTIVITY 1
Read the text on page 1 and discuss the following questions.

• James Blunt was sent to a boarding school (a school where pupils not only study, but also
live during term time) at the age of 7. Every year in Britain, more than 1,000 young children
aged eight and under are sent away to boarding schools. Would you send away your child to
a boarding school, hoping to give him/her a good start in life, or do you believe that
boarding schools are too traumatic for young children and can do them more harm than
good?

• Are boarding schools popular in your country? Why yes/not?

ACTIVITY 2
How much do you remember from the text about James Blunt? Try to answer these
questions not looking at the article again.

1. Which singer/musician has James

Blunt been compared to?

2. What is James Blunt’s real name?

3. What special qualifications did

James Blunt obtain at the age of
16.

4. Why did James Blunt have to join

the army?

5. Where did he serve as a NATO

peacekeeper?

6. Where did James Blunt record his

first album?

7. What was the title of his

breakout hit?

www.english-4U.com: SEPTEMBER 2007 2

focus on listening
ACTIVITY 3
Listen to the song and find what do the following relate to? Don’t read the lyrics at
this point.

1. Simona
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2. 1973
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3. Here we go again
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

ACTIVITY 4
Now, listen again while reading the lyrics. How do you understand the message of
the song?

1973 by James Blunt

Simona
You're getting older
Your journey's been
Etched on your skin
Simona
Wish I had known that
What seemed so strong
Has been and gone
I would call you up every
Saturday night
And we both stayed out 'til the
morning light
And we sang, "Here we go
again"
And though time goes by
I will always be
In a club with you
In 1973
Singing "Here we go again"
Simona
Wish I was sober
So I could see clearly now
The rain has gone
Simona
I guess it's over
My memory plays our tune
The same old song
I would call you up everyday
Saturday night
And we both stayed out 'til the
morning light
And we sang, "Here we go
again"
And though time goes by
I will always be
In a club with you
In 1973
Singing "Here we go again"
I would call you up every
Saturday night
And we both stayed out 'til the
morning light
And we sang, "Here we go
again"
And though time goes by
I will always be
In a club with you
In 1973
Singing "Here we go again"
I would call you up every
Saturday night
And we both stayed out 'til the
morning light
And we sang, "Here we go
again"
And though time goes by
I will always be
In a club with you
In 1973
Singing "Here we go again"
And though time goes by
I will always be
In a club with you
In 1973

www.english-4U.com: SEPTEMBER 2007 3

focus on gra mma r

“I would call you up every Saturday night”

• Is the sentence above about the future or the past?

• What does the sentence mean?

We use WOULD + INFINITIVE to talk about about our past habits.

However, we can only use this structure when the verb is
expressing a repeated action not a state.
I would get up at six o’clock every day when I was a student. – CORRECT
I would live in Paris when I was a student. - WRONG

ACTIVITY 5
Verb WOULD is used quite often in English. Please match each sentence with the
appropriate use of WOULD.

She said she would visit me next month.

He was angry because I wouldn’t give him money.
What would you do if I asked you to marry me?
Would you buy something for me?
At that time I met a woman whom I would marry one day.
If you would sit here, I’ll see if the director is in his office.

1. WOULD in conditional sentences

2. WOULD used to talk about a past action which had not yet happened at the time we are
talking about
3. WOULD as a more polite alternative to WILL after IF
4. WOULD in requests
5. WOULDN’T expressing past refusals
6. WOULD in reported speech

www.english-4U.com: SEPTEMBER 2007 4