*Listen to the following song, “Salesman,” sung by Stan Ridgway. Learn to sing it and spell out the contracted words in the lyrics below, written that way because of the way the singer sings them.

Salesman

Now, I’ve been travelin’ long and hard

And all over this big land

And I’ve got somethin’ here in my bag

For every woman and man

And nowhere is too far

’Cause I cover a pretty wide base

From way down south to way up north

I’ll shake hands with any friendly face

 

Salesman, salesman

Why don’t you sell me somethin’

Salesman, salesman

Why don’t you sell me somethin’

 

Now I’ve got a box in hand

And I’m gonna travel that land

I’m a salesman for hire

And I never get tired

So just plug(插上) it in and it’ll work

Don’t worry about it breakin’

It’s factory made and guaranteed

And we aren’t fakin’(制造假货)

 

Salesman, salesman

Why don’t you sell me somethin’

Salesman, salesman

Why don’t you sell me somethin’

 

Now, I keep bangin’(敲击) on my case

And smilin’ broad and make the deal(做交易)

But sometimes my feet begin to shake

Like I’m slippin’(滑) on a banana peel(皮)

 

And I’ve been everywhere around this world

I fly on the edge of the ball

I’ve got the numbers all up here

I just read the map and steer, that’s all

Salesman, salesman

Why don’t you sell me somethin’

Salesman, salesman

Why don’t you sell me somethin’

Salesman, salesman

Salesman, salesman

 

Now I’ll never give up this way of life

This life has called me to

I’ve gotta get to New Orleans(美国新奥尔良市) by noon

If I can only find my shoe

’Cause I’m a salesman! Pleased to meet ‘cha (= you)!

 

And I’ve seen the dirt and dust

Of a hundred towns like this

I just work my way on through

Sometimes it’s just hit and miss

And I got a little something here in my bag

To help me burn the leaves

But I gotta watch it close this time

I know, because nothin’ comes for free

No, nothin’ comes for free

 

I know a little girl in Idaho

I guess I’ll look her up now in a week or so

She was always good for a laugh and a drink

And what the traffic would allow

 

Salesman, salesman

Why don’t you sell me somethin’

Salesman, salesman

Why don’t you sell me somethin’

 

Everybody wants a real deal, everybody wants a real deal

Everybody wants a real deal, everybody wants a real deal

 

Salesman, salesman

Why don’t you sell me somethin’

travelin’ = traveling

’Cause = Because

breakin’ = breaking

bangin’ = banging

slippin’ = slipping

somethin’ = something

gonna = have got to

fakin’ = faking

smilin’ = smiling

nothin’ = nothing