Another song about the present. A very sad one. A love is ending, and nobody can find the right words.
Learn from Songs · Unit 1: Present time · B1
Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word
A sad song about the end of love: state verbs in the present simple (seem, know, want, need, mean, feel), why we say I know and never I’m knowing, and the language of apologising and forgiving, with Marcos, who has something to say sorry for.
SOPHIA
MARCOS
Why is sorry so hard to say? It’s only five letters.
SOPHIA
You tell me, Marcos. When did you last say it?
MARCOS
…Can we just listen to the song?
Before you listen: the song
London, 1976
Elton John and his friend Bernie Taupin have written songs together for more than fifty years, usually in the same way: Bernie writes the words alone, and Elton puts them to music, often in less than an hour. But this song was a rare exception: Elton came up with the melody and most of the words himself, and Bernie finished them.
The song is sung by someone whose love is ending. He doesn’t know what to do to make the other person love him. He feels the situation is sad, and a little absurd. And the one word that seems to be impossible to say, by either of them, is sorry.
The music is slow and quiet: just a piano, voices, and later an accordion.
Why is the shortest word so hard to say?
Listen: how does he feel?
DEMETRIA
Listen once. Is he angry, sad, or hopeful? What does he want?
SOPHIA
Listen for the verbs of feeling and knowing. Then listen again, and answer Section A.
🎹 Listen to the song: “Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word” (Elton John and Bernie Taupin, 1976).Watch the official video →
📜 Read the words while you listen: “Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word”, Elton John.Read the lyrics →
State verbs: know, want, seem
PHILO
He wants her to love him. He doesn’t know what to do. It seems hopeless.
SOPHIA
These are state verbs: they describe thoughts, feelings and situations, not actions. They are almost never continuous: I know, not I’m knowing; I want, not I’m wanting. Common ones: know, believe, understand, mean, want, need, love, hate, like, seem, belong, own.
DEMETRIA
But I say I’m feeling sad, and I feel sad. Which is right?
SOPHIA
Both! Feel is flexible. Some verbs change meaning: I think (opinion) / I’m thinking (in my head now); I have a scroll (own) / I’m having lunch (action).
Saying sorry, and forgiving
MARCOS
I’m sorry. It was my fault. I apologise for… And then what?
SOPHIA
Then: How can I make it up to you? And if someone apologises to you: That’s OK. Don’t worry about it. I forgive you. Careful: apologise for + -ing (not apologise of), and sorry for + -ing / sorry that…. A real apology has no but and no if.
Sophia’s comparison: a king who couldn’t say it
PHILO
In the Iliad, Agamemnon takes Achilles’ prize, and thousands die because of their quarrel. When he finally apologises, he says: it wasn’t my fault, a goddess blinded me.
SOPHIA
Exactly. He gives gifts, many gifts, but he never really says the word. Agamemnon could command an army, but not say sorry.
DEMETRIA
And Achilles? Did he forgive him?
MARCOS
He accepted the gifts. That’s not the same thing, is it?
Sophia’s summary
| Words and forms | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| know, want, need, mean, seem, love | state verbs: present simple, not continuous | I know what you mean. |
| feel; think; have | verbs that can be both | I think so / I’m thinking about it. |
| I’m sorry (for + -ing / that…) | apologising | I’m sorry for breaking it. |
| It was my fault; I apologise for… | accepting responsibility | I apologise for being late. |
| make it up to someone; I forgive you | making things right | How can I make it up to you? |
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?
2. What does he want?
3. What does he think of the situation?
4. Which word seems hardest to say?
5. What kind of music is it?
6. Who came up with the melody and most of the words?
B · State verbs and apologies
Write the missing word.
7. I what you mean. (know)
8. It to be the hardest word. (seem)
9. I apologise being late.
10. It was my . I’m sorry.
11. How can I make it to you?
12. She him a lot. (love, present simple)
C · Right or wrong?
Is the sentence correct English?
13. “I’m knowing the answer.”
14. “I’m sorry for being so rude.”
15. “She is wanting a new phone.”
16. “I’m thinking about my holiday.”
Talk and write
Discussion and writing
Role-play. In pairs: one person has done something wrong (lost a book, forgotten a birthday, broken a phone). Apologise properly: say sorry, accept the blame, and offer to make it up. The other person decides whether to forgive.
Discuss. 1. Why do you think “sorry” is so hard to say? 2. What makes an apology a good one, or a bad one? 3. Is it harder to say sorry, or to forgive?
Write (80–120 words). A letter of apology. Write to someone you have upset (real or imaginary). Use I’m sorry for…, It was my fault, I know…, I want…, How can I make it up to you?
Now play the gamebook: Marcos, a burned scroll, and the hardest word.Play the gamebook →