"Stormy Monday"--Eva Cassidy and T-Bone Walker

Eva Cassidy sings her version, recorded in Washington, DC, recorded shortly before her 33rd birthday. She died later that year.



Audio only:

Here's the same song performed by its writer, T-Bone Walker:


T-Bone Walker - Stormy Monday Blues по soulpatrol

Audio only:

Words by Aaron Thibeaux "T-Bone" Walker, the first musician ever recorded playing an electric guitar.

They call it stormy Monday,
but Tuesday's just as bad
They call it stormy Monday,
but Tuesday's just as bad
Wednesday's worse,
and Thursday's also sad

Yes the eagle flies on Friday,
and Saturday I go out to play
Eagle flies on Friday,
and Saturday I go out to play
Sunday I go to church,
then I kneel down and pray

Lord have mercy,
Lord have mercy on me
Lord have mercy,
my heart's in misery
Crazy about my baby,
yes, send her back to me

(Note that Eva Cassidy made a few changes in her version.)

Johnny Cash, "Folsom Prison Blues"

NEXT WEEK (December 29), Institute Groups 501 and 502 (Аудирование) will have a test.

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Audio only:

Words by Johnny Cash:

I hear the train a coming
It's rolling 'round the bend,
And I ain't seen the sunshine,
Since I don't know when,
I'm stuck in Folsom Prison,
And time keeps draggin' on,
But that train keeps a-rollin',
On down to San Antone. [San Antonio, Texas]

When I was just a baby,
My Mama told me, "Son,
Always be a good boy,
Don't ever play with guns."
But I shot a man in Reno,
Just to watch him die,
When I hear that whistle blowin',
I hang my head and cry.

I bet there's rich folks eatin',
In a fancy dining car,
They're probably drinkin' coffee,
And smokin' big cigars,
Well, I know I had it comin',
I know I can't be free,
But those people keep a-movin',
And that's what tortures me.

Well, if they freed me from this prison,
If that railroad train was mine,
I bet I'd move it all a little,
Farther down the line,
Far from Folsom Prison,
That's where I want to stay,
And I'd let that lonesome whistle,
Blow my Blues away.

Institute 501, 502: An interview with Richard Branson

NEXT WEEK (December 29), we will have a test.

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Here are the questions we used in class:

1. Richard Branson is known for starting several companies. Name two of them.
2. Why did people think buying a secondhand plane and starting a new airline was crazy?
3. To help his fledgling airline financially survive combat with British Airways, what was Branson forced to do?
4. Total employees in Branson's group of companies: choose... (a) 10-25,000; (b) 25,001 to 50,000; (c) 50,001 to 75,000; (d) 75,001 to 100,000.
5. Philippe Starcke designed several aspects of Branson's space program, but why was he not the ideal person to design the engine? What was the basis of his design of the launching and landing facility?
6. When Anderson asks, «What was the closest you got to--when did you think this is it, I might be on my way out?»--what kind of situation is he referring to?
7. According to the interviewer, Branson's companies benefited from his balloon adventures in what way?
8. What were some of Branson's characteristics as a pupil in school?
9. What image or metaphor finally helped Branson understand the difference between gross and net?
10. Anderson says that Branson has been accused of being a ruthless businessman. How does Branson respond?
11. What is the problem with capitalism that «capitalist philanthropy» is intended to address?
12. What are two major problems that Branson's capitalist philanthropy is trying to help solve?
13. What Russian-born software engineer did Branson mention as a personal friend?

"Just a Dream" / "Just a Feeling"

Kim Wilson

Little Walter

This song was originally recorded by Little Walter at the legendary Chess studio in Chicago. Here's his version:



It can be found on this album, which I love!--The Essential Little Walter.

The version I used in class was by Kim Wilson. He's playing as part of Mark Hummel's Blues Harp Meltdown, Vol. 1.

Here's Kim Wilson's version:



The words are by Little Walter (Marion Walter Jacobs), but I've modified them to follow Kim Wilson's performance:

Just a feelin', a feelin' I had on my mind
Just a feeling, a feelin' I had on my mind
You know, I lay down dreaming,
I woke up this morning screamin' and cryin'

Just a dream, a dream I dreamed last night
Just a dream, a dream I dreamed last night
I do everything to try to please you,
But still I ain't doin' [it] right

Just another pain, really [it] hurts so bad
Just another pain, really it hurts so bad
You know it's the worst old feeling*
A man most ever had

Black night is fallin',
you know the pain is comin' down again
Deep black night is fallin',
the pain is comin' down again
You know I feel so worried,
Junior, I ain't got no friend

*Originally: Got the funniest feelin'

Roger Miller, "King of the Road"

Filmed in Los Angeles, California, in 1966:



Audio only:

Words by Roger Miller:

Trailers for sale or rent
Rooms to let...fifty cents.
No phone, no pool, no pets
I ain't got no cigarettes
Ah, but..two hours of pushin' broom
Buys an eight by twelve four-bit room
I'm a man of means by no means
King of the road.

