The Wrong Direction – Passenger

Today, we are diving deep into the world of storytelling through music with the beautiful track “The Wrong Direction”by the British singer-songwriter Passenger.

What’s Inside?

• Song and lyrics 
• Vocabulary, Idioms & Expressions: A breakdown of specific words used in the song that you won’t find in textbooks – used to describe life’s mistakes.
• Grammar: how to use past tenses to talk about regrets

The Artist: Passenger

Mike Rosenberg, better known as Passenger, is an English folk-rock singer-songwriter. Before becoming a global star with his hit “Let Her Go,” he spent years busking (playing music on the street) across Europe and Australia. This “busker energy” is why his music feels so intimate and conversational.

The Accent: Southern British English

One of the best reasons to study this song is Mike’s accent. 

• Origin: He is from Brighton, England. He speaks with a non-rhotic Southern British accent.

• Distinct Features: You will notice how he pronounces his “r” sounds very softly (or not at all) at the end of words. For example, “Direction” sounds more like di-rec-shun rather than having a hard American “R.”

Let’s hit play and start learning!