Learn English with Music: U2 and the Present Perfect (I Still Haven’t Found What I’m looking for
From all the places I’ve traveled to around the world, I’ve noticed that one of the most widely known and appreciated bands has to be U2. In this article we’re going to use this awesome band to learn English!!
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When considering the bands global popularity, my first thought was that so many different nationalities like U2 because of their deep lyrics expressing many social and environmental concerns. I later changed my mind when I realized half of the people who love this group don’t even know what they’re singing about.
Are you one of those people who love U2 purely for their amazing sound? Well, today’s your lucky day. In this article you are going to:
- Learn more ABOUT the band U2
- EXTEND YOUR VOCABULARY deciphering one of their most famous songs
- Discover how and when to use the PRESENT PERFECT tense, as it is used through the song.
WHO ARE U2?
U2 is made up of four band members, the most iconic would have to be “Bono,” the bands lead singer. Bono writes nearly all the lyrics for the band, often using political, social and religious themes. Besides being U2’s singer/songwriter, Bono is also well known for his 
activism concerning Africa, has been nominated for a nobel prize, and has won a Time Magazine “person of the year” award.
The other 3 members, The Edge (lead guitar), Adam Clayton (Bass guitar) and Larry Mullen, Jr. (drums and percussion) all met Bono at school in Dublin, Ireland, when they were teenagers.
Since they formed in 1976, these four Irishmen have been touring the world, filling stages with high energy, positive and moving lyrics.
THE SONG TITLE: I still haven’t found what I’m looking for
The title of this track contains one of the most difficult grammar points that every student will have to face during their English learning experience… THE PRESENT PERFECT, which we will look at later in the article.
What should you understand from the title?
Just hearing the title I would assume that he is expressing a feeling of emptiness. There is something in his life that’s missing. He is still looking for (searching) something although he probably doesn’t know exactly what it is.
Any other interpretation, please let us know and comment below!
LISTENING TO THE TRACK (pay special attention to how they use the present perfect)
USES OF THE PRESENT PERFECT
I have climbed
I have run through the feilds
I have run
I have crawled
I have scaled
I still haven’t found
INTERPRETATION
I believe in this verse he is referencing his relationship. He has done so many things to make his partner happy, but he still hasn’t found true happiness.
USES OF THE PRESENT PERFECT
I have kissed
I have felt (have was taken out to not sound so repetative)
I have spoke
I have held
INTERPRETATION
I have spoke with the tongue of angels– He has given someone advice as if he were an angel speaking.
I have held the hand of the devil– He has done bad things as if he were acompanying the devil.
Kingdome come- An expression reffering to the end of time/ a new world (Religious reference).
Broke the bonds- Broke the energy that was connecting us.
Loosened the chains/ Carried the cross of my shame- Another religious reference to Jesus Christ carrying the cross.
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.
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THE PRESENT PERECT IN A NUTSHELL
As I have just shown you in the lyrics, this great U2 song is filled with the present perfect tense. For example:
I have found / I have run / I have crawled / I have scaled
Structure- (Subject) I, you, he + Have/ Has + Verb (participle form)
Why do we use this tense in English?
Every grammar book you read or website you look at will tell you pretty much the same thing, “an action which started in the past and continues until now.” For example:
- I have lived in Brazil for 5 years
- I have driven a car since I was 17
- She has worked in that company for a long time
Although this is a very common way to use the present perfect, it isn’t how Bono has used it in this song. There’s another way we can use this tense, which I find is often confused by many English learners. This is called the indefinite past.
Indefinite past (present perfect)
- The indefinite past is used to communicate that you did something in the past but when this happened is not important. If you use a time reference with this tense it has to be a time that hasn’t finished. For example, This week, This month, This year.
- This tense is also often used when the action is very recent. In these situations we would use time references like, recently or lately.
An affirmation
- I have been to New Zealand (when I went isn’t important)
- I have seen that movie (When I saw it isn’t important)
- He has suffered 3 car accidents ( when the accidents happened isn’t important)
A question
- Have you been to New Zealand? Yes, I have / No, I haven’t
- Have you seen that movie?
- Has he suffered an accident?
A good tip to remember when to use the present perfect is to think about what time reference you would like to use. If you can’t think of the specific time that the action happened or the time isn’t important, then you should know that you will probably use the present perfect.
Call to action
Have you found what you’re looking for? Have you studied English this week? Have you helped someone recently?
Now that you know how to use the present perfect to talk about the indefinite past, I want you to practice using it right now. Sit down and write out 10 memorable things that you have done in your life, or things that you have done recently.
Have you changed jobs?
Have you been skydiving?
Have you had any life changing experiences?
We would love to hear about all these things and more. Please help us help you!
Feel free to post your life experiences or recent activities on the comments section of this article using I HAVE.
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Chad, I wanna thank you so much because of your article, man. It has cleared my mind, man!
But, I was wonder about something about “indefinite past”
“The indefinite past is used to communicate that you did something in the past but when this happened is not important.”
Ok, I got it how I can use the present perfect tense, but, could you explain about “…when this happened is not important”? Would be a negative connotation?
I hope you can understand what I mean. 🙂
Thank you!
Excellent article! I use this to teach the present perfect all the time. It's perfect!
AMAZINNNGGGG! THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE U2'S SONGS. THANKS SO MUCH GUYS!
I am taking an ESL course to teach and I have a solo presentation coming up , doing it on simple present perfect tense the u2 song sounds fun and great to bring into the lesson. I am trying to clear up for my self do I mention that the singer is talking about indefinite past and teach that it doesn’t matter when it happened.
So “I have” means I am teaching simple perfect present and indefinite past which I would have to teach or explain on correct. I would do examples on I have on the board and then do examples of indefinite past and a time line showing when it is used? the time line given in my book shows an X on time line in the present and one X in the past. I am trying to keep it very simple but fun and engaging. It seems this song fits this way on the time line, an I right?
I need help it’s my third class and I have to present I feel nervous and want to do a good job. I do not feel ready to do this but as I research more info on line I feel more confident. it’s going to be a mini presentation believe about 20 min or so. Have to crunch in info. and make it thorough so class gets the point of the tense. of course i want to make it fun and engaging as well and with music it’ll be great.
Please respond and help me I would appreciate it greatly. I probably am looking into this to hard when it is actually very simple to plan.
Great stuff!
What about Bryan Adams?? 😀
fantastic! thank you for sharing. When I'm confident enough I'll share also.
Perfect! Thanks guys!