Before class: Print enough lyrics gap-fill sheets for each student.
- Give each student their own lyrics gap-fill sheet.
- Ask them to take 1-2 minutes to look at the song lyrics before listening.
- Play the song and ask students to change the underlined words into shortened slang words. You can choose to provide your students with a word bank. Ex. Trying to “trynna”
- Put students into groups of 2-3 to check answers.
- Project the lyrics gap-fill sheet on the board, and ask students to come to the board to fill in the missing words, or complete write the numbers on the board and ask students to write the answers for each number.
*Online teaching tip: This activity can be easily replicated online. Put students into breakout rooms to check their answers in small groups, and ask students to write their answer for each number in the chat box, or by saying the word aloud.
Be Me
This song was written and produced by Black Alley.
Been climbing 1.___________ up here for a while
Just been trying to 2.______________ change somehow
Because 3._____________ I’m not really who you need me to be
But I learned sometimes it’s just got to 4._____________ be me
It may be hard to take
Because 5.___________ you are not 6._______________ used to seeing me this way
I’m free from your perception
No longer need acceptance
Right now it’s got to 7._____________ be about me
I know I’m not perfect but who is
But I know that I’m worth it
But who gives a perfect performance
And who lives for your endorsement
Not me, not me anymore.
May not like what you hear now
But you are going to 8._____________feel me, you are going to 9.__________ feel me
May not like what you see now
It’s the real me, it’s the real me
You already know who I am its exposed
Are you going to 10._________________ stay or let it go
Either way I’m still going to 11.___________________ be me
I’m starting all over I’m running my own show
Because 12._________________ all I really want to be is for me
With no map, Just me on the open road
May not like what you hear now
But you are going to 13.___________ feel me, you are going to 14.__________ feel me
May not like what you see now
It’s the real me, it’s the real me
You already know
Who I am its exposed
Are you going to 15._________________ stay or let it go
Either way I’m still going to 16.____________________ be me
Answers
- Climin’
- Trynna
- ‘Cuz
- Gotta
- ‘Cuz
- Ain’t
- Gotta
- You gon’
- Gotta
- You gon’
- You gon’
- Gon’
- Gon’
- ‘Cuz
- Gon’
- Gon’