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Listening Activity: Let It Be by the Beatles
This listening activity is based on the famous song Let It Be by the Beatles. It is ideal for beginner and intermediate students and includes interesting language points such as simple future, present perfect simple, and conditional sentences.
Let’s begin with some information about the song!
Let It Be by The Beatles – Song Information
Let It Be is a song by the Beatles, a famous English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960.
Short Bio of The Beatles
The Beatles, formed in Liverpool in 1960, are one of the most influential bands in music history. Comprising John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, they revolutionized popular music with their innovative songwriting and eclectic style.
Their early hits like “She Loves You” and “I Want to Hold Your Hand” led to “Beatlemania” worldwide. Albums such as “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” and “Abbey Road” showcased their artistic growth.
The Beatles disbanded in 1970, but their legacy continues to inspire musicians and fans across generations.
Level
Beginner and intermediate students.
Facts about the song
- Song:
Let it be - Album:
Let it be - Genre:
Rock, pop, gospel - Length of the song:
3 minutes and 50 seconds. - Writer:
Lennon-McCartney - Produced by:
George Martin
Interesting information about the song
“Let It Be” was written and sung by Paul McCartney. It was the final single released by The Beatles before McCartney announced his departure from the band.
McCartney said he got the idea for “Let It Be” after dreaming about his mother during the tense period surrounding the sessions for The Beatles in 1968. Although McCartney insisted that the song’s reference to “Mother Mary” was not a biblical reference, the phrase has at times been interpreted as referring to the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ.
McCartney explained that his mother, who died of cancer when he was fourteen, was the inspiration for “Mother Mary.” When asked if the song referred to the Virgin Mary, McCartney has typically responded by assuring fans that they can interpret the song however they would like.
The video
Watch the clip:
The lyrics
Language points
The song includes many interesting language points:
Expressions that may be useful to students:
- When I find myself in times of trouble
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
And in my hour of darkness - She is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be - And when the broken hearted people
Living in the world agree
There will be an answer, let it be - For though they may be parted
There is still a chance that they will see
There will be an answer, let it be
Listening Task: Gap Fill Exercise
Fill in the gaps with the correct words from the box below:
- parted
- wisdom
- darkness
- broken
- cloudy
- whispers
- sound
- When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me, speaking words of __________.
- In my hour of __________, she stands in front of me, offering wisdom, let it be.
- She __________ words of wisdom, let it be.
- When the __________-hearted people agree, there will be an answer, let it be.
- Though they may be __________, there is still a chance they will see, there will be an answer, let it be.
- When the night is __________, a light still shines on me, let it be.
- I wake up to the __________ of music, Mother Mary comes to me, speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
Source: Wikipedia