ESL and EFL teachers looking for inspiration to stimulate class discussions will find this list of songs to teach ESL topics we’ve compiled a useful resource.
Highlighted are songs available as complete ESL song lesson plans here on tefltunes.com.
Business & Money
Songs about jobs & work
Shania Twain / Not Just A Pretty Face (lyrics)
Dolly Parton / Nine To Five (lyrics)
The Kinks / Nine To Five (lyrics)
Songs about wealth & poverty
Travie McCoy / Billionaire (lyrics)
Barenaked Ladies / If I Had $1,000,000 (lyrics)
Gwen Stefani / Rich Girl (lyrics)
Spin Doctors / Two Princes (lyrics)
Culture & Customs
Songs for Australia Day
Midnight Oil / Beds Are Burning (lyrics)
Men At Work / Land Down Under (lyrics)
Songs for Christmas
Bing Crosby / White Christmas (lyrics)
Chris Rea / Driving Home For Christmas (lyrics)
Songs for Halloween
Michael Jackson / Thriller (lyrics)
Sting / Moon Over Bourbon Street (lyrics)
Songs for St Patrick’s Day
U2 / Beautiful Day (lyrics)
Johnny Cash / Galway Bay (lyrics)
Songs for Valentine’s Day
Barry Louis polisar / All I Want Is You (lyrics)
Linkin Park / Valentine’s Day (lyrics)
Madness / It Must Be Love (lyrics)
Education
Songs about bullying
Nizlopi / JCB Song (lyrics)
Superchick / Hero
Songs about school
Busted / What I Go To School For (lyrics)
Alice Cooper / School’s Out (lyrics)
Environment & Natural World
Songs about the environment
Joni Mitchell / Big Yellow Taxi
Michael Jackson / Earth Song
The Kinks / Apeman (lyrics)
The Kinks / A Gallon Of Gas (lyrics)
Songs about the weather
Bing Crosby / Let It Snow (lyrics)
Madonna / Rain (lyrics)
The Beatles / Here Comes The Sun (lyrics)
Travis / Why Does It Always Rain On Me? (lyrics)
Fashion & Beauty
Songs about beauty
Bob Dylan / Ugliest Girl In The World (lyrics)
Christina Aguilera / Beautiful (lyrics)
Right Said Fred / I’m Too Sexy (lyrics)
Sugababes / Ugly (lyrics)
Songs about fashion
Paolo Nutini / New Shoes (lyrics)
The Kinks / Dedicated Follower Of Fashion (lyrics)
Food & Drink
Songs about food & drink
Beach Boys / Vegetables (lyrics)
Oliver / Food Glorious Food (lyrics)
The Kinks / Have A Cuppa Tea (lyrics)
The Kinks / Maximum Consumption (lyrics)
ZZ Top / TV Dinners (lyrics)
Weird Al Yankovic / Eat It
Songs about food shopping
B. Springsteen / Queen Of The Supermarket (lyrics)
They Might Be Giants / I Am A Grocery Bag (lyrics)
Health & Fitness
Songs about good health
Nina Simone / I Got Life (lyrics)
Songs about illness
Bon Jovi / Bad Medicine (lyrics)
Athlete / Wires (lyrics)
My Chemical Romance / Cancer (lyrics)
Flaming Lips / Spiderbite Song (lyrics)
History
Songs about past times
Brian Adams / Summer of ’69 (lyrics)
Media & Entertainment
Songs about fame & celebrity
Brian McFadden / Real To Me (lyrics)
Britney Spears / Piece Of Me (lyrics)
Jennifer Lopez / Jenny From The Block (lyrics)
Lily Allen / The Fear (lyrics)
Lady GaGa / Paparazzi (lyrics)
Songs about art
Vincent / Don McLean (lyrics)
Norah Jones / Painter Song
Life & Relationships
Songs about arguments
Arctic Monkeys / Mardy Bum (lyrics)
Black Eyed Peas / Shut Up (lyrics)
Deep Purple / The Spanish Archer (lyrics)
Songs about divorce
Pink / Family Portrait (lyrics)
Usher / Papers (lyrics)
Songs about feeling low
Bobby McFerrin / Don’t Worry Be Happy (lyrics)
Oasis / Stop Crying Your Heart Out (lyrics)
Songs about honesty
Beyonce Knowles / Honesty (lyrics)
Mr Hudson / White Lies (lyrics)
Songs about jealousy
Busted / Who’s David? (lyrics)
John Lennon / Jealous Guy (lyrics)
Songs about love & marriage
Barry Louis Polisar / All I Want Is You (lyrics)
Robbie Williams / Something Stupid (lyrics)
Songs about suicide
Good Charlotte / Hold On (lyrics)
Missy Higgins / The River (lyrics)
Songs about unrequited love
James Blunt / You’re Beautiful
Radiohead / Creep (lyrics)
Politics & Social Issues
Songs about conspiracy theory
Mike & The Mechanics / Silent Running (lyrics)
Muse / Rule By Secrecy (lyrics)
REM / Man On The Moon (lyrics)
Songs about homelessness
Genesis / Man On The Corner (lyrics)
Phil Collins / Another Day In Paradise (lyrics)
Stereophonics / Lying In The Sun (lyrics)
Songs about war
Black Eyed Peas / Where Is The Love? (lyrics)
Bob Dylan / Blowing In The Wind (lyrics)
Green Day / Holiday (lyrics)
John Lennon / Happy Xmas (War Is Over) (lyrics)
Science & Technology
Songs about space
Elton John / Rocket Man (lyrics)
The Killers / Spaceman (lyrics)
Songs about technology
Queen / Radio Ga Ga
Radiohead / Fitter Happier (lyrics)
The Buggles / Video Killed The Radio Star (lyrics)
Travel & Transport
Songs about driving
Chris Rea / Driving Home For Christmas (lyrics)
Madness / Driving In My Car
Songs about flying
John Denver / Leaving On A Jetplane (lyrics)
Lenny Kravitz / Fly Away (lyrics)
Michael Buble / Come Fly With Me (lyrics)
Songs about places
Alicia Keys / Empire State Of Mind (lyrics)
Elton John / Belfast (lyrics)
Stereophonics / Nice To Be Out (lyrics)
Sting / Englishman In New York
Tony Christie / Amarillo (lyrics)
Will Smith / Miami (lyrics)
Feel free to contact us with your own suggestions.
Also see our table of songs to teach English grammar.
If you found this list of songs for discussion topics useful, why not link to this page?
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