Listening - Song - Rocket Man - Elton John (B1)

Watch the video and complete the activities below.

ACTIVITIES

Part 1: Verse 1 - Gap Fill

Listen to the first verse and complete the lyrics using the words from the box below. There is one extra word you do not need to use.

[ packed / timeless / kite / lonely / flight ]

She my bags last night, pre-flight

Zero hour, 9 a.m.
And I'm gonna be high as a by then

I miss the Earth so much, I miss my wife
It's out in space

On such a flight

Part 2: Chorus 1 - Unscramble the Lines

Listen to the chorus. The words in the sentences below are mixed up. Drag and drop them in the correct order to form the lyrics.

5.

think

gonna

long,

it's

long

I

a

time

and

be

6.

find

brings

'til

'round

touchdown

me

again

to

(Ooh)

7.

the

think

I

not

man

am

home

they

I'm

at

(Ooh)

8.

no

no

Oh,

no

(ah)

9.

rocket

man

a

I'm

10.

up

fuse

burnin'

alone

man

here

out

his

Rocket

Part 3: Verse 2 - Spot the Mistake

Listen to the second verse carefully. Each line below has one incorrect word. Click on the wrong word and write the correct one in the box.

11. Mars isn't the kind of place to raise your kids.

Correction:

12. In fact, it's hot as hell.

Correction:

13. And there's no one there to raise them if you do.

Correction:

14. And all the science, I can't understand.

Correction:

15. It's just my work five days a week.
A rocket man
A rocket man

Correction:

Part 4: Chorus 2, Chorus 3 & Outro - Sing Along!

The chorus repeats here. No exercises for this part—just read, listen, and sing along to practice your pronunciation!

And I think it's gonna be a long, long time
(Ooh) 'til touchdown brings me 'round again to find
(Ooh) I'm not the man they think I am at home
Oh, no, no, no (ah)
I'm a rocket man
Rocket man burnin' out his fuse up here alone

And I think it's gonna be a long, long time
(Ooh) 'til touchdown brings me 'round again to find
(Ooh) I'm not the man they think I am at home
Oh, no, no, no (ah)
I'm a rocket man
Rocket man burnin' out his fuse up here alone
And I think it's gonna be a long, long time...

Part 5: Vocabulary & Interpretation

This song has some amazing vocabulary! Choose the best option to explain the meaning of the expressions used in the song.

16. What does the expression "high as a kite" mean in the context of this song?

a) To build and fly a toy in the sky.

b) To be physically very high up and feeling detached from reality.

c) To travel very fast in an airplane.

d) To be afraid of heights.

17. The singer says he is "burnin' out his fuse". What does this imply?

a) He is fixing an electrical problem in his spaceship.

b) He is lighting a fire to stay warm in space.

c) He is cooking his food while flying.

d) He is exhausting his energy and dealing with high stress alone.

18. When he sings "Mars ain't the kind of place to raise your kids", what is his opinion of Mars?

a) It has excellent schools for children.

b) It is a hostile, difficult environment for a family.

c) It is too expensive to buy a house there.

d) It is a fun place for a summer vacation.

19. What is the meaning of the word "touchdown" in this song?

a) Scoring points in an American football game.

b) Touching the controls of the rocket ship.

c) The moment a spacecraft (or airplane) lands back on the ground.

d) Meeting his wife again after a long trip.