Third boxcar, midnight train
Destination...Bangor, Maine.
Old worn out suits and shoes,
I don't pay no union dues,
I smoke old stogies I have found
Short, but not too big around
I'm a man of means by no means
King of the road.

I know every engineer on every train
All of their children, and all of their names
And every handout in every town
And every lock that ain't locked when no one's around.

I sing, trailers for sale or rent
Rooms to let, fifty cents
No phone, no pool, no pets
I ain't got no cigarettes
Ah, but, two hours of pushin' broom
Buys an eight by twelve four-bit room
I'm a man of means by no means
King of the road.

Trailers for sale or rent … [to fade]

Friday, December 23, 6 PM: The Holiday

We'll be showing the film (with subtitles) in Room 16.

School groups 201-206: No homework; test next week

I'm not giving you any homework this week.

Next week (December 26-30) we'll have a miniature ЕГЭ test using the "official" forms:

NGI 501, 502: Pamela Meyer, "How to Spot a Liar"

Subtitles: After you push the play button, a pull-down menu for subtitles will appear to the right of the button.

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Questions for the class:

1. What is the basic proposition with which Meyer begins her lecture?
2. Meyer advises: «If you don't want to be deceived, you have to know...» what?
3. In considering why people lie, what is one of the differences between men and women?
4. Do married couples lie to each other more or less often than unmarried pairs?
5. Meyer says, «By the time we enter this work world and we're breadwinners, we enter a world that is just cluttered with spam, fake digital friends, partisan media, ingenious identity thieves, world-class Ponzi schemers, a deception epidemic--in short, what one author calls a post-truth society.» Have you had personal experience with examples of any of these? Which?
6. What is a «non-contracted denial»?
7. What example of «distancing language» did Meyer cite?
8. What is different about the way a lying person smiles?
9. Why do trained interrogators ask people to repeat their stories and tell them backwards?
10. What is «duping delight»?
11. Why is contempt worse or more dangerous than anger?
12. Meyer cites the saying, «Character is who you are in the dark.» What does she mean by that?
13. Meyer ends by saying, «When you combine the science of recognizing deception with the art of looking, listening, you exempt yourself from...» What are you actually saying «no» to? 

Homework for 200-level classes: Which do you prefer, letters or essays?

You have received the following letter from your pen friend Johan, who writes:

Some of my students prefer writing essays, because they have more freedom to write what they want. Others prefer writing letters, because they are shorter and the expectations are clearer. Which kind of homework do you prefer—essays or letters? Why? How long does the assignment take to complete?

I’m writing a paper for an educational conference in March. Teachers have homework, too!

In 100-140 words (twenty minutes), reply to Johan’s letter. Answer his three questions, and ask three questions about his paper or the conference in March. Remember the rules of letter-writing.

Please bring your letter to class during the week starting December 19.

Homework for 200-level classes: What instrument should Sean play?

This is part of a letter from Sean, your English-speaking pen friend.

... I'm thinking of starting music lessons. Do you play any instruments? Have you ever had lessons? I'm not really sure what instrument to choose. What do you suggest? I want to play rock music, I think.

My older brother is home for a few weeks. He's a grad student at the University of Chicago, so we don't see him very often.

Write back to Sean. Answer his questions, and ask him three questions about his brother. Write 100-140 words. Remember the rules of letter-writing.

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Adapted from Elena Klekovkina, Malcolm Mann, Steve Taylore-Knowles, Practice Tests for the Russian State Exam. Moscow, Macmillan Russia, 2006.

Imelda May, "I'm Alive"

There are several videos of Imelda May singing "I'm Alive" on the World Wide Web. Here's one:



Just the audio:

(written by Imelda May; adapted to follow track)

Smother me with your kisses Bury me in your arms Oh the love that this is has chained me to your charms Oh lock me up in your heart Drown me in your eyes 'Cos when you hold me, I'm alive You wash me clean of all sadness You cleanse me of all doubt Now this new born feeling I can't live without You've drugged me I'm addicted I'm drunk just on your smile 'Cos when you hold me, I'm alive I'm alive to each fingertip To the end of each fine hair My lips it seems, with every kiss, Are sending thankful prayers. You've woken a part of my soul That's slept for way too long Now I just can't get enough I understand love songs I'll sing to you forever I'll love you 'til I die 'Cos when you hold me, I'm alive

I'm alive to each fingertip To the end of each fine hair My lips it seems, with every kiss, Are sending thankful prayers. You've woken a part of my soul That's slept for way too long Now I just can't get enough I understand love songs I'll sing to you forever I'll love you 'til I die 'Cos when you hold me, I'm alive Buy the track: