Our next song is an apology. A man was jealous, he hurt someone he loves, and now he is sorry.
Learn from Songs · Unit 2: Past time · B1
Jealous Guy
A gentle apology song: the past continuous (I was dreaming, I was feeling insecure), past continuous and past simple together (I was trying to… when…), when and while, and I didn’t mean to, with Marcos, who has met a new boy he doesn’t like at all.
SOPHIA
DEMETRIA
Like Elton John: sorry is the hardest word.
MARCOS
Why is everyone looking at me?
PHILO
No reason, Marcos. No reason at all.
Before you listen: the song
India, 1968, and England, 1971
John Lennon wrote the music for this song in 1968, when the Beatles were in India, studying meditation. At first it had different words, about nature. Three years later, he gave it new words and recorded it for his album Imagine.
In the song, the singer was dreaming of the past, his heart was beating fast, and he began to lose control. He was feeling insecure; he was afraid the person he loved didn’t love him any more. He didn’t mean to hurt her, and he is sorry he made her cry. He was trying to catch her eyes, but she was hiding.
He calls himself just a jealous guy: not a bad man, just a man who couldn’t control a bad feeling. The song was a big hit again in 1981, for the band Roxy Music.
I didn’t mean to hurt you.
Listen: what was happening?
DEMETRIA
Listen once. How was he feeling? What did he do? Is he angry or sorry?
SOPHIA
Then listen again for was / were + -ing. Answer Section A.
💚 Listen to the song: “Jealous Guy” (John Lennon, 1971).Watch the official video →
📜 Read the words while you listen: “Jealous Guy”, John Lennon.Read the lyrics →
The past continuous
PHILO
He was dreaming. His heart was beating fast. He was feeling insecure.
SOPHIA
was / were + -ing for an action or feeling in progress at a moment in the past, often the background to a story. Negative: wasn’t / weren’t + -ing. Question: What were you doing?
Past continuous + past simple: when and while
MARCOS
I was reading when the new boy arrived.
SOPHIA
The long action (continuous) is interrupted by a short one (simple): I was reading when he arrived. Two long actions at the same time: while: While they were laughing, I was sitting alone. Careful: during + noun (during the lesson), not + clause.
I didn’t mean to
DEMETRIA
I didn’t mean to hurt you. I’m sorry I made you cry.
SOPHIA
mean to + verb = intend. I didn’t mean to = it wasn’t my intention. Remember Unit 1: a real apology has no excuses. And make + person + verb: you made me cry, you make me laugh.
Sophia’s comparison: the jealousy of the gods
SOPHIA
In Hesiod and Homer, even the gods are jealous. Hera was jealous of every woman Zeus loved, and she punished them, not him.
PHILO
And Saul was jealous of David, because the women sang that David had killed more enemies than he had.
MARCOS
So jealousy is very old. That makes me feel a bit better.
Sophia’s summary
| Words and forms | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| was / were + -ing | an action in progress in the past | I was dreaming of the past. |
| was + -ing when + past simple | interrupted action | I was reading when he arrived. |
| while + past continuous | two actions at the same time | While they were laughing, I was alone. |
| didn’t mean to + verb | it wasn’t my intention | I didn’t mean to hurt you. |
| make + person + verb | cause someone to do | I’m sorry I made you cry. |
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 feel now?
2. What was he doing at the start?
3. What happened to him?
4. Why did he behave badly?
5. What does he call himself?
6. What kind of song is it?
B · Grammar and vocabulary
Write the missing word or words.
7. I reading when he arrived. (be)
8. They laughing together all morning. (be)
9. they were talking, I was sitting alone.
10. I didn’t mean hurt you.
11. What you doing at nine o’clock last night?
12. I’m sorry I made you . (cry)
C · Right or wrong?
Is the sentence correct English?
13. “I was dream of the past.”
14. “While I was walking home, it started to rain.”
15. “During they were talking, I left.”
16. “I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
Talk and write
Discussion and writing
Alibi game. “A scroll disappeared from the Library yesterday at 3 o’clock.” Each student says what they were doing at that time; the others ask questions (Who were you with? What were you reading?) to find the liar.
Discuss. 1. Is jealousy always bad? 2. What is the difference between being jealous and being envious? 3. Is it easier to apologise in a song than face to face?
Write (80–120 words). A day I lost control. Describe a time when you (or a character) did something you were sorry for: what you were doing, what happened, how you felt, and what you said afterwards. Use the past continuous, the past simple, and I didn’t mean to.
Now play the gamebook: Marcos, the new boy, and an ink pot.Play the gamebook →