ESLSongs

Practice the present perfect and especially the interrogative form have you ever… ? in your ESL class with this song, Have you ever? by Brandy.

The 8 different examples of have you ever… in this song are: have you ever loved…, have you ever needed…, have you ever tried…, have you ever been…, have you ever had…, have you ever searched…, have you ever found…, have you ever closed…, but it also contains the forms: you’ve dreamed & you’ve given.

There is a suggestion on how to use this song in your ESL classes below, but for more ideas, click here.

Lyrics

Have you ever loved somebody so much it makes you cry?
Have you ever needed something so bad you can’t sleep at night?
Have you ever tried to find the words but they don’t come out right?
Have you ever, have you ever?

Have you ever been in love, been in love so bad
you’d do anything to make them understand?
Have you ever had someone steal your heart away
you’d give anything to make them feel the same?
Have you ever searched for words to get you in their heart
but you don’t know what to say and you don’t know where to start?

Have you ever loved somebody so much it makes you cry?
Have you ever needed something so bad you can’t sleep at night?
Have you ever tried to find the words but they don’t come out right?
Have you ever, have you ever? Ooh

Have you ever found the one you’ve dreamed of all of your life?
you’d do just about anything to look into their eyes
Have you finally found the one you’ve given your heart to
only to find that one won’t give their heart to you?
Have you ever closed your eyes and dreamed that they were there
and all you can do is wait for the day when they will care?

Have you ever loved somebody so much it makes you cry?
Have you ever needed something so bad you can’t sleep at night?
Have you ever tried to find the words but they don’t come out right?
Have you ever, have you ever? Ooh

What do I gotta do to get you in my arms, baby?
What do I gotta say to get to your heart
to make you understand how I need you next to me?
Gotta get you in my world
‘Cause, baby, I can’t sleep

Have you ever loved somebody so much it makes you cry?
Have you, have you ever needed something so bad you can’t sleep at night?
Have you ever tried to find the words but they don’t come out right? Ooh
Have you ever, have you ever?

Have you ever loved somebody so much it makes you cry?
Have you ever needed something so bad you can’t sleep at night?
Have you ever tried to find the words but they don’t come out right?
Have you ever, have you ever, ever, ever?
Ooh, have you ever?

Suggested activity: correct the mistakes

Download this exercise (PDF)

Listen to the song and correct the mistakes in the underlined phrases.

CHORUS

Have you always loved somebody¹ so much it makes you cry?
Have you ever wanted something² so bad you can’t sleep at night?
Has she ever tried³ to find the words but they don’t come out right?
Have you ever, have you ever?

Have you ever fallen in love⁴, been in love so bad
you’d do anything to make them understand?
Have you not had someone steal your heart⁵ away
you’d give anything to make them feel the same?
Did you ever search for words⁶ to get you in their heart
but you don’t know what to say and you don’t know where to start?

CHORUS

Have you finally encountered the one⁷ you’ve dreamed of all of your life?
you’d do just about anything to look into their eyes
Have you finally found the one you gave⁸ your heart to
only to find that one won’t give their heart to you?
Has someone ever opened your eyes⁹ and dreamed that they were there
and all you can do is wait for the day when they will care?

CHORUS

What do I gotta do to get you in my arms, baby?
What do I gotta say to get to your heart
to make you understand how I need you next to me?
Gotta get you in my world
‘Cause, baby, I can’t sleep

CHORUS

CHORUS

Brandy Norwood

Brandy Rayana Norwood, better known by her mononym Brandy, is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, model and actress. Born into a musical family in McComb, Mississippi, Norwood was raised in Carson, California, beginning her career as a backing vocalist for teen groups. After signing with Atlantic Records in 1993, she released her self-titled debut album the following year, which sold six million copies worldwide. Brandy gained fame by starring in the UPN sitcom Moesha, and further recognition for her role in the television film Cinderella (1997) and the slasher film I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998). Her 1998 duet with fellow R&B contemporary Monica, “The Boy Is Mine”, won a Grammy Award and became one of the best-selling female duets of all time. Her second album, Never Say Never (1998), sold 16 million copies worldwide.