Drown (Justin Timberlake) – ESL Song Worksheet

Instructions: Listen to the song and fill in the blanks

Drown, drown, Drown
Surface
Should’ve known your love was nothing but the (1) ________________
I’m in the deep end, I can’t fight the (2) ________________
Tryin’ to keep my head above it
And you’ve been beggin’ me to stay, to (3) ________________
And I’ve been tryna be your wave, your (4) ________________
But it’s about to break ’cause
You showed me exactly who you are and I should’ve (5) ________________ it
You left me alone out in the dark with all of your (6) ________________
Got caught up in the tide of all the (7) ________________ you’ve cried
Yeah, you know I was (8) ________________ by my heart, sinking from the start
Should’ve never followed you this far, now I’m in the deep (9) ________________
And you let me drown
You didn’t even try to (10) ________________ me

Heard about heartbreak with the moonlight
And now the pain just (11) ________________
I know exactly what it feels like
Yeah, you do it to me every (12) ________________
And if real love never (13) ________________
Why am I barely (14) ________________?
Here on my own
Out in the deep end
Way down below
Way down below of all of your (15) ________________
And you keep beggin’ me to stay, to (16) ________________
I’m out here tryna be your wave, your (17) ________________
But it’s about to break ’cause
You showed me exactly who you are and I should’ve (18) ________________ it
You left me alone out in the dark with all of your (19) ________________
Got caught up in the tide of all the (20) ________________ you’ve cried
Yeah, you know I was (21) ________________ by my heart, sinking from the start
Should’ve never followed you this far, now I’m in the deep (22) ________________
And you let me drown
You didn’t even try to (23) ________________ me
You let me drown
You didn’t even try to (24) ________________ me
But sometimes (sometimes I)
Sometimes I sit and (25) ________________
Maybe sometime in another (26) ________________
We could’ve got it (27) ________________
Ooh, yeah (maybe)
Maybe sometimes in another (28) ________________
I’ll see your face in a new (29) ________________
And your eyes say, “I love you”
You’ve been beggin’ me to stay, to (30) ________________
And I’ve been tryna be your wave, your (31) ________________
You let me drown
You didn’t even try to (32) ________________ me
You let me drown
It’s about to break, break
It’s about to break

It’s about to break, break, break, break)
Break, break
It’s about to break

Discussion

1. What emotions do you think the singer is expressing in the song “Drown”? Can you relate to any of these emotions?
2. The singer mentions feeling like he’s in the deep end and struggling to stay afloat. Have you ever felt overwhelmed in a situation? How did you handle it?
3. The lyrics talk about being let down by someone close. How do you deal with disappointment or betrayal in your life?
4. The singer fantasizes about a different outcome in another life. Do you believe in second chances or alternate possibilities? Why or why not?
5. The song uses water and drowning as metaphors for emotional struggle. Can you think of other metaphors that describe emotional experiences?
6. In the song, the singer realizes he should have believed what he saw from the beginning. Do you think people often ignore red flags in relationships? Why?
7. The song repeatedly uses the phrase “you let me drown.” How important is it to have a support system in difficult times? Who do you rely on for support?

Answer Key

1. surface
2. current
3. stay
4. wave
5. believed
6. demons
7. tears
8. blinded
9. end
10. save
11. magnifies
12. time
13. dies
14. breathing
15. lies
16. stay
17. wave
18. believed
19. demons
20. tears
21. blinded
22. end
23. save
24. save
25. fantasize
26. life
27. right
28. life
29. light
30. stay
31. wave
32. save