Tonight’s song is a goodbye. But not an angry one: it’s full of thanks and good wishes.
Learn from Songs · Unit 4: The future · B1
I Will Always Love You
A goodbye song full of good wishes: will for promises that last (I’ll always…, I won’t…), hope and wish for good wishes (I hope you’ll…, I wish you…), and the language of saying goodbye kindly, with Demetria, who has to leave her choir.
SOPHIA
DEMETRIA
Is it a love song?
SOPHIA
Everyone thinks so. But Dolly Parton wrote it for the man who gave her her first big job.
MARCOS
Whitney Houston! My mother sings it in the kitchen.
Before you listen: the song
Nashville, 1973
Dolly Parton grew up very poor in the mountains of Tennessee, one of twelve children, and became one of the greatest country singers and songwriters of all time. She wrote this song and “Jolene” on the same day.
For seven years, Dolly sang on the television show of Porter Wagoner, who helped make her famous. When she decided to leave and go on alone, he didn’t want her to go. Instead of arguing, she wrote this song and sang it to him. He said it was the most beautiful song he had ever heard, and let her go.
In the song, the singer says goodbye. She wishes the other person joy and happiness, she hopes life will be kind to them, and she promises that she will always love them.
Years later, Elvis Presley wanted to record it, but his manager demanded half of the rights to the song. Dolly said no. In 1992, Whitney Houston recorded it, and it became one of the best-selling singles in history.
You can leave someone, and still wish them well.
Listen: the goodbye
PHILO
Listen once. Is the singer angry or kind? What does she wish for the other person?
SOPHIA
Then listen for I’ll and I hope. Answer Section A.
🎶 Listen to the song: “I Will Always Love You” (Dolly Parton, 1973).Listen to the official recording →
📜 Read the words while you listen: “I Will Always Love You”, Dolly Parton.Read the lyrics →
Will for lasting promises
DEMETRIA
I’ll always love you. I’ll never forget you. I won’t stay.
SOPHIA
will + always / never for promises that last: I’ll always remember this. I’ll never forget you. Position: will + always / never + verb (I will always love, not I always will love in normal speech).
Hopes and wishes
MARCOS
I hope you’ll be happy. I wish you joy.
SOPHIA
I hope + will / present for things that may really happen: I hope you’ll be happy / I hope you have a good time. I wish you + noun for good wishes: I wish you all the best, I wish you luck, I wish you a happy birthday. (Later, in the Wishes unit, you’ll meet I wish I were….)
Saying goodbye kindly
DEMETRIA
Thank you for everything. I’ll miss you. Let’s keep in touch. Take care.
SOPHIA
And to someone leaving: Good luck! All the best! Don’t forget to write! In English, a kind goodbye is often a list of wishes.
Sophia’s comparison: the farewell blessing
PHILO
Our priests give a blessing that is all wishes: may the Lord bless you and keep you, may his face shine on you, may he give you peace.
SOPHIA
And when Odysseus leaves the princess Nausicaa, she asks him to remember her, because she saved his life. He promises he will, every day, for the rest of his life.
DEMETRIA
So the best goodbyes are promises and wishes.
Sophia’s summary
| Words and forms | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| will + always / never | lasting promises | I’ll always love you. |
| won’t | negative promise | I won’t forget you. |
| I hope + will / present | wishes about real possibilities | I hope you’ll be happy. |
| I wish you + noun | good wishes | I wish you all the best. |
| Thank you for…, Take care, Keep in touch | saying goodbye kindly | Thank you for everything. |
Practice
Listen to the song for Section A, then do the rest. Press “Check my answers” at the end. You can try again as many times as you like.
A · Listen: the song
Listen to the song and choose the best answer.
1. How does the singer say goodbye?
2. What does she wish the other person?
3. What does she promise?
4. Who did Dolly Parton write it for?
5. Why didn’t Elvis record it?
6. Who made it a huge hit again in 1992?
B · Grammar and vocabulary
Write the missing word or words.
7. I’ll love you. (for ever)
8. I forget you. (negative promise)
9. I hope you’ll be . (happy)
10. I wish you all the .
11. Thank you everything.
12. Let’s keep in .
C · Right or wrong?
Is the sentence correct English?
13. “I wish you will be happy.”
14. “I’ll always remember you.”
15. “I always will love you.” (normal speech)
16. “Take care, and good luck!”
Talk and write
Discussion and writing
Leaving cards. A classmate is moving to another country. Write a card with three promises and three wishes: I’ll always…, I hope you’ll…, I wish you…
Discuss. 1. Is it possible to leave someone and still love them? 2. Why do you think Dolly refused Elvis? 3. Which version do you prefer, Dolly’s or Whitney’s?
Write (80–120 words). A goodbye letter. Write to someone you are leaving (a teacher, a team, a friend): thank them, make promises, and wish them well.
Now play the gamebook: Demetria says goodbye to her choir.Play the gamebook →