Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves by Cher: "used to" and "would" for repeated actions in the past

(TESOL Worksheets--Used to, Would+base form)
Worksheet: docs, pub
Slideshow (for pre-listening): slides, pub
[Notes: I had previously used Son of a Preacher Man by Dusty Springfield for would + base form for repeated actions in the past.  But upon reflection, I've decided that I actually like Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves better.  It has a story-line that's easier to identify, and thus easier to talk about the difference between repeated actions and single actions.  And it has instances of both "used to" and "would" so it works good for introducing both grammar points.  It's a melodramatic song, admittedly, but sometimes over-the-top is good for the EFL classroom.  (Subtlety is not good for EFL students).  Although there is teenage pregnancy in this song, so use with caution in conservative environments.
In my lesson, I first used the slides to elicit from students what they knew about gypsies.  In my class, the Vietnamese students didn't know much, so I used the pictures to help guide them, and also supplied relevant vocabulary from the pictures (e.g. wagon, travelling show).
(I felt a bit worried that I was playing too much into stereo-types here, but the song relies on these stereo-types, so what are you going to do?  I believe in its day, this song was regarded as a sympathetic portrayal of Gypsies.  I'm not sure--is this song politically incorrect nowadays, or is it still okay to use? )
Then, I told the students that the song was a story about a girl born in one of the Gypsy wagons.  I told the students the song was going to be the story of what happened to her when she grew up, and  asked the students to talk about what they thought was going to happen with a partner.  Predictions are then elicited onto the board.  Then we played the song, and checked the predictions.  Then I handed out the lyrics sheet, the students listened again and sorted out the verbs into past actions that happened once, and past actions that happened repeatedly.  They checked with a partner, I gave them the answer sheet, and then I elicited from them which structures are used to talk about repeated past actions in English.]

Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves by Cher

I was born in the wagon of a travelling show

My mama used to dance for the money they'd throw

Papa would do whatever he could: preach a little gospel, sell a couple bottles of doctor good

Gypsies, tramps, and thieves

We'd hear it from the people of the town

They'd call us gypsies, tramps, and thieves

But every night all the men would come around and lay their money down

Picked up a boy just south of Mobile

Gave him a ride, filled him with a hot meal

I was sixteen, he was twenty-one

Rode with us to Memphis

And papa would’ve shot him if he knew what he'd done

Gypsies, tramps, and thieves

We'd hear it from the people of the town

They'd call us gypsies, tramps, and thieves

But every night all the men would come around

And lay their money down

I never had schooling but he taught me well

With his smooth southern style

Three months later I'm a gal in trouble

And I haven't seen him for a while, uh-huh

I haven't seen him for a while, uh-huh

She was born in the wagon of a travelling show

Her mama had to dance for the money they'd throw

Grandpa'd do whatever he could: Preach a little gospel, sell a couple bottles of doctor good

Gypsies, tramps, and thieves

We'd hear it from the people of the town

They'd call us gypsies, tramps, and thieves

But every night all the men would come around

And lay their money down

Gypsies, tramps, and thieves

We'd hear it from the people of the town

They'd call us gypsies, tramps, and thieves

But every night all the men would come around

And lay their money down

Verbs for a single action in the past

Verbs for a repeated action in the past

Answers:

Single Action in the past	Repeated action in the past
I was born [We] Picked up a boy [We] Gave him a ride [We] Filled him with a hot meal [He] Rode with us to Memphis She was born	My mama used to dance they’d throw Papa would do whatever he could: Preach… sell… We’d hear it They’d call us all the men would come around and lay their money down Her mama had to dance Grandpa’d do whatever he could

Other Structures

State verbs (past)	Mixed Conditional	Historic Present
I was sixteen, he was twenty-one I never had schooling	Papa would’ve shot him if he knew what he’d done.	I’m a gal in trouble I haven’t seen him (present perfect)