Songs to Learn English: get used to & be used to
How can songs help you learn English? Read this blog post!
Click on the title of each song below to view the video.
Released by the American R&B singer in 1999
Theme: Emotions, Relationships, Daily Life
Expressions: ‘Let’s not be over’ = We should finish our relationship
I Never Get Used to What You Do by Twila Paris
Released by the American Gospel singer in 1996
Theme: Emotions, Religion/Spirituality
Expressions: ‘Take a life beyond redemption’ refers to transforming someone’s life in a positive way. ‘Father of grace and love without end’ = Father refers to God.
I’m Getting Used to You by Selena
Released in 1996 by the Mexican-American singer
Theme: Love, Affection, Emotions, Relationships
Expressions: ‘Gotten to this heart of mine’ = reached my heart. ‘Ain’t no living without loving you’ = I can’t live without loving you.
I Could Get Used to This by Becky Hill & Weiss
Released in 2019 by the British dance/electronic singer and DJ
Expressions: Love, Relationships, Emotions, Communication
Note: ‘If you never try, you’ll never know’; ‘Life ain’t easy as the sayings go’ = common wisdom suggests life isn’t easy.
You Get Used to Somebody by Tim McGraw
Released in 2001 by the American country singer-songwriter
Theme: Relationships, Emotions, Daily Life
Expressions: ‘So-called independence’ – ‘so-called’ indicates that people say this but it may not be true; ‘Rambling conversations’ – disorganised, talking for a long time about nothing very important; ‘Bring you up when you’re feeling down’ – Make you happy when you’re feeling sad’.
Get Used to It by Justin Bieber
Released in 2015 by the Canadian pop singer
Expressions: Relationships, Time, Emotions
Note: ‘Subjected to’ – a formal phrase meaning under the control or influence of; ‘I won’t need your brace’ – I won’t need your comfort or support; ‘Woeing you’ – trying to win your affection/love.
I Could Get Used to This by Everlife
Released in 2007 by the American pop group
Theme: Romance, Appreciation, Daily Life
Expressions: ‘Too good to be true’ – something is so good it is difficult to believe, ‘feeling it coming over me’ – feeling a strong emotional response to something.
You’ll Get Used to It by Wilf Carter (The Yodeling Cowboy)
Released in 1944 by the Canadian folk singer-songwriter
Theme: Emotions, Social Commentary, Life
Expressions: ‘you so and so’ – you rascal, or scoundrel, usually used in a lighthearted way. ‘Soda jerk’ – a bartender in cafes in 1940s/1950s America; ‘locked you in for life’ – committed or stuck in a situation forever.
I Guess it’s What I’m Used to by Adriel Rivera
Released in 2022
Theme: Relationships, Independence, Career
Expressions: ‘I’ve been through’ – to have experienced something difficult; ‘My life don’t fit in’ – ‘to fit in’ means to belong or be accepted by others; ‘underdog’ – someone who is least likely to win but usually achieves success or recognition.
Used to and Get used to
Get Used to It by Ricky Montgomery
Released in 2016 by the American pop singer-songwriter
Theme: Life Changes, Identity, Relationships
Expressions: ‘Make monkey love in the street’ – Intimate acts in a public place; ‘Give in to me’ – surrender to me or stop fighting me.
Note: Most of the lyrics in this song use ‘used to’ to talk about the past, ‘get used to’ is only used at the end.
