Sing along with Wilco!

 It's been already three months since I made my way back to my hometown from Madrid, and until I find a home for a new life, I'm living in my parents' house.

Going back to your old bedroom brings back memories and stories that once were lived and dreamt there. One of them was that of translating the lyrics of the songs that I loved (please don't ask me of which bands) a task that made me enjoy learning English and, actually, I have made a living out of it.

When I'm asked how I achieved such a command of the English language, I always say that I've never studied English, but that I have just loved every single moment I've spent reading, listening and speaking this language.

I'm pretty sure that many of you have loved listening to music since you were very small and that you have never developed such a passion for languages, but maybe, you can find through this new post a new passion that makes you improve your English a little bit.

So, let's start having fun with Wilco today, with this song I ABSOLUTELY LOVE!

These are the instructions for the task:

1. Listen to the song playing it on the video you will find below.

2. Listen to the song again while you read the lyrics.

3. Note down all those words you don't know (you will find a vocabulary section below).

4. Have a look at those words or expressions in red and form a new sentence with them.

5. Send them to me by replying to the post if you would like me to correct them.

6. Have fun and sing along!

SONG 1: WILCO - JESUS, ETC.

Jesus, don't cry

you can rely on me honey

you can combine anything you want

I'll be around

you were right about the stars

each one is a setting sun

tall buildings shake

voices escape singing sad sad songs

tuned to chords strung down your cheeks

bitter melodies turning your orbit around

don't cry

you can rely on me honey

you can come by any time you want

I'll be around

you were right about the stars

each one is a setting sun

tall buildings shake

voices escape singing sad sad songs

tuned to chords strung down your cheeks

bitter melodies turning your orbit around

voices whine

skyscrapers are scraping together

your voice is smoking

last cigarettes are all you can get

turning your orbit around

our love

our love

our love is all we have

our love

our love is all of God's money

everyone is a burning sun

tall buildings shake

voices escape singing sad sad songs

tuned to chords strung down your cheeks

bitter melodies turning your orbit around

voices whine

skyscrapers are scraping together

your voice is smoking

last cigarettes are all you can get

turning your orbit around

last cigarettes are all you can get

turning your orbit around

last cigarettes are all you can get

turning your orbit around

Key Vocabulary:

to rely on = confiar en

to be right about = tener razón

to be around = estar a tu lado

all we have = todo lo que tenemos

Honey = cariño

Setting sun = Sol poniente

Shake = temblar 

Chords = acordes

Cheeks = mejillas

Bitter = amarga

Whine = quejarse

Burning = quemarse

Now it’s your turn, form new sentences with the words in red! And if you need some help, I’ll be around!

The Six Wives of Henry VIII

Today, we're going to learn about The Tudors, mainly about the gossipy story of Henry VIII and his six wives. King Henry VIII is a key character for England's history because he broke relationships with the Catholic Church to be able to divorce his first wife. Let's have a quick look at who's who during this Tudor area.

According to the BBC's history channel, he's one of the most famous Kings in England's history. But why?

Born on 1491, he's the second son of King Henry VII and Elizabeth of York. It was his older brother Arthur who was meant to be king, but after his death shortly after getting married to Catherine of Aragon he was heir to the throne of England. 

But who did Henry VIII marry? Have a look! 

Yes, you're right! She is his dead brother's wife Catherine of Aragon! 

Apparently, Arthur and Catherine's marriage was arranged since they were little and she was meant to be the Queen of England. She couldn't be Queen with Arthur, but she became Queen with Henry VIII. 

Mary I was born from this first marriage, but they had lots of problems to have children, and Catherine went through several miscarriages. Henry VIII was convinced that all these disgraces happened because he shouldn't have married his brother's widow. 

How do you think the story ended? In divorce!

It was because of her that he broke with the Catholic Church after the Pope's continuous refusals to annul their marriage.  But, what did he do then to get divorce from Catherine of Aragon?  He demanded the clergy to recognise him as the sole protector and supreme head of the Church of England. This way, his religious authority was above the Pope's and he managed to introduce several acts among which was the one of divorce, introducing this reform to the Church of England. 

And this is the moment when Queen Catherine of Aragon became Henry VIII's fist ex-wife. She died shortly after. 

In the next post we will continue discovering more information about his wives in this TV-soap look-alike story.

See you soon and I hope you have enjoyed today's post.