Song Activity – BUDAPEST by George Ezra

Target audience (age): Ensino Fundamental 2, 8th and 9th grades and Ensino Médio
Aim: having fun by singing the song, getting to know the lyrics, text comprehension
Duration: 50 min
Organization: individual work or in groups (teacher’s choice)
Material: activity worksheet
Preparation: make copies of the worksheet, check the site with the song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHrLPs3_1Fs and analyse the lyrics on
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQ5k_fvscJk
Procedure:
• Warm up students by asking them if they know anything about Budapest (it’s the capital of Hungary
and considered one of the most beautiful cities in Europe).
• Ask students to listen to the song and pay attention to the singer’s accent.

• If possible, watch the video clip with the song on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHrLPs3_1Fs.

Then, listen to the song for a second time on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQ5k_fvscJk , so
students can read the lyrics.
• Hand out the copies of the worksheets.

• Check understanding.

• Ask students to do the exercises and help them if necessary.

• In question 11, talk to the students about the songwriter’s motivation. Ask questions like: “Was that
what you imagined?”, “Do you think inspiration is something logical?”
• Correct the exercises on the board.

Wrap up activity
• Students sing along with the video.

Photocopiable – Teacher’s copy

Song Activity – BUDAPEST – by George Ezra
1. Have you noticed his accent? Where is he from?
His accent is British, he’s from England.
2. What does the composer compare his house in Budapest to?
He compares his house to a treasure chest.
3. What do you think the word castillo means? What language is that?
Castillo means castle in Spanish.
5. What other possessions does he mention along the song? Do you think they’re important for him?
Golden grand piano, acres of land, many artifacts.
6. Why does he say “I’d leave it all”?
Answers may vary, but should include: for his lover, he would leave all the possessions.
7. What phrasal verb would best substitute the verb leave in “I’d leave it all”?
GIVE IN GIVE UP GIVE AWAY GIVE BACK
8. What do his friends and family fear? What does it mean?
They fear that they’d lose too much. It probably means
that they would be away from him if he followed his love.
9. And you, what would you give up for a love?
Answers will vary.
10. Can you think of a story behind this song? Tell it in a few words.
Answers will vary.
11. Read a little about the story of this song according to George Ezra.
Several songs on George Ezra’s debut album relate to a trip he made to Europe where he went
backpacking for a couple of months. However, despite titling this tune after the Hungarian capital, he
never made it to the city. “On that trip, the city of Budapest was the only place I planned to visit that
I didn’t make it to ” he said. “When you look at the song lyrically, it’s just a list of things I have that I’d
give up for somebody.” (Adapted from http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=33087. Accessed on
September 26th, 2015.)

Photocopiable – Teacher’s copy

Song Activity – BUDAPEST – by George Ezra

Name: __________________________________________________________ Date: ____/____/_____

1. Have you noticed his accent? Where is he from?

_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
2. What does the composer compare his house in Budapest to?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
3. What do you think the word castillo means? What language is that?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
5. What other possessions does he mention along the song? Do you think they’re important for him?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
6. Why does he say “I’d leave it all”?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
7. What phrasal verb would best substitute the verb leave in “I’d leave it all”?
GIVE IN GIVE UP GIVE AWAY GIVE BACK
8. What do his friends and family fear? What does it mean?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
9. And you, what would you give up for a love?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
10. Can you think of a story behind this song? Tell it in a few words.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
11. Read a little about the story of this song according to George Ezra.
Several songs on George Ezra’s debut album relate to a trip he made to Europe where he went
backpacking for a couple of months. However, despite titling this tune after the Hungarian capital, he
never made it to the city. “On that trip, the city of Budapest was the only place I planned to visit that
I didn’t make it to” he said. “When you look at the song lyrically, it’s just a list of things I have that I’d
give up for somebody.” (Adapted from http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=33087. Accessed on
September 26th, 2015.)

Photocopiable – Student’s copy