– English Lyrics

Lyrics & Translation

[English]

Whoever brought in the most money after six months was usually hired.

Hello, Chris Gardner calling for Mr. Walter

...

We were all working our way up call sheets to sign clients

from the bottom to the top

...

from the doorman to the CEO

...

They'd stay til 7:00, but I had Christopher. I had to do 6 hours, but they'd do 9.

Good afternoon, my name is Chris Gardner, I'm calling from Dean Witter

In order not to waste any time, I wasn't hanging up the phone in between calls

Okay, thank you very much

I realized that by not hanging up the phone I gained another 8 minutes a day

Why good morning to you, my name is Chris Gardner, I'm calling from Dean Witter.

I also wasn't drinking water so I didn't waste any time in the bathroom.

Uh yes I'd love to have the opportunity...

Okay no problem at all sir, thank you very much

But even doing all this, after two months

I still didn't have time to work my way up a sheet

Walter Ribbon's office

Yes hello my name is Chris Gardner, I'm calling for Mr. Walter Ribbon.

Concerning?

Yes ma'am I'm calling from Dean Witter.

Just a moment

Hello?

Mr. Ribbon, hello sir my name is Chris Gardner, I'm calling from Dean Witter.

Yeah Chris

Uh yes Mr. Ribbon I would love to have the opportunity to sit with you

to discuss some of our products, and I'm certain that I could be of some assistance to you

Can you be here in 20 minutes?

Uh...20 minutes, absolutely.

Just had someone cancel, come now.

I can give you a few minutes before the 49ers. Monday Night Football, buddy.

Yes sir, thank you very much.

See you soon - Bye bye

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
hired /ˈhaɪərd/ B1	verb - to give someone a job
clients /ˈklaɪənts/ B1	noun - people who receive a service from a professional
CEO /ˌsiː iː ˈoʊ/ B2	noun - Chief Executive Officer, the highest-ranking executive in a company
opportunity /ˌɑːpərˈtuːnəti/ B1	noun - a chance to do something
certain /ˈsɜːrtən/ B2	adjective - sure; confident
assistance /əˈsɪstəns/ B2	noun - help or support
cancel /ˈkænsəl/ B1	verb - to decide that something will not happen
waste /weɪst/ A2	verb - to use something carelessly or extravagantly
minutes /ˈmɪnɪts/ A2	noun - a unit of time equal to sixty seconds
products /ˈprɑːdʌkts/ B1	noun - things that are made to be sold
discuss /dɪˈskʌs/ B1	verb - to talk about something with another person
certain /ˈsɜːrtən/ B2	adjective - sure; confident
absolutely /ˈæbsəluːtli/ B2	adverb - completely; totally
football /ˈfʊtbɔːl/ A2	noun - a game played with a ball using the feet
sheet /ʃiːt/ A2	noun - a flat, thin piece of material

Key Grammar Structures

• Whoever brought in the most money after six months was usually hired.

  ➔ Relative Clause with 'whoever' and Past Simple Passive Voice

  ➔ The sentence uses 'whoever' to introduce a relative clause describing the condition for being hired. The verb phrase 'was usually hired' is in the passive voice, indicating that the person *received* the action of being hired. The phrase 'brought in the most money' is the action that determines who is hired. The use of 'whoever' implies anyone fulfilling the condition could be hired.

• I realized that by not hanging up the phone I gained another 8 minutes a day.

  ➔ Gerund as Subject Complement, Complex Sentence Structure

  ➔ The phrase 'by not hanging up the phone' uses a gerund ('hanging') as part of a prepositional phrase acting as an adverbial modifier of manner. This explains *how* he gained time. The sentence is complex, with a main clause ('I realized...') and a subordinate clause explaining the realization.

• Can you be here in 20 minutes?

  ➔ Modal Verb 'can' for Ability/Possibility, Preposition of Time 'in'

  ➔ This is a direct question using the modal verb 'can' to inquire about someone's ability or possibility to arrive within a specific timeframe. 'In 20 minutes' specifies the duration of time.