Tonight’s song is very funny and very catchy. A young woman has broken up with her boyfriend many times, and every time they got back together. Now she says: never again. Never ever.
Learn from Songs · Unit 12: Review · B1
We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together
Taylor Swift’s first American number one: the present continuous for future decisions (we are never getting back together), never ever, phrasal verbs of relationships (break up, get back together, call off), and informal spoken English (like, ever), with Philo, Sophia, Marcos and Demetria.
SOPHIA
MARCOS
Never ever ever?
SOPHIA
Exactly. And in the middle she speaks, just like a teenager on the phone: like, ever. It’s a perfect lesson in informal English.
DEMETRIA
And in phrasal verbs.
Before you listen: the song
Stockholm and Los Angeles, 2012
Taylor Swift began as a teenage country singer in Nashville, writing her own songs about her own life. With her album Red (2012) she moved towards pop, working with the Swedish producers Max Martin and Shellback.
She said the song began in the studio, when a friend of her ex-boyfriend came in and talked about rumours that they were getting back together. She started joking about it, and in less than half an hour they had written the chorus. It became her first number one in America.
In the song, she remembers all the times they broke up and got back together. This time she is sure: they are never, ever getting back together.
When you’ve really decided, say it clearly.
Listen: the decision
PHILO
Listen once. How many times did they break up? What is different this time?
SOPHIA
Listen to the spoken part in the middle. Then answer Section A.
🙅 Listen to the song: “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” (Taylor Swift, Max Martin and Shellback, 2012), by Taylor Swift.Find the recording →
📜 Read the words while you listen: “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”, Taylor Swift.Read the lyrics →
Present continuous for future decisions
MARCOS
We are never getting back together. I’m not going to the party. She’s leaving tomorrow.
SOPHIA
be + -ing for firm decisions and arrangements about the future. never goes after be: We are never going back. never ever = very strong, informal.
Relationship phrasal verbs
DEMETRIA
They broke up. They got back together. They called off the wedding. She made up with her sister.
SOPHIA
break up (end a relationship), get back together, call off (cancel), make up (become friends again after a quarrel), split up (= break up), go out with (date).
Informal spoken English
PHILO
In the song: like, ever. In careful English: never again.
SOPHIA
In casual speech, young people use like as a filler (It was, like, amazing) and ever for emphasis. Fine with friends, not in essays! Notice also totally, whatever, I mean.
Sophia’s comparison: Penelope’s web
SOPHIA
Penelope told the suitors she would choose one of them when she finished weaving a shroud. Every night she secretly undid what she had woven during the day. On and off, for three years.
PHILO
And Pharaoh! Every time a plague came, he said: you may go. And every time it stopped, he changed his mind. In the end, Moses said: we are going, and not a hoof will be left behind.
MARCOS
Never ever coming back.
Sophia’s summary
| Words and forms | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| be + -ing | firm decisions, arrangements | We’re never getting back together. |
| never ever | very strong, informal | I’m never ever doing that again. |
| break up / split up | end a relationship | They broke up. |
| get back together / make up | reunite / be friends again | They made up. |
| call off | cancel | They called off the wedding. |
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 has the couple done many times?
2. What does she say this time?
3. What happens in the middle of the song?
4. How did the song begin?
5. Which album is it on?
6. What was special about its chart success?
B · Grammar and vocabulary
Write the missing word or words.
7. We are never back together. (get)
8. They broke last week.
9. They called the wedding.
10. She made with her sister.
11. I’m going to that party. (not ever, strong)
12. They got back again!
C · Right or wrong?
Is the sentence correct English?
13. “We never are getting back together.”
14. “They broke up last year.”
15. “They called the meeting off.”
16. “She maked up with him.”
Talk and write
Discussion and writing
Soap opera. In groups, write a short, silly soap-opera scene with two characters who keep breaking up and making up. Use five phrasal verbs.
Discuss. 1. Is it ever a good idea to get back together? 2. Why do people write songs about their own lives? 3. When is informal English fine, and when is it not?
Write (100–120 words). Never ever again. Write about something you are never ever doing again (a food, a ride, a mistake). Use the present continuous for your decision and three phrasal verbs.
Now play the gamebook: two partners, always breaking up, always making up.Play the gamebook →