1. Hannah Alley. A2 Media Studies.
Lyric analysis of Guns & Horses by Ellie Goulding
Represents Ellie as a
strong, nonjudgemental person.
You're so quiet
But it doesn't faze me
You're on time
You move so fast, makes me feel lazy
“Join forces” creates army imagery.
Contrast in the previous verse to this
more “violent”, military portrayal.
Also shows she wants to initiate a
relationship with this person.
“Burned” highlights the fiery tone to
this verse. Represents brutality.
Tells the audience that the object of
Ellie’s affection has been hurt in the
past. Tells a story.
Makes the
“Heaven” holds
connotations of bliss,
innocence and softness.
Vibe is being changed in
this verse.
The audience realise that
the object of Ellie’s
affection does not like her
as much as she likes him. It
is unrequited love.
audience
feel like they
are
following
Ellie on a
journey.
Let's join forces
We've got our guns and horses
I know you've been burned
But every fire is a lesson learned
Suddenly
tells the
start of a
narrative.
The audience feel
sympathy for
Ellie because she
feels as if she is
not enough
We “Tie words” portrays confusion
discover and “they amount to nothing”
that theirsuggests superficiality and that
relationship his words mean nothing.
is online,
through
“screen you
sit at
premanantl
y”. There is
Repetition of the
a sudden
ideas/annotations I
revolution
explained on the first
of their
chorus.
situation.
There is
confusion and
mess in their
situation.
Mystery with their identities.
Ellie is unaware of “where
she stands” with her object of
her affection, and she needs
clarity.
Instantly directing this sentence
someone. Informs the audience
that there is a special someone in
her life that will be the main
subject of this song.
I left my house
Left my clothes
Door wide open
Heaven knows
You're so worth it, you are
Movement is created through the
adjective “fast”.
“Makes me feel lazy” portrays Ellie as a
more relatable artist because every
teenager can be lazy.
“Guns” illustrastes quite a fierece,
powerful image
Idea of fire is
Contrast with “horses” which
reinforced here.
depicts flowing of movement,
Suggests that the
nature and freedom.
object of Ellie’s
“We’ve” embodies teamwork.
affection has
done wrong.
But I wish I could feel it all for you
I wish I could be it all for you
If I could erase the pain
Maybe you'd feel the same
Talking
I'd do it all for you
directly
I would [x4]
to her
lover.
Let's tie words
'Cause they amount to nothing
Play it down
Pretend you can't take what you've found
But you found me
On a screen you sit at permanently
I left my house
Left my clothes
Door wide open
Heaven knows
You're so worth it, you are
But I wish I could feel it all for you
I wish I could be it all for you
If I could erase the pain
Maybe you'd feel the same
I'd do it all for you
I would [x4]
It's time to come clean
And make sense of everything
It's time that we found out who we are
Cause when I'm standing here in the dark
I see your face in every star
But I wish I could feel it all for you
I wish I could be it all for you
If I could erase the pain
Maybe you'd feel the same
I'd do it all for you
I would [x3]
I'd do it all for you, I'd do it all for you [x4],
“Door wide open” could be
a metaphor for her heart
being left open.
“Do it all for you” and repetition of “I would”
represents Ellie’s desperation and makes the
audience realise how devoted to him she is that
she would do anything for him.
Suggests that the object of her
affection is fake and pretends that
he cannot handle her love. Makes
the audience feel sympathetic.
Represents that
Ellie wants honesty.
“Clean” represents
purity and
innocence.
The audience can see that
Ellie thinks about her
unofficial lover very much so.
She compares him almost to
an angel with “stars”. We
realise she likes him a lot.
Sudden emotional verse to
end the lyrics