Mr. Tom  +  866219 Mon, 17 Aug 09 08:49 PM  Hi   In Pakistan and India, very, very few people would be able to understand the wording of this song, including all English teachers. I just happened to speak to a well known Indian author and I asked her if she understood English songs (in general), and her immediate response was no. In a recent workshop of English teachers, the British presenter played this song and gave each participant the copy of the lyrics with a few blanks which he had deliberately created, and which they were supposed to fill as he played the song twice. Upon special request the song was played the third time. The result was—well, you can imagine what the result was. Pathetic!   My question is, will any native speaker walking down the street understand the wording of this song easily, regardless of his academic background?      Thanks for your interest,   Tom     Mr. Tom Joined on Sun, Feb 4 2007 Regular Member 710 Tom Video, Writing, Countries, United Kingdom, Great Britain, Songs, Lyrics, Languages, Music

	khoff  +  866228 Mon, 17 Aug 09 08:55 PM Nope, this native speaker can't understand it -- and neither can my daughter.  There are lots of songs that I can't understand unless I can see the lyrics written out.  My kids don't mind listening to music that they can't understand all the words to, but it drives me crazy! khoff Joined on Sun, Mar 6 2005 Senior Member 3,264 Native speaker of American English (but not a grammar expert) Arts, Writing, Countries, United Kingdom, Great Britain, Songs, Lyrics, Languages, Music

	Mr. Tom  +  866235 Mon, 17 Aug 09 09:01 PM Many thanks, Khoff. Your post is so HEARTENING!   Could I ask what percent you understood this song?   Tom Mr. Tom Countries, United Kingdom, Great Britain, Songs, Languages, Music

	KateJS  +  866273 Mon, 17 Aug 09 09:44 PM With this particular song, I would guess that most native speakers would not get all of it.  I've highlighted in red the bits I got until just now when I looked up the lyrics.  But bear in mind, this song is about 30 years old and I was at college when it was released, so I've heard it lots of times.     Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk I'm a woman's man, no time to talk Music loud and women warm I've been kicked around since I was born And now it's all right, I'm OK And you may look the other way We can try to understand The New York Times' effect on man Whether you're a brother or whether you're a mother You're stayin' alive, stayin' alive Feel the city breakin' and everybody shakin' And we're stayin' alive, stayin' alive Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive, stayin' alive Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive Well now, I get low and I get high And if I can't get either, I really try Got the wings of heaven on my shoes I'm a dancin' man and I just can't lose You know it's all right, It's OK I'll live to see another day We can try to understand The New York Times' effect on man Whether you're a brother or whether you're a mother You're stayin' alive, stayin' alive Feel the city breakin' and everybody shakin' And we're stayin' alive, stayin' alive Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive, stayin' alive Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive Life goin' nowhere, somebody help me Somebody help me, yeah Life goin' nowhere, somebody help me Somebody help me, yeah, stayin' alive KateJS Joined on Sat, Mar 14 2009 UK Full Member 208 Answering in British English Arts, Writing, Countries, United States, United Kingdom, Great Britain, Colours, Songs, Lyrics, Languages, Music

	Mr. Tom  +  866346 Mon, 17 Aug 09 11:02 PM Sorry, Kate, did you understand the red part or you did NOT understand the red part? In other words, did the lyrics provide you with red or black?   Thanks a lot,   Tom Mr. Tom Writing, Countries, United Kingdom, Great Britain, Colours, Songs, Lyrics, Apologies, Languages, Music