It took me a year to really learn the American lingo. I really feel for people who are coming here and don't speak English at all. It must be hell.
quote by Helen Reddy
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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American Without Tears #2
December 1965 in caracas
When arnie laflem took a piece of the pie
When he packed up the casino chips, the iou and the abacus
And switched off the jukebox in a a fool such as i
He was a leg man who was open to offers
But he couldnt get her off his mind as he passed the tourist office
And as he entertained himself singing just like sammy davis junior
He toyed with her trip to miami
For money like that
He could have sweet talk in her ear
Now they dont speak any english
Just american without tears
It was an idea that he dangled on his knee
And nursed it like his coffee cup
When he couldnt find any other way
It always seemed to come to him
While the day was dipping down
And sun was like a lightbulb
Being swallowed by a clown
He took her for everything
He took her for his only one
He took her out of coventry and over to idaho
But the war wound that he carried home
Wasnt really visable
When bullets were forgotton
She lived dowdry, down, and miserable
And she seemed to be crying for year after year
And says, you dont speak any english
Just american between tears.
Honey she said to me will you turn down the radio.
You havent slept a wink since we came to havana
When youre gonna get the strength to go over to florida
All you ever listen to is the voice of america.
It was the story of a young english puppet
Who took up with a soldier boy
And thought she would profit.
Just like me she found out what true love is about
Anyway shes in new orleans it would never work out
Oh she seemed to be crying for year after year
Now you dont speak any english
Just american between tears.
Just american without tears.
For you seem to be crying year after year
Now you dont speak any english
Just american without tears.
Just american without tears.
song performed by by Elvis Costello
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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This is America: Better know English
America was once the magnificent place
Where all immigrants wanted to escape
So they illegally come here, as illegal aliens
Hiding in the back of our American vans
Now our schools and jobs require multiple languages
When we’re the Americans, we’re supposed to speak English!
And we do and just because they don’t
Doesn’t mean their language is a demand we should know
Don’t come to America if you don’t know the language
I’m just being realistic, I’m not being racist
Don’t put up store signs if they’re not readable
You’re in America; English is the main language you should know
Then they’re pissed because people won’t help out their business
But their forgetting us Americans don’t speak their language
We don’t go to Mexico demanding English classes
So why should they own the right to demand us Spanish?
I love the language, and everything BUT
THIS IS AMERICA look our history up!
Then tell me if French should be required
Where in the hell in the time line is that desired?
I know this is the land of opportunity, land of the free
But we should be able to communicate as human beings
And if that’s just too hard no one said they had to stay here
They can go back where they came from and speak in harmony there
I’m just a full blood American, as so the rest of my family
And like others, our language should be the first they’re demanding
We're tired of going to our fastfood restaurants to eat
When the orderer of our order can't even speak
And buyers, don't buy our house
If you can't even pronounce our street out
I'm tired of security going through all our private equipment
I'm an American, Bitch, do I look like a terrorist?
Honestly, you can come here if you want to be
Since this is the best place of opportunity
And we don’t care if you speak 20 different languages and love them
But this is AMERICA, ENGLISH better be one of them!
poem by Sugar Bear
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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yes, what if God does not speak english at all?
you were not born yesterday
and probably heard it before
that if your God does not speak english
then he must not be God
of course, something arrogant
hangs in the air
of this effortless superiority that
'englishers'
'english-plongplangs'
clai m, which, of course, we
always oppose and dub
as prettry dumb silly
but anyhow, yes, we are asked again
what if?
what if, this God, does not really speak English?
well, of course, he is still God
and he must not have considered the english language
that important
and i agree, even if i speak it,
i still have this language
of my soul,
albeit, in english, for you,
who does not speak my own language,
yes, of course, for you to perhaps
understand,
but i like it though, this thought
that God does not speak
the english language, lest, he may sound
so englishly, oh well,
arrogant.....
dear God
do you really...not speak english?
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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To become an American citizen, we require people to read, write and speak in English. That is to help them to assimilate in our melting pot, truly to become Americans. We mock that when the cherished right to vote does not involve English any more.
quote by Ernest Istook
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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English Sunset
I want to ride the range
Across those skies of black
I want to see for myself
And see me coming back
And when Ive gone the distance
Ill be making tracks
For an english sunset.
Were on a runaway train
Rolling down the track
And where its taking us to
Who knows where its at
But if we hold together
We can make it back
For an english sunset
We want an english sunset.
I feel the rhythm of the earth
In my soul tonight
May it never fade away
And Ive decided I can live
With humility
And the sad decay
cos thats the english way.
We keep the faith alive
In everything we do
And at the end of the road
We still keep coming through
And though its sad and sorry
What else can we do
Its an english sunset
An english sunset.
