The document provides an introduction to analyzing song lyrics as poetry by defining several key literary terms and concepts. It discusses voice, tone, imagery, figures of speech like similes and metaphors, word choice, symbolism, sound techniques like rhythm and meter, and irony. Examples are given for many of the terms from the lyrics of various songs. The overall purpose is to familiarize readers with analyzing the poetic elements and techniques used in song lyrics.

1. Poetry Day An Intro to Poetry Unit Eng 102

2. Voice: Speaker: the “person” speaking in the poem Speaker is NOT the author necessarily

3. Tone Tone is the emotional feeling that is portrayed in the poem Tone can change depending on how the poem is read

4. Voice and Tone “ Rock ‘n’ Roll All Nite”, by P. Stanley & G. Simmons You show us everything you've got You keep on dancin' and the room gets hot You drive us wild, we'll drive you crazy You say you wanna go for a spin The party's just begun, we'll let you in You drive us wild, we'll drive you crazy You keep on shoutin', you keep on shoutin' I wanna rock and roll all nite and party every day

5. Tone “ It Hurt So Bad”, by T. Hambridge I miss the arms that used to hold me The tender way we used to kiss I miss the way that you touch me I miss the sweet taste of your lips I was a fool to ever leave you You were a fool to let me go Oh it's so lonesome, lonesome here without you Oh how I miss you so It hurt... it hurt... it hurt so bad You were the best man I ever had Why was I so blind to see? Now the biggest fool is me

6. Imagery Images are more than what we can see. They include all five senses: Sight Sound Taste Touch Smell

7. Imagery “ Mr. Jones”, by A. Duritz I was down at the New Amsterdam staring at this yellow-haired girl. Mr. Jones strikes up a conversation with this black-haired flamenco dancer She dances while his father plays guitar… So come dance this silence down through the morning Cut up Maria! Show me some of them Spanish dances Pass me a bottle, Mr. Jones…

8. Figures of Speech Similes: comparisons that use like or as Metaphors: comparisons without like or as Personification: giving human attributes to non-human things Understatement: well, yes… Hyperbole: exaggeration

9. Simile “ Please Wake Me”, by C. Schlieski Please wake me darlin’ I’ve got somethin’ on my mind I don’t know what it is but somethin’ makes me cry And I’ve been sinkin’ like a stone

10. Metaphor “ Walking on the Moon”, by G. Sumner Giant steps are what you take Walking on the moon I hope my legs don't break Walking on the moon We could walk for ever Walking on the moon We could live together Walking on, walking on the moon Walking back from your house Walking on the moon Walking back from your house Walking on the moon Feet they hardly touch the ground Walking on the moon My feet don't hardly make no sound Walking on, walking on the moon

11. Hyperbole “ Peace of Mind”, by S. Jackson If I asked you to you would Part the sea for me I know you would… If I asked you to You would dream my Dreams for me I know I know You would If I asked you to You would walk a 1000 miles and a Thousand more For me I know you would

12. Word Choice When poets choose words, they do so for many reasons. Words may tell about the speaker. They also set a tone or feeling for poem. Poets choose words to rhyme, repeat sounds, or use words in ways that surprise readers.

13. Word Choice “ Lazy Guy”, by B. Best I'm a lazy guy I'm amazed at the way some people try and try and try To erect and then perfect some kind of proof that they're alive before they die Well not me, 'cause I'm a lazy guy And I'm amazed at the way some people holler, fuss and run 'round Like some chicken with their head cut off or a bullet from a gun They should all sit back, relax and maybe try and have some fun I'd help them try, but I'm a lazy guy And I must defer a life of labor to someone who needs it more I'd much prefer to be their neighbor, just the guy who lives next door Sit out on the porch with my crap guitar and my mason jar of tea, and you know why 'Cause I'm a lazy guy

14. Symbolism Symbols are either: Universal, like hearts for love Or things that are described in detail Or things that stand out and have some other meaning besides just what they really are They aren’t direct comparisons (metaphors)

15. Symbols and Metaphor “ Wishlist”, by E. Vedder I wish I was a neutron bomb… for once I could go off… I wish I was a sacrifice… that somehow still lived on… I wish I was a sentimental ornament you hung on… the Christmas tree, I wish I was the star that went on top… I wish I was the evidence… I wish I was the grounds… for 50 million hands up raised and open toward the sun…

16. Sound Rhythm: Some us have it, some don’t Meter: how many syllables in a line? Same numbers over and over help with rhythm. Alliteration: consonant sounds repeated Assonance: vowel sounds repeated Rhyme: slime

17. Rhythm, Assonance, Alliteration, Rhyme “ 99.9 F”, by S. Vega Ninety nine point nine Fahrenheit degrees Stable now, with rising possibilities It could be normal but it isn't quite Could make you want to stay awake at night

18. Meter Say the word “ridiculous” What parts were louder, more stressed? Try changing the stress. Make the “rid” louder than the rest. Make the second “i” louder. How do we say Fahrenheit? What part is louder? What about 99.9?

19. Meter “99.9 F” Ninety nine point nine Fahrenheit degrees Stable now, with rising possibilities It could be normal but it isn't quite Could make you want to stay awake at night

20. Irony Irony can occur when a poem’s sound and its meaning don’t match up. For example, a poem about death that has an upbeat sound is ironic, or a poem about newlyweds filled with dark images can be ironic.

21. Irony “ If You Love Me Like You Say”, by L.J. Taylor If you love me like you say, Why you treat me like you do? If you love me like you say, Why you treat me like you do? Well, I ain’t no fool. I’m cool. I know the rules.

22. Irony “ Beautiful World”, by RATM It's a beautiful world we live in A sweet romantic place Beautiful people everywhere The way they show they care makes me want to say It's a beautiful world Oh what a beautiful world For you

23. The End This concludes your musical journey of analyzing music lyrics as poetry. Remember that not all song lyrics are poetry… Remember the terms we’ve gone over…They’ll be coming up again… Remember that if there’s a poem or lyric you love, talk to me and we’ll see about the class examining it…