lyrics and worksheet for "two thousand years"

Two Thousand Years 

by Billy Joel (from the album « River of dreams »

In the beginning there was the cold and the night

Prophets and angels gave us the fire and the light

Man was triumphant

Armed with the faith and the will

That even the darkest ages couldn’t kill.

Too many kingdoms

Too many flags on the field

So many battles, so many wounds to be healed

Time is relentless

Only true love perseveres

It’s been a long time and now I’m with you

After two thousand years.

This is our moment

Here at the crossroads of time

We hope our children carry our dreams down the line

They are the vintage

What kind of life will they live?

Is this a curse or a blessing that we give?

Sometimes I wonder

Why are we so blind to fate?

Without compassion, there can be no end to hate

No end to sorrow

Caused by the same endless fears

Why can’t we learn from all we’ve been through

After two thousand years?

There will be miracles

After the last war is won

Science and poetry rule in the new world to come

Prophets and angels

Gave us the power to see

What an amazing future there will be.

And in the evening

After the fire and the light

One thing is certain, nothing can hold back the night

Time is relentless

And as the past disappears

We’re on the verge of all things new

We are two thousand years.

  Two Thousand Years 

by Billy Joel (from the album « River of dreams »

In the _________________ there was the _________ and the ___________

Prophets and angels __________ us the _________ and the ____________

Man was triumphant

____________ with the faith and the will

That even the darkest ages ______________ _________.

Too _________ kingdoms

Too _________ ______________ on the field

So many battles, so many wounds to be ______________

_______________ is relentless

Only ___________ _________ perseveres

_______ ____________ a long time and now I’m __________ _________

_________ two thousand years.

 

                      match the beginning and the end of these sentences / put in order

they are the vintage

of time

that we give

moment

here at the crossroads                              

 this is our 

we hope our children

what kind of life 

carry our dreams down the 

will they live?

line

is this a curse or a blessing 

Sometimes I _______________

Why ________ ___________ so blind to fate?

Without compassion, there ________  __________ no end to hate

No ________ to sorrow

____________ by the same endless ___________

Why can’t we ___________ from all we’ve ______________ ____________________

________ _________ ___________________ _______________?

There _________ _______ miracles

After the last war _______ __________

_____________ and poetry _____________ in the new world to __________

Prophets and angels

___________ us the power to see

What an _______________ future there _________ _________.

And in the _____________

____________ the fire and the light

One thing _____ _____________, nothing ________ hold ___________ the night

_________ is relentless

And as the past ______________

We’re ______ _________ verge _____ all things _________

______ __________ two thousand years.

Worksheet for “Two thousand Years”

WORDS

Find synonyms in the song for:

· The Middle Ages

· merciless

· made better / made healthy

· lasts

· dividing point / junction

· inevitable destiny

· govern

· great sadness

· goes away

· on the point of 

Find the translations in the song:

• tant de luttes
• une malédiction
• une benediction
• pourquoi sommes nous si      aveugles
• la haine est sans fin
• peurs / inquiétudes
• tout      ce que nous avons enduré
• quel      avenir incroyable
• il y      a une certitude
• retenir

VERBS

Look at the verb tenses and fill in the chart with examples from the song

                               

Completely   finished action	Past   action / continues into the present	Present   action / truth	Expression   of the future

Can you find 2 modals in the song? Translate them.

•  =
•  =

OPINION

Would you say this song is optimistic or pessimistic about the future? (50 words)