I feel the rhythm of the earth
In my soul tonight
May it never fade away
And Ive decided they can wait
For the requiem
We take it day by day
cos thats the english way
I saw the english sunset.
song performed by by Moody Blues
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Finglish
I am from Finland and i speak 'Finglish'!
Because i am learning the English language and,
It always infuses with my Finnish.
I am learning to keep me going but,
I do speak my English like 'Finglish'! !
And i always try to enforce the truth of my peace like,
The subconscious act from my mind to muse up things:
But i am unaware of your love.
Try to keep me informed on this love and,
Try to teach me the English language so that i cam be with you;
For the heavens and the earth do know how i do speak.
Keep me on the tracks of your love and teach me more!
For one day i will learn the English language very well;
And i will be ready to teach you my Finnish language as well.
poem by Edward Kofi Louis
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Language That The Poor Wants To Speak
do you speak good English?
do you take pride in it and then use it to impress others
and swindle them
into a belief that they are inferior?
they have feelings too
of humiliation
which even in such a sad state
wish that their humiliation
speak good English still
they always think that English will give them
a good job
a better standing in the society
a flare of fashionable tongue
you make them cry
but still they want to speak that cry in English too
foolish!
but can you blame them?
you who hold that power and might
you who have taken all what they once had
and made them
worse within
themselves
despite which,
they still want to be like you
to speak like you
a god
how sad!
you have never known the language of love
the grammar of generosity
the syntax of sympathy
that language that good English
sometimes has forgotten
to utter
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Everything has changed. When I was at school and was told I had better learn English, I said: What for? The English are a hell of a long way away!
quote by Juan Manuel Fangio
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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You Learn
I recommend getting your heart trampled on to anyone
I recommend walking around naked in your living room
Swallow it down (what a jagged little pill)
It feels so good (swimming in your stomach)
Wait until the dust settles
You live you learn
You love you learn
You cry you learn
You lose you learn
You bleed you learn
You scream you learn
I recommend biting off more then you can chew to anyone
I certainly do
I recommend sticking your foot in your mouth at any time
Feel free
Throw it down (the caution blocks you from the wind)
Hold it up (to the rays)
You wait and see when the smoke clears
You live you learn
You love you learn
You cry you learn
You lose you learn
You bleed you learn
You scream you learn
Wear it out (the way a three-year-old would do)
Melt it down (you're gonna have to eventually anyway)
The fire trucks are coming up around the bend
You live you learn
You love you learn
You cry you learn
You lose you learn
You bleed you learn
You scream you learn
You grieve you learn
You choke you learn
You laugh you learn
You choose you learn
You pray you learn
You ask you learn
You live you learn
song performed by by Alanis Morissette from Jagged Little Pill
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Why does there exist a global American entertainment industry, but there isn't an equivalent coming from France or Italy? This is the case simply because the English language opens the whole world to the American cinema.
quote by Andrzej Wajda
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Speak
Theyve given me a mission
I dont really know the game yet
Im bent on submission
Religion is to blame
Im the new messiah
Death angel with a gun
Dangerous in my silence
Deadly to my cause
Speak to me the pain you feel
Speak the word
The word is all of us
Ive given my life to become what I am
To preach the new beginning
To make you understand
To reach some point of order
Utopia in mind, youve got to learn
To sacrifice, to leave whats now behind
Speak to me the pain you feel
Speak the word
The word is all of us
Speak the word
The word is all of us
Seven years of power
The corporation claw
The rich control the government, the media the law
To make some kind of difference
Then everyone must know
Eradicate the fascists, revolution will grow
The system we learn says were equal under law
But the streets are reality, the weak and poor will fall
Lets tip the power balance and tear down their crown
Educate the masses, well burn the white house down
Speak to me the pain you feel
Speak to me the pain you feel
Speak the word [revolution]
The word is all of us
Speak the word [revolution]
The word is all of us
Speak the word
The word is all of us
Speak the word
The word is all of us
Speak!!!
song performed by by Queensryche
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Even if you do learn to speak correct English, whom are you going to speak it to?
quote by Clarence Darrow
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Idiotic Idiom
The Anglo-Saxon idiom
Is a tax upon the brain
I mean, just what have cats and dogs
To do with heavy rain?
And if I'd like a cup of tea
(As often is my wish)
No problem, 'cause our kettle's
Never yet been full of fish.
Are people really 'all at sea'
When troubles they are braving?
And should men be commited
Just for laying crazy-paving?
You may have a funny feeling
Which can't be laughed about,
And how come something without legs,
Like money, can run out?
Yes English, to a foreign ear
Must seem a puzzling lingo,
And by the way, what kind of house
Do people win at bingo?
And don't go ringing 9 9 9
You'll only seem a liar
If adversaries now get on
Just like a house on fire.
I could go 'harping on'
At least until my pen 'ran out'
But you would get 'dog tired'
I haven't got the slightest doubt;
Suffice to say
This idiotic idiom on show
Is peculiarly English,
Well wouldn't you just know.
