Getting older
a song by Alan Smith Robertson
https://youtu.be/nkAgeVzxixo
Pre-listening activities
• Put the following stages of life in the correct order:
◦ adolescence
◦ middle age
◦ infancy
◦ the senior years / old age
◦ adulthood
◦ childhood
• What stage of life are you in?
◦ Would you like to be older?
◦ Or maybe you wish you were young again?
◦ Are you worried about getting old?
You are going to listen to a song.
Can any of the words or phrases in the lyrics below be substituted with the word “get”?
I rise from bed at seven, I get up at seven
I have to go to school,
And when I arrive there they'll teach me
how to follow the rules
I'm becoming desperate for a girl, when she's around I feel nervous,
I have problems with police, they say my life is worthless.
Now I've aged a little,
I found a job, became married, I bought new digs,
I don't relate well with my girlfriends,
And I can't communicate with my kids.
I think I'm putting on weight and I'm losing my hair,
But I just bought a brand new car so I don't care.
I'm becoming weak, becoming tired,
I'm well past my prime,
I receive a visit from my children,
But only from time to time.
The days are becoming shorter, the days are becoming colder,
My life's coming to an end, it's a weight on my shoulders.
Now listen to check
© 2020, Alan Smith Robertson youtube.com/@ESLSongs
Post-listening activities
The song talks about three stages of life. What are the main elements of each stage mentioned in
the song? Do you agree?
• Childhood / adolescence
• Adulthood / middle age
• Old age
Can you think of any other advantages or disadvantages about being in each stage of life?
From the third verse, what do you think the phrase “I'm past my prime” means?
What time do you get up?
What have you got to do today?
What do you get nervous about?
Are you married? When did you get married? Are you divorced?
Do you get on well with people?
Do you have a car? Maybe a scooter or bicycle? When did you get it?
When was your last birthday? Did you get anything interesting? What about for christmas?
© 2020, Alan Smith Robertson youtube.com/@ESLSongs
Getting older
A song by Alan Smith Robertson, designed to practice uses of the verb “to get”
https://youtu.be/nkAgeVzxixo
Teacher's answer sheet. Length: approximately 40 minutes
notice: Both the song and this worksheet are designed for intermediate level students.
notice: You can and should adapt the exercises according to your students' level.
Pre-listening activities
• Put the following stages of life in the correct order:
◦ adolescence ◦ infancy
◦ middle age ◦ childhood
◦ infancy ◦ adolescence
◦ the senior years / old age ◦ adulthood
◦ adulthood ◦ middle age
◦ childhood ◦ the senior years / old age
• What stage of life are you in?
◦ Would you like to be older? Or maybe you wish you were young again?
◦ Are you worried about getting old?
You are going to listen to a song.
Can any of the words or phrases in the lyrics below be substituted with the word “get”?
Notice: there are a lot of examples of the verb “get” here, so you may want to play the song twice
I get up at seven
I've got to get to school Notice: “I've got to” means “I have to”
And when I get there they'll teach me Notice: “get to school” means “arrive at school”
how to follow the rules
I'm getting desperate for a girl, when she's around I get nervous
I get in trouble with police, they say my life is worthless
Now I've got a little older,
I got a job, got married, I got new digs Notice: “digs” is an informal term for “lodgings”
I don't get on well with my girlfriends
And I can't get through to my kids
I think I'm getting fat and I'm losing my hair
But I just got a brand new car so I don't care
I'm getting weak, getting tired,
I'm well past my prime
I get a visit from my children
But only from time to time
The days are getting shorter, the days are getting colder
My life's coming to an end, it's a weight on my shoulders
© 2020, Alan Smith Robertson youtube.com/@ESLSongs
Post-listening activities
The song talks about three stages of life. What are the main elements of each stage mentioned in
the song? Do you agree?
• Childhood / adolescence
You get up early
You have to go to school
You have problems relating to girls
Because you are rebellious, you have problems with authority (like the police)
• Adulthood / middle age
You get a job
You get married
You buy a house (with a mortgage)
You still have problems in your personal relationships
And now you have rebellious children who you find it hard to communicate with
You also start to put on weight
You go bald
However, you also have financial freedom so you can buy things like cars
• Old age
You start to feel weak and tired
Your children ignore you
You start to worry about death
Can you think of any other advantages or disadvantages about being in each stage of life?
Here are some examples:
• Childhood / adolescence
In puberty your body is changing; this can be scary. You have time and energy, but no
money. Nobody listens to you
• Adulthood / middle age
You have no time; your work takes over your life. You worry about money.
You're more independant and you have more freedom.
• Old age
You have LOTS of free time.
You get discounts; going to the public swimming pool or going by bus is cheaper.
You worry about your health; your sight, your hearing, your muscles... etc.
There are also mental and emotional changes.
Elderly people experience the death of friends and loved ones more often
From the third verse, what do you think the phrase “I'm past my prime” means?
To be beyond the peak of one's powers. To be losing mental and physical strength.
What time do you get up?
What have you got to do today?
What do you get nervous about?
Are you married? When did you get married? Are you divorced?
Do you get on well with people?
Do you have a car? Maybe a scooter or bicycle? When did you get it?
When was your last birthday? Did you get anything interesting? What about for christmas?
© 2020, Alan Smith Robertson youtube.com/@ESLSongs
