Miley Cyrus’s popular song Flowers is a great example of how popular songs can be adapted for classroom use and initiate meaningful discussions. Apart from being especially popular on social media, it is appropriate for English language learning lessons and can be used as a listening gap fill activity as well as a lead in for a conversation on happiness, love and independence.
It underlines the fact that people can recover from breakups and enjoy life as much as before. Contrary to many other popular songs, it emphasises on the importance of emotional independence and assertiveness. That’s why we have chosen it for this article, which includes a gap fill activity as well as conversation questions on the topic. The worksheet is free and available in PDF version. You can download our free printable song worksheet or do the activities online. Happy listening!
We were good, we were gold
Kind of _________that can't be sold
We were right 'til we weren't
Built a home and watched it _________
Hum, I didn't wanna leave you
I didn't wanna ___________
Started to cry, but then remembered I
I can buy myself ___________
Write my name in the sand
Talk to myself for ___________
Say things you don't understand
I can take ___________dancing
And I can hold my own hand
Yeah, I can love me better ___________you can
Can love me better
I can love me better, baby
Can love me better
I can love me better, baby
Paint my ___________cherry-red
Match the roses that you left
No remorse, no ____________
I forgive every word you said
Ooh, I didn't wanna leave, baby
I didn't wanna ____________
Started to cry, but then remembered I
I can buy myself ___________
Write my name in the sand
Talk to myself for _____________
Say things you don't understand
I can take _____________dancing
And I can hold my own hand
Yeah, I can love me better _________you can
Can love me better
I can love me better, baby
Can love me better
I can love me better, baby
Can love me better
I can love me better, baby
Can love me better, ooh, I
I didn't wanna leave you
I didn't wanna ____________
Started to cry, but then remembered I
(CHORUS)
- What is the overall message of the song?
- How does the song question the notion of relying on someone else for happiness and love?
- What are some examples of the singer feeling independent and able to do things on their own in the song?
- Discuss the emotions expressed in the song and how they evolve throughout the lyrics.
- What are the society norms about happiness?
- Are single people seen as happy or the other way round? Why?
- How do people usually experience breakups?
- Have you ever helped a friend get over their break up?
- Should our happiness depend on romantic relationships, relationships in general or can we be totally independent from others?
We were good, we were gold
Kind of dream that can't be sold
We were right 'til we weren't
Built a home and watched it burn
Hum, I didn't wanna leave you
I didn't wanna lie
Started to cry, but then remembered I
I can buy myself flowers
Write my name in the sand
Talk to myself for hours
Say things you don't understand
I can take myself dancing
And I can hold my own hand
Yeah, I can love me better than you can
Can love me better
I can love me better, baby
Can love me better
I can love me better, baby
Paint my nails cherry-red
Match the roses that you left
No remorse, no regret
I forgive every word you said
Ooh, I didn't wanna leave, baby
I didn't wanna fight
Started to cry, but then remembered I
I can buy myself flowers
Write my name in the sand
Talk to myself for hours
Say things you don't understand
I can take myself dancing
And I can hold my own hand
Yeah, I can love me better than you can
Can love me better
I can love me better, baby
Can love me better
I can love me better, baby
Can love me better
I can love me better, baby
Can love me better, ooh, I
I didn't wanna leave you
I didn't wanna fight
Started to cry, but then remembered I
(CHORUS)
