Elvis Presley – Return to Sender

To practise: Irregular verbs, Past simple, Past Tenses

Band/singer: Elvis Presley
Practice irregular verbs in the past simple in your ESL class with this song, Return to
Sender by Elvis Presley. There is 1 regular verb and 7 irregular verbs in this
song: dropped, gave, put, brought, wrote, had, sent & came
There is a suggestion on how to use this song in your ESL classes below, but for more
ideas, click here.

Lyrics
I gave a letter to the postman,
he put it his sack.
But in early next morning,
he brought my letter back.

She wrote upon it:

Return to sender, address unknown.
No such number, no such zone.
We had a quarrel, a lover’s spat
I write I’m sorry but my letter keeps coming back.

So then I dropped it in the mailbox

And sent it special D.
But in early next morning
it came right back to me.

She wrote upon it:

Return to sender, address unknown.
No such number, no such zone.

This time I’m gonna take it myself

and put it right in her hand.
And if it comes back the very next day
then I’ll understand the writing on it

Return to sender, address unknown.

No such person, no such zone.

Suggested activity: fill the gaps

Download this exercise (PDF)
Put the verbs (in brackets) in the past simple, then listen to the song to check.

I 1_______________ (give) a letter to the postman,

he 2_______________ (put) it his sack.
But in early next morning he 3_______________ (bring) my letter back.
She 4_______________ (write) upon it:
Return to sender, address unknown
No such number, no such zone
We 5_______________ (have) a quarrel, a lover’s spat
I write I’m sorry but my letter keeps coming back.
So then I 6_______________ (drop) it in the mailbox,
and 7_______________ (send) it special D*
But in early next morning it 8_______________ (come) right back to me.
She 9_______________ (write) upon it:
Return to sender, address unknown.
No such number, no such zone.
This time I’m going to take it myself
and put it right in her hand.
And if it comes back the very next day
then I’ll understand the writing on it

Return to sender, address unknown.

No such person, no such zone.

* Special D = special delivery

Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley, often referred to mononymously as Elvis, was an American
singer, actor and Sergeant in the United States Army. Dubbed the “King of Rock and
Roll”, he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century.
His energized interpretations of songs and sexually provocative performance style,
combined with a singularly potent mix of influences across color lines during a
transformative era in race relations, led him to both great success and initial
controversy.
John Lennon – Jealous guy
To practise: Past continuous, Past Tenses
Band/singer: John Lennon, The Beatles
Practice the past continuous in your ESL class with this song, Jealous Guy by John
Lennon. The lyrics of this song include the following 7 examples of the past
continuous: I was dreaming, my heart was beating, I was feeling, I was shivering, I was
trying, you was (sic) trying, I was swallowing
There is a suggestion on how to use this song in your ESL classes below, but for more
ideas, click here.

Lyrics
I was dreaming of the past
And my heart was beating fast
I began to lose control
I began to lose control
I didn’t mean to hurt you
I’m sorry that I made you cry
Oh my I didn’t want to hurt you
I’m just a jealous guy

I was feeling insecure

You might not love me anymore
I was shivering inside
I was shivering inside
Oh I didn’t mean to hurt you
I’m sorry that I made you cry
Oh my I didn’t want to hurt you
I’m just a jealous guy

I didn’t mean to hurt you

I’m sorry that I made you cry
Oh my I didn’t want to hurt you
I’m just a jealous guy

I was trying to catch your eyes

Thought that you was trying to hide
I was swallowing my pain
I was swallowing my pain
I didn’t mean to hurt you
I’m sorry that I made you cry
Oh no I didn’t want to hurt you
I’m just a jealous guy
Watch out baby I’m just a jealous guy
Look out baby I’m just a jealous guy

Suggested activity: fill the gaps

Download this exercise (PDF)
Listen to the song, and put the verbs (in brackets) in the correct tense, either the past
simple or the past continuous.
I 1_______________ (dream) of the past
And my heart 2_______________ (beat) fast
I 3_______________ (begin) to lose control
I 4_______________ (begin) to lose control
Chorus
I 5_______________ (not mean) to hurt you
I’m sorry that I 6_______________ (make) you cry
Oh my I 7_______________ (not want) to hurt you
I’m just a jealous guy
I 8_______________ (feel) insecure
You might not love me anymore
I 9_______________ (shiver) inside
I 10_______________ (shiver) inside
Chorus
Chorus
I 11_______________ (try) to catch your eyes
(I) 12_______________ (think) that you was trying to hide
I 13_______________ (swallow) my pain
I 14_______________ (swallow) my pain
Chorus
Watch out baby I’m just a jealous guy
Look out baby I’m just a jealous guy

John Lennon
John Winston Ono Lennon was an English singer, songwriter, musician and peace
activist who achieved worldwide fame as founder, co-songwriter, co-lead vocalist and
rhythm guitarist of the Beatles. Lennon’s work was characterised by the rebellious
nature and acerbic wit of his music, writing and drawings, on film, and in interviews.
His songwriting partnership with Paul McCartney remains the most successful in
history.