ESL and EFL teachers thinking about using songs and lyrics to stimulate class discussions will find this table we've compiled a useful resource.

Highlighted songs are those available as complete lesson plans here on tefltunes.com...

Business & Money	Songs about jobs & work	Dolly Parton / Nine To Five (lyrics) Shania Twain / Not Just A Pretty Face (lyrics) The Kinks / Nine To Five (lyrics)
	Songs about wealth	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	Men At Work / Land Down Under (lyrics) Midnight Oil / Beds Are Burning (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	Johnny Cash / Galway Bay (lyrics) U2 / Beautiful Day (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	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	Madness / Driving In My Car Chris Rea / Driving Home For Christmas (lyrics)
	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)

Please contact us with your own suggestions.

Also see our table of songs to teach English grammar.

If you found this table of songs for discussion topics useful, why not link to this page?


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