Song Analysis #3

“Every Rose has its Thorn”
By: Poison

The band “Poison” was formed in the year 1983. The band is an
American rock/metal band and is considered to be a “glam metal” band. They
originally started with the name “Paris” but adopted “Poison” only a short
time after the band was formed. The band consists of members Bret Michaels,
C.C. DeVille, Bobby Dall, and Rikki Rockett. Poison began to experience
major popularity in the late 1980’s and early 90’s. Their album “Open Up
and Say…Ahh!” peaked at #2 on the American music charts. The album consists
of 4 top 10 hits and their only #1 song ever in “Every Rose has its Thorn”,
which was released in 1988. The song was written by Michaels after his love
affair ended. The woman he was seeing cheated on him, and he found out when
he called her and heard a man’s voice in the background. “Every Rose has
its Thorn” is a song that shows despair with the use of sad lyrics, poetic
devices, and a great song structure.
“Every Rose has its Thorn” is a song that clearly shows the sadness
in Michaels’ voice and lyrics. He is heartbroken, and doesn’t understand
why she left him. In the lines “Was it something I said or something I did,
Did my words not come out right”, Michaels is clearly questioning why she
left him. He blames it on himself for the breakup. He is saddened because
he feels every great girl he meets, always has a bad side. He compