Tonight’s singer can’t decide. A boy likes her, and she likes him. Should she say yes? She asks herself again and again.
Learn from Songs · Unit 8: Modals · A2–B1
Should I Do It
The Pointer Sisters’ bouncy tribute to the girl groups of the 1960s: Should I…? for asking advice, should / shouldn’t, ought to, had better, and If I were you, I’d…, with Philo, Sophia, Marcos and Demetria.
SOPHIA
DEMETRIA
What does her mother say?
SOPHIA
Ah, mothers always have advice. That is what the song is all about: advice. Should I? Shouldn’t I?
MARCOS
I ask myself that every time I see a honey cake.
Before you listen: the song
Los Angeles, 1981
The Pointer Sisters were four, then three, sisters from Oakland, California, the daughters of two church ministers. They sang gospel as children, and later jazz, soul, country and pop. Their biggest hits included “Fire”, “Slow Hand” and “I’m So Excited”.
“Should I Do It” was written by the Nashville songwriter Layng Martine Jr., who said the song simply appeared in his head and wrote itself quickly. Tanya Tucker recorded it first, as a country song, but the Pointer Sisters made it sound like the girl groups of the early 1960s. It reached number 13 in America in 1982.
In the song, a girl asks herself whether she should say yes to a boy. She wants to, but she isn’t sure. Everyone has advice for her, but in the end she has to decide herself.
Ask for advice, then make your own decision.
Listen: the question
PHILO
Listen once. What can’t she decide? How many times does she ask the question?
SOPHIA
Listen to the 1960s sound. Then answer Section A.
🤔 Listen to the song: “Should I Do It” (Layng Martine Jr., 1981), by the Pointer Sisters.Find the recording →
📜 Read the words while you listen: “Should I Do It”, the Pointer Sisters.Read the lyrics →
Should I…? Asking for advice
MARCOS
Should I do it? Should I say yes? What should I wear?
SOPHIA
Should I + infinitive? asks for advice: Should I call him? What should I do? The answer: Yes, you should. / No, you shouldn’t.
Should, ought to, had better
DEMETRIA
You should think about it. You ought to ask your mother. You’d better be home by ten!
SOPHIA
should and ought to = advice (the same meaning). had better (’d better) + infinitive = strong advice, or there will be a problem: You’d better hurry, or you’ll miss the boat. Negative: You’d better not…
If I were you…
PHILO
If I were you, I’d say yes. If I were you, I wouldn’t wait.
SOPHIA
If I were you, I’d (would) + infinitive is a friendly way to give advice. Use were, not “was”, in this expression.
Sophia’s comparison: Rehoboam’s two councils
PHILO
When Rehoboam became king, he asked the old men for advice, and they said: be kind to the people. Then he asked his young friends, and they said: be hard. He followed his friends, and the kingdom split in two.
SOPHIA
And Hesiod says: the best man thinks for himself; the next best listens to good advice; the man who does neither is useless.
MARCOS
So: listen, then think. Got it.
Sophia’s summary
| Words and forms | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Should I + infinitive? | asking for advice | Should I say yes? |
| should / shouldn’t | advice | You shouldn’t wait. |
| ought to + infinitive | advice (= should) | You ought to ask. |
| had better (not) + infinitive | strong advice, a warning | You’d better hurry. |
| If I were you, I’d… | friendly advice | If I were you, I’d say yes. |
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. What can’t the singer decide?
2. How does she feel?
3. Who wrote the song?
4. Who recorded it first?
5. What does the Pointer Sisters’ version sound like?
6. Where were the Pointer Sisters from?
B · Grammar and vocabulary
Write the missing word or words.
7. I call him? (asking advice)
8. You ought ask your mother.
9. You’d hurry, or you’ll be late.
10. If I you, I’d say yes.
11. You stay up so late. (negative advice)
12. You’d better be late again! (warning, negative)
C · Right or wrong?
Is the sentence correct English?
13. “Should I to call him?”
14. “If I was you, I’d wait.”
15. “You’d better not tell her.”
16. “You ought to try it.”
Talk and write
Discussion and writing
Agony aunt. Write a problem on a piece of paper (Should I…?). Swap papers. Give advice with should, ought to, had better, If I were you.
Discuss. 1. Who do you ask for advice? 2. Is it better to ask many people or one? 3. When did someone give you very good (or very bad) advice?
Write (80–100 words). A reply to a friend who asks: Should I change schools? Use should, shouldn’t, ought to, had better and If I were you.
Now play the gamebook: Marcos, the boxing school, and some very mixed advice.Play the gamebook →