An short example assignment to show how we can identify rhetorical techniques in a pop song.

1. As seen in “Blister in the Sun” by The Violent
Femmes.

2. Blister in the Sun was written by Gordon Gano

from the Wisconsin folk-punk band Violent
Femmes.
It first appeared on their debut album, Violent

Femmes, in 1982.

3. This song has been used in a number of films

including:
Grosse Point Blank
◦
The Benchwarmers
◦
Adventureland
◦
Rocket Science
◦

4. The lyrics of Blister in the Sun make extensive

use of the rhetorical technique of repetition.
Repetition is where a word or sequence of

words is repeated throughout a text.

5. It is common for the chorus of a pop song to

appear two or more times in the course of the
song.
The chorus of this song, which begins “let me

go on...” appears in an identical form three
times.

6. Within the chorus, the words “let me go on”

on are repeated.
Let me go on
Like I blister in the sun
Let me go on
big hands I know you’re the one

7. It is less common in pop songs for a whole

verse to be repeated.
That makes this song unusual.

The first verse, which opens with “when I’m

walking...”, appears unchanged four times in
the song.
The second verse, which open with “body and

beats...”, appears unchanged twice in the
song.

8. The word “out” is used at the end of the third

and sixth lines of the first verse.
And I’m so strung out
I’m high as a kite
I just might
Stop to check you out

9. Another technique used in these lyrics in

rhyme.
Rhyme is when the sound at the end of words

or phrases sounds the same.
Rhyme is found in both the chorus and both

verses.

10. “Sun” rhymes with “one”.

Let me go on
Like I blister in the sun
Let me go on
big hands I know you’re the one

11. “Kite” rhymes with “might”.

I’m high as a kite
I just might
Stop to check you out

12. “Beats” rhymes with “sheets”.

“Why” rhymes with “cry”.

“Girlfriend” rhymes with “end”.

Body and beats
I stain my sheets
I don’t even know why
My girlfriend she’s at the end
She is starting to cry

13. The final technique used in this song is

simile.
Simile is where one thing is compared to

another.
“Let me go on
Like a blister in the sun”

15. When I’m out walking
I strut my stuff
And I’m so strung out
I’m high as a kite
I just might
Stop to check you out

16. Let me go on
Like I blister in the sun
Let me go on
Big hands, I know you’re the one

17. Body and beats
I stain my sheets
I don’t even know why
My girlfriend, she’s at the end
She is starting to cry

18. Let me go on
Like I blister in the sun
Let me go on
Big hands, I know you’re the one

19. When I’m out walking
I strut my stuff
And I’m so strung out
I’m high as a kite
I just might
Stop to check you out

20. When I’m out walking
I strut my stuff
And I’m so strung out
I’m high as a kite
I just might
Stop to check you out

21. Body and beats
I stain my sheets
I don’t even know why
My girlfriend, she’s at the end
She is starting to cry

22. When I’m out walking
I strut my stuff
And I’m so strung out
I’m high as a kite
I just might
Stop to check you out

23. Let me go on
Like I blister in the sun
Let me go on
Big hands, I know you’re the one

24. In the popular song Blister in the Sun we see

examples of two rhetorical techniques.
Repetition is used extensively, within the

chorus and of the chorus.
Rhyme is used extensively in the chorus and

in both verses.