The present simple

The Big Rock Candy Mountain

Level: A1 (Elementary) – American English

Practise the present simple with this Harry McClintock song.

Glossary

“hobo”: a person who travels around looking for work and does not have a permanent home

“handout”: something given to the poor for free, for example money, food or clothes

“boxcar”: railroad car used to carry goods

“cop”: slang term for police officer

“brakeman”: the train worker responsible for braking the train and also for making sure nobody was riding the train without paying

“railway bull”: a railroad policeman

“short-handled shovels“: shovel used for digging which, because the handle was short, caused much back pain to those using it

“jerk”: slang term for stupid person

“fall”: American English term for autumn