Table of Contents
Listening Activity
This listening activity is based on the song “My Name is Luka by Susan Vega“. The song lyrics are beautiful and ideal for English learners and include many interesting language topics, such as introducing oneself, the present perfect simple, and conditional sentences.
Let’s start with some information about the song!
My Name is Luka by Susan Vega
“Luka” is a song recorded by Suzanne Vega. This page provides information about the song and links to the lyrics and the official video.
My Name is Luka by Susan Vega
Level
Beginner and intermediate students.
Facts about the Song
- Song: Luka
- Album: Solitude Standing
- Date of release: 1987
- Genre: Alternative rock
- Length of the song: 3 minutes and 48 seconds.
- Writer: Susan Vega
Interesting Information about the Song
“Luka,” a poignant song by American singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega, was released as the second single from her 1987 album Solitude Standing. The song achieved significant success, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and charting in the top 10 in several countries, including Sweden, Austria, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa. Notably, it remains Vega’s highest-charting hit in the U.S. and features background vocals by Shawn Colvin.
The song’s impact was recognized with Grammy nominations in 1988 for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Additionally, Vega recorded a Spanish-language version of the track.
“Luka” addresses the sensitive topic of child abuse through the story of a young boy named Luka. In a 1987 Swedish TV special, Vega shared that the character was inspired by a child she observed playing near her home. Although Luka’s real-life counterpart was not abused, he stood out from the other children, which inspired Vega to write about a character facing such a harsh reality.
The Video
The Lyrics
Language Points
The song includes many interesting language points:
Expressions that may be useful to students:
- My name is Luka
I live on the second floor
I live upstairs from you - Yes I think you’ve seen me before
- If you hear something late at night
Some kind of trouble. some kind of fight
Just don’t ask me what it was
Listening Comprehension
Sentence Completion Exercise
Complete these sentences while listening to the song:
- My name is ________; I live on the ________ floor.
- If you hear something late at night, some kind of ________, some kind of ________.
- They only hit until you ________, and after that you don’t ask ________.
- I walked into the door again; if you ask, that’s what I’ll ________.
- I guess I’d like to be alone with nothing ________, nothing ________.
Gap-Fill Exercise
These words are used in the lyrics of the song:
- Clumsy: Lacking skill or grace in movement or action.
- Proud: Feeling deep pleasure or satisfaction in one’s achievements.
- Argue: To exchange opposing views, typically in a heated or angry way.
- Cry: To shed tears as a response to emotion.
- Trouble: Difficulty or problems that cause distress.
- Alone: Having no one else present; on one’s own.
- Upstairs: The floor or floors of a building higher than the ground floor.
Complete these sentences with the words provided above:
- He was so ________ that he accidentally knocked over the vase.
- She felt ________ after receiving the award for her hard work.
- They began to ________ about the best way to solve the problem.
- The movie was so touching that it made everyone ________.
- The company faced serious ________ after the new regulations were introduced.
- After a long day, she just wanted to be ________ and relax with a good book.
- The cat loves to sleep ________ where it’s quiet and peaceful.
Source: Wikipedia