Written March 1996
poem by John Carter Brown
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Speak Not To Me Of Hell....
there is no need to speak to me of hell.....
i hear the cries of women and children
dying in the bombing...
i feel the tears of mothers burying
their only sons.
i reel with the hunger,
of refugees and homeless families.
i hurt with the anger,
of the poor and desperate.
i can smell the failure,
that drives people over the edge.
i am imprisoned,
with those behind your bars...
speak not to me of hell,
but rather redemption and action...
poem by Eric Cockrell
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Emit Remmus
The California animal is a bear
Angeleno but the devil may care
Summer time to talk and swear
Later maybe we could share some air
I'll take you to the movies there
We could walk through Leicester Square
What could be wetter than
An English girl American man
[Chorus:]
London in the summer time
Call me now use the satellite
London in the summer time
Cuss me out and it'll feel all right
Hesitate but don't refuse
The choice was yours but you said choose
The look she used was green and sharp
Stabbed that boy all in his heart
Come what may the cosmos will
Take me up and down on Primrose Hill
What could be wetter than
An English girl American man
[Chorus]
Cuss me out and it'll feel all right
It's all right now
Call me now use the satellite
It's all right
It's all right
Down and out and it'll sound all right
It's all right now
It's all right
The California flower is poppy child
Felony sends me all the gold in your smile
Drift away from anyone you can
Nothing ever goes according to plan
Though I know that every river bends
Time to say hello to snow on the Thames
What could be wetter than
An English girl American man
[Chorus]
song performed by by Red Hot Chili Peppers from Californication
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Santa Claus Is Coming Back To Town
(roxie dean, sonny tillis)
He was always santa claus to them
Every year hed magically appear here in our den
They would laugh and tease and say you look a lot like dad
Hed just smile and ask, have you been good or bad?
Oh, but life aint always like a holiday
Some things change, and sometimes people go their seperate ways
He just called and said hed like to be here for the kids
Wish them merry christmas when they open up their gifts
And even though it might be hard on me
How can I let them down?
So santa claus is coming back to town
Here it is christmas eve - the kids are sleeping
Lights flashing in the trees - I keep thinking
Tomorrow Ill see him, tomorrow Ill see him
I guess I ought to try to go to bed
I cant rehearse tomorrow any longer in my head
Hell walk in so nonchalant, as if hed never gone
Theyll be glad to see him, Ill be barely hanging on
And just like that hell go and turn my whole world upside down
Santa claus is coming back to town
No its never really easy when this time of year rolls around
cause santa claus is coming back to town
song performed by by Reba Mcentire
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Depths Of Hell
Angels coming from above
Take the essence of his love
Challengers call him from al around
Demons coming from the ground
Battles won and nothing gained
Feel the pain
Feel the shock
From the depths of hell
Darkness dwelling in his soul
True damnation no control
Shattered pieces of his past
Broken dreams among the dead
When the smoke clears he will arise
Feel the pain
Feel the shock
From the depths of hell
song performed by by Iced Earth
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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People are always saying, English, English, English rose, and I just feel so completely different.
quote by Kristin Scott Thomas
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Last Year
I may be in my Junior year.
But next year is my last year.
As I look back on the time I’ve been here,
And it feels like my first day as a freshman.
No matter what year I’m in school, I will always be meeting new people.
Most of the people I meet is the people who had moved away,
Now coming back.
Half the friends you come in with,
Will end up being half the friends you won’t be friends with.
So far what I am trying to say is that you need cherish the moments you have.
In a blink of an eye it will all be over.
You say your years won’t be like that
And when you graduate you say where does it go.
My Last Year’s about to begin! !
poem by Natasha Knowles
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Emit Remmis
The california animal is a bear
Angeleo but the devil mat care
Summer time to talk to and swear
Later maybe we could share some air
Ill take to you the movies there
We could walk through Leicester Square
What could be wetter then
An English girl American man
London in the summer time
Call me now use the satellite
London in the summer time
Cuss me out and itll feel all right
Hesitate but dont refuse
The choice is yours but you said choose
The look she used was green and sharp
Stabbed that boy all in his heart
Come what may the cosmos will
Take me up and down on Primirose Hill
What could be wetter then
An English girl American man
London in the summer time
Call me now use the satellite
London in the summer time
Cuss me out and itll feel all right
Cuss me out and itll feel all right
Its all right now
Call me now use the satellite
Its all right
Its all right
Down and out and itll sound all right
Its all right now
Its all right
The California flower is a poppy child
Felony sends me all the gold in your smile
Drift away from anyone you can
Nothing ever goes according to plan
Though I know that every river bends
What could be wetter then
An English girl American man
London in the summer time
Call me now use the satellite
London in the summer time
Cuss me out and itll feel all right
song performed by by Red Hot Chili Peppers
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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