Listening - Song - Sugar, We're Goin Down - Fall Out Boy (B2)

Read the instructions and complete the activity below before playing the video.

Activity 1: Pre-Listening Vocabulary Match

Before you press play, let's look at some advanced vocabulary from the song. Drag the words/expressions to their correct definitions (A-E).

To bargain for

Mausoleum

To go down swinging

God complex

To take aim

A. (Noun) A large, impressive tomb or building that contains graves.

B. (Idiom) To fail or lose, but continue to fight and try your hardest until the very end.

C. (Phrasal Verb) To expect or be prepared for something (usually used in negative sentences or questions).

D. (Phrase) To direct something (like criticism, or a weapon) at a specific target.

E. (Noun) An arrogant belief that you are all-powerful, perfect, and cannot make mistakes.

Watch the video and complete the activities below.

ACTIVITIES

Activity 2: Follow the Lyrics & Complete the Tasks

[Verse 1] - Gap Fill (Cloze)
Listen to the first verse and fill in the blanks with the correct words from the box below:

bargained  •  dying  •  mausoleum

Am I more than you for yet?

I've been to tell you anything you wanna hear

'Cause that's just who I am this week
Lie in the grass next to the

I'm just a notch in your bedpost, but you're just a line in a song
(Notch in your bedpost, but you're just a line in a song)

[Pre-Chorus] - Read along Drop a heart
And break a name
We're always sleeping in, and sleeping
For the wrong team

[Chorus] - Unscramble the Lines
Listen to the chorus. The lines below are out of order. Drag and drop them to the correct order (1 to 4).

And sugar, we're going down swinging

I'll be your number one with a bullet

We're going down, down in an earlier round

A loaded god complex, cock it and pull it

[Verse 2] - Spot the Mistake
There are 4 incorrect words in this verse. Listen closely, click on the wrong word in each line to select it, and write the correct word in the box.

Is this less than you bargained for yet?

Correction:

Oh, don't mind me, I'm looking you two from the closet

Correction:

Wishing to be the friction in your shoes

Correction:

Isn't it messed up how I'm just dying to be her?

Correction:

I'm just a notch in your bedpost, but you're just a line in a song
(Notch in your bedpost, but you're just a line in a song)

[Pre-Chorus & Chorus] - Read along Drop a heart
And break a name
We're always sleeping in, and sleeping
For the wrong team

We're going down, down in an earlier round
And sugar, we're going down swinging
I'll be your number one with a bullet
A loaded god complex, cock it and pull it
We're going down, down in an earlier round
And sugar, we're going down swinging
I'll be your number one with a bullet
A loaded god complex, cock it and pull it

[Bridge] - Read along Down, down in an earlier round
And sugar, we're going down swinging
I'll be your number one with a bullet
A loaded god complex, cock it and pull it

[Outro] - Fill in the Background Vocals
Listen to the backing vocals (the voices singing in the background) and click the correct phrase you hear.

We're going down, down in an earlier round
( take aim / blame at myself )

And sugar, we're going down swinging
( take back / black what you said )

I'll be your number one with a bullet
( take aim / blame at myself )

A loaded god complex, cock it and pull it
We're going down, down (down, down)
Down, down (down, down)
We're going down, down (down, down)
A loaded god complex, cock it and pull it

We're going down, down in an earlier round
( take aim / blame at myself )

And sugar, we're going down swinging
( take back / black what you said )

I'll be your number one with a bullet
( take aim / blame at myself )

A loaded god complex, cock it and pull it

Activity 3: Song Interpretation (Multiple Choice)

Now that you've listened to the song, let's analyze some of its clever wordplay. Choose the correct interpretation for each question.

1. In the pre-chorus, the singer says "Drop a heart and break a name". This is a clever inversion of two common English idioms. What are the original idioms?

a) Break a heart / Drop a name (mentioning famous people to impress others)

b) Drop a tear / Break a rule

c) Break a leg / Drop the subject

2. Based on the vocabulary we studied, what is the best interpretation of the line "And sugar, we're going down swinging"?

a) We are going to a dance party and we will swing to the music.

b) We are failing or losing our relationship, but we are going to fight for it until the very end.

c) We are going downstairs to play on the playground swings.

3. If someone has a "god complex", how do they likely behave in a relationship?

a) They are very religious and spiritual.

b) They are incredibly humble and always apologize.

c) They are arrogant, believe they are always right, and try to control everything.