Shadowing Practice: "Add It Up" w/ lyrics by THE VIOLENT FEMMES - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

B1
Day after day I will walk and I will play
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66 sentences
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Day after day I will walk and I will play
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But the day after today I will stop
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And I will start
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Why can't I get just one kiss?
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Why can't I get just one kiss?
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Give you some things that I wouldn't miss.
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But I look at your pants and I need a kiss.
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Why can't I get just one screw?
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Why can't I get just one screw?
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Believe me, I know what to do.
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But something won't let me make love to you
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Why can't I get just one fuck?
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Why can't I get just one fuck?
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I guess I've got something to do with luck But I've waited my whole life for just one day
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Every day after day I get angry
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And I will say that the day is at my side When I take a bow and say goodnight
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Oh my, my, my, my,
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my, my, my, my, my mom Have you kept your eye,
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your eye on your son?
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I know you've had problems,
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you're not the only one When your sugar left,
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you left, you're on the run So mo,
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my, my, my, my, my,
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my, my, my mum Take a look now,
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look what your boy has done He's walking around like he's number one He went downtown
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and he got all my guns Don't shoot,
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shoot, shoot that thing at me Don't shoot,
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shoot, shoot that thing at me You know you've got my sympathy But don't shoot,
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shoot, shoot that thing at me You You That Thing
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I'm down kitchen at the top of the stairs.
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Can I mix in with your affairs?
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Share a smoke, make a joke.
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Grasp and reach for a leg of hope.
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Words to memorize, words hypnotize.
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Words make my mouth exercise.
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Words all fail the magic prize.
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Nothing I can say when I'm in your thighs.
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Come on, my, my, my, my, my, my mother.
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I would love to love you, lover.
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The city is restless, it's ready to pounce.
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Go here in your bedroom, ounce for ounce.
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And mo, ma, ma, ma,
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ma, ma, ma, ma, ma, ma.
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I would love to love you, lover.
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The city is restless, it's ready to pounce.
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Go here in in your bed.
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Don't pounce.
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I'm giving you a decision to make.
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Things to lose.
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Things to take.
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Just about ready to cut it up.
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She said, wait a minute, honey.
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I'm gonna add it up.
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I'm gonna add it up.
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Add it up.
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Add it up.
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Add it up.
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Add it up.
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You said you got it.
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You got it.
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Add it up.
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Add it up.
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After day, I get angry,
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and I will say that today, it's in my sight.
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When I take a bow and say goodnight.
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We'll see you next time.

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Context & Background

The song "Add It Up" by the Violent Femmes features a speaker expressing the trials and tribulations of love and desire. The lyrics convey feelings of frustration and longing, portraying a relatable struggle many face in their romantic lives. This emotional depth provides a rich context for English learners to engage with the language while also enhancing their vocabulary and understanding of idiomatic expressions.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • "Why can't I get just one kiss?" - A direct expression of desire, useful for discussing affection.
  • "I'm walking around like I'm number one." - A phrase that signifies confidence or perhaps arrogance, great for sharing self-perception.
  • "Don't shoot that thing at me." - A playful way to express discomfort or a plea for peace in a conversation.
  • "I've waited my whole life for just one day." - A powerful expression of longing, useful in discussions about dreams and aspirations.
  • "Make a joke, grasp and reach for a leg of hope." - This phrase combines humor with hope, ideal for light-hearted conversations.

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To effectively improve your English pronunciation and speaking skills using the song "Add It Up", follow this shadowing technique:

  1. Listen Actively: Start by listening to the song attentively. Pay close attention to the emotions and intonations used in the lyrics.
  2. Read Along: Follow the lyrics as you listen. This will help you connect the sounds with written words, enhancing your understanding of the language.
  3. Slow it Down: Use a tool to slow down the playback speed without altering the pitch. This makes it easier to mimic the speaker’s pronunciation.
  4. Repeat in Chunks: Break the lyrics into manageable parts. Focus on small phrases and repeat them after the speaker, imitating their rhythm and intonation.
  5. Practice Makes Perfect: Consistently practice daily using this method. Regular shadowing will significantly improve your English pronunciation, making you more confident in speaking, which is also beneficial for IELTS speaking practice.

By incorporating these phrases and following the shadowspeak techniques from this song, you’ll not only develop your vocabulary but also enhance your overall communication skills, paving the way towards fluency in English.

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

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