Song: I Can See Clearly Now Artist: Johnny Nash Year: 1972 Album: I Can See Clearly Now Language Feature: Reductions
Episode Description
Hosts Ece and Heather travel back in time to the 1970’s for this song. In this episode, Heather is feeling a bit sad, and Ece uses the 1972 reggae-influenced song, “I can see clearly,” by Johnny Nash to cheer her up.
In this song, there are some useful reductions of words like “can” and “going to” that you’ll have fun singing and then be able to use in your English conversation. Don’t forget to listen and sing along after you listen to the episode.
Episode Transcript
<Intro>
E: Hi! I’m Ece.
H: And I’m Heather and we’re your hosts of the podcast, “English as a Singing Language.” Ece, I had so much fun on the last episode.
E: I did too! There are so many interesting aspects of English that we can talk about – and sing about – including pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary.
H: And we can sing and learn from so many different types of songs, too!
E: So true! And I think we’re taking a trip back in time on this episode, is that right?
H: We are! This episode is taking us back to the 1970’s!
E: Sounds great! Let’s get started!
<End of Intro>
E: (Humming Johnny Nash “I can see clearly now” – stops) Hey Heather! I didn’t see you sitting there all by yourself.
H: Oh. Hi Ece. Yeah, I’m feeling a little down today. (sigh) I haven’t felt like doing anything all day.
E: Well, I have got the perfect song for you. I’ve been singing it all day. It’s called I Can See Clearly Now.
H: That sounds so optimistic! I’m starting to feel better already. So, what do we know about this song, Ece?
E: This song was written and sung by Johnny Nash on his 1972 album, “I can see clearly now.” In 1973, he said, “I feel that music is universal. Music is for the ears and not the age. There are some people who say that they hate music. I’ve run into a few, but I’m not sure I believe them.”
H: Wow. So, he really felt that music was for everyone – it’s ‘for the ears and not the age’ meaning for all people, regardless of how old they are?
E: That’s what I think. And I agree that music is universal – that’s what we’re trying to do with this podcast, right?
H: So true! Now, Johnny Nash…He was a reggae singer, wasn’t he? What type of music is reggae?
E: Reggae music started in Jamaica in the 1960’s and it combines local Jamaican music styles with rock and roll and soul music. It also has a very special rhythm to it, where the accent is on the off beat.
H: It’s very relaxing music, I think. So, how did Johnny Nash become a reggae singer?
E: He went to Jamaica in 1965, and he met the famous reggae singer, Bob Marley in 1967. Johnny Nash was the first artist to record a reggae song outside of Jamaica. You can really hear the reggae sound in, I can see clearly.
H: What inspired him to write this song?
E: It’s said that Nash wrote the song while he was recovering from cataract surgery and –
H: - wait, what kind of surgery?
E: Cataract surgery. Cataracts are what happens when your eye becomes cloudy, and you can’t see clearly anymore.
H: Oh, that totally makes sense when you listen to the song lyrics! “I can see clearly now the rain is gone. I can see all obstacles in my way.”
E: The “rain” being all of the problems he is facing in his life.
H: Ok… how about, “Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind”? That sounds like he’s talking about his cataracts.
E: It does. But those “dark clouds” could also be referring to the “obstacles” in his life. However, later in the song he sings about, “the rainbow I’ve been praying for.”
H: Hmmm, so finally, his problems have disappeared and the “rainbow” is the happiness he feels now. That’s so great. I feel so much better now!
E: There is another interesting feature about this song. I don’t know if you noticed, but the rhythm of this song is exactly like the rhythm of spoken English.
H: What do you mean?
E: Can you repeat that first two lines of the song again?
H: I can see clearly now the rain is gone. I can see all obstacles in my way.
E: Did you notice how you reduced the “can” and stressed the main verb?
H: I guess I did. Do we do that with “can” all the time?
E: We do! “Can” gets reduced to almost “kn.” On the other hand, “can’t” is stressed and it is held much longer.
H: No wonder we sometimes get confused! If I ask you to go to the movies and you say, “I can go.” Or “I can’t go.” Those are pretty similar.
E: That’s true. And another great example or reductions is when he sings, “It’s gonna be a bright, bright, sunshiny day.”
H: That’s something that we always do in speaking, reduce “going to” to “gonna.” Like, I’m gonna feel so happy when I sing this song!
E: Me too.
H: But before we sing, what does “sunshiny” mean? I know “sunshine,” like the light from the sun, and I know “shiny” like something that produces or reflects bright light, but “sunshiny”? I don’t think I’ve ever heard that one. Is that even a real word?
E: It IS a real word, in fact. According to the dictionary definition, it means, “not stormy or cloudy.” Its synonyms are, bright, clear, and sunny.
H: I learned a new word today! Well, I sure hope it’s gonna be sunshiny this weekend so that we kn go on our picnic!
E: I do too! And with that, it certainly sounds like we are ready to sing!
H: We are – thank you so much for cheering me up, Ece. I look all around and there’s nothing but blue skies thanks to you! And don’t forget to sing out loud while you listen to the song. You can find a link to Johnny Nash’s 1972 hit song, “I can see clearly now” in the episode description.
E: Thank you so much for joining us for this episode of “English as a Singing Language.” Be sure to follow so that you’ll be the first to know when the next episode comes out.
H: We’d also love to get suggestions from you about songs for a future episode. Send us an email at singinglanguages@gmail.com. What music helps YOU learn English? Until next time…Have fun and [together] – just keep singing.
E: -just keep singing.
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/oct/07/johnny-nash-reggae-singer-best-known-for-i-can-see-clearly-now-dies-aged-80
Official YouTube Video
Activity
Practice the highlighted reductions in the lyrics below.
Song Lyrics
I can see clearly now the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It's gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day
It's gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day
Oh, yes I can make it now the pain is gone
All of the bad feelings have disappeared
Here is that rainbow I've been praying for
It's gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day
look all around, there's nothing but blue skies
Look straight ahead, there's nothing but blue skies
I can see clearly now the rain is gone
I can see all obstacles in my way
Here is that rainbow I've been praying for
It's gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day
It's gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day
Bri-ri-ri-ri', bright, (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day, yeah, eh
It's gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day
It's gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day, yeah, na
It's gonna be a bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny day
Bri-ri-ri-ri', bright (bright)
Bright (bright) sunshiny..
Songwriter: Johnny Nash
I Can See Clearly Now lyrics © Cp Masters Bv, Nashco Music Inc
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