Across The Lines – Tracy Chapman – Notes
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Activity types: Prediction, listening for specific words, gap fill, writing.
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Level: Elementary / Pre-Intermediate
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Time: 20 mins.
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Note: This song is taken from Tracy Chapman’s eponymous 1988 debut album. It is based on an
incident in her childhood, when, as a 13 year-old in Cleveland, she was attacked by a group of white
children. It was reported in the local newspaper, but the blame was placed as much on Tracy as her
attackers – the story prompted a full-blown race riot in the city.
1.
Write the title of the song on the board. Tell students that this song is about the relationship
between races. Ask the following prediction questions.
•
•
•
Which races do you think the song is about?
Do you think it is going to be about a good or bad relationship?
What do you think will happen in the song?
2.
Give each student a copy of the worksheet. Ask them to fold the page so they cannot
see the lyrics. Ask them to read the True/False questions.
3.
Look at the word ordering exercise. Ask them to write the correct number beside each
word according to when it appears in the song. (Note if a word appears more than once,
they should note just the first time it occurs.) Play the song - students order the words
and answer the True / False exercise.
Keys:
-
The song implies there is peace between blacks and whites in the USA
The people in the song are happy
A black person is in danger
A white person is in danger
A black person commits a crime
A white person commits a crime
5. America
1. bridge
6. girl
11. people
3. riots
2. blacks
10. boy
8. newspaper
4. streets
False
False
True
True
True
True
7. reason
12. angry
9. racist
4.
Tell students to unfold the worksheet and look at the lyrics. Ask them which of the
words in the given list can be used to fill the gaps? (Note that not all the missing words
are on the list.)
5.
Play the song, students check their answers to the previous activities and complete the
lyrics.
6.
Sing the song together.
7.
Follow up: Homework Activity. Write a short newspaper article (at least 100 words)
based on the events in the song.
This worksheet is to be used for educational purposes only
Activity © Tune into English 2008 – www.tuneintoenglish.com
Worksheet written by Prof. Auxiliadora Pérez Vides, Huelva, Spain
Across The Lines – Tracy Chapman
Listen to the song. Mark the following sentences True (T) or False (F)
-
The song implies there is peace between blacks and whites in the USA
The people in the song are happy
A black person is in danger
A white person is in danger
A black person commits a crime
A white person commits a crime
T
T
T
T
T
T
F
F
F
F
F
F
Number these words in the order they appear in the song.
America
people
boy
reason
bridge
riot
newspaper
angry
girl
blacks
street
racist
__________________________________________________FOLD_______________________________________________
Chorus:
Across the lines
Who would dare to go
Under the _______________
Over the tracks
That separates _______________ from blacks
Choose sides
Or run for your _______________
_______________ the riots begin
On back streets of America
They kill the _______________ of America
Little black girl gets assaulted
Ain’t no reason why
Newspaper prints the _______________
And racist tempers fly
Next day it starts a riot
Knives and guns are drawn
Two black boys get killed
One white boy goes _______________
Repeat Chorus
Little black girl gets assaulted
Don’t no one know her _______________
Lots of people hurt and angry
She’s the one to _______________
Repeat Chorus
This worksheet is to be used for educational purposes only
Activity © Tune into English 2008 – www.tuneintoenglish.com
Worksheet written by Prof. Auxiliadora Pérez Vides, Huelva, Spain
‘
Across The Lines – Tracy Chapman - Complete
‘
Across the lines
Who would dare to go
Under the bridge
Over the tracks
That separates whites from blacks
Choose sides
Or run for your lives
Tonight the riots begin
On back streets of America
They kill the dream of America
Little black girl gets assaulted
Ain’t no reason why
Newspaper prints the story
And racist tempers fly
Next day it starts a riot
Knives and guns are drawn
Two black boys get killed
One white boy goes blind
Across the lines
Who would dare to go
Under the bridge
Over the tracks
That separates whites from blacks
Choose sides
Or run for your lives
Tonight the riots begin
On back streets of America
They kill the dream of America
Little black girl gets assaulted
Don’t no one know her name
Lots of people hurt and angry
She’s the one to blame
Across the lines
Who would dare to go
Under the bridge
Over the tracks
That separates whites from blacks
Choose sides
Or run for your lives
Tonight the riots begin
On back streets of America
They kill the dream of America
This worksheet is to be used for educational purposes only
Activity © Tune into English 2008 – www.tuneintoenglish.com
Worksheet written by Prof. Auxiliadora Pérez Vides, Huelva, Spain