ESLSongs

Practice the future tense ‘going to’ in your ESL class with this song, Never gonna give you up by Rick Astley.

There are 7 different examples of “going to” in the chorus of these song lyrics:

• Never gonna give you up
• Never gonna let you down
• Never gonna run around and desert you
• Never gonna make you cry
• Never gonna say goodbye
• Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you
• We know the game and we’re gonna play it

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

Lyrics

We’re no strangers to love
You know the rules and so do I
A full commitment’s what I’m thinking of
You wouldn’t get this from any other guy

I just wanna tell you how I’m feeling
Gotta make you understand

Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you

We’ve known each other for so long
Your heart’s been aching, but
You’re too shy to say it
Inside, we both know what’s been going on
We know the game and we’re gonna play it

And if you ask me how I’m feeling
Don’t tell me you’re too blind to see

Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you

Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you

(Ooh, give you up)
(Ooh, give you up)
Never gonna give, never gonna give
(Give you up)
Never gonna give, never gonna give
(Give you up)

We’ve known each other for so long
Your heart’s been aching, but
You’re too shy to say it
Inside, we both know what’s been going on
We know the game and we’re gonna play it

I just wanna tell you how I’m feeling
Gotta make you understand

Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you

Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you

Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye
Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you

Suggested activity: fill the gaps

Download this exercise (PDF)

Fill the gaps in the lyrics with the words below:

Verbs: cry, desert, give, hurt, let, make, play, run, say, tell
Nouns: lie
Pronouns: you (x4), it
Particles around, down, up
Others: a, and (x2), goodbye

We’re no strangers to love
You know the rules and so do I
A full commitment’s what I’m thinking of
You wouldn’t get this from any other guy

I just want to tell you how I’m feeling
Got to make you understand

Chorus
Never gonna… _________ _________ _________
Never gonna… _________ _________ _________
Never gonna… _________ _________ _________ _________ _________
Never gonna… _________ _________ _________
Never gonna… _________ _________
Never gonna… _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________

We’ve known each other for so long
Your heart’s been aching, but
You’re too shy to say it
Inside, we both know what’s been going on
We know the game and we’re gonna _________ _________

And if you ask me how I’m feeling
Don’t tell me you’re too blind to see

Chorus

We’ve known each other for so long
Your heart’s been aching, but
You’re too shy to say it
Inside, we both know what’s been going on
We know the game and we’re gonna _________ _________

I just want to tell you how I’m feeling
Got to make you understand

Rick Astley

Richard Paul Astley is an English singer, radio DJ and podcaster. He gained fame through his association with the production trio Stock Aitken Waterman, releasing the 1987 album Whenever You Need Somebody, which sold 15 million copies worldwide and was certified Platinum by both the BPI and the RIAA. His debut single “Never Gonna Give You Up” was a No. 1 hit in over 25 countries, winning the 1988 Brit Award for Best British Single. The song also stayed at the top of the UK chart for five weeks in 1987 and was the best-selling single of that year. His 1988 single “Together Forever” also topped the US Billboard Hot 100 and was one of his eight songs to reach the UK Singles Chart Top 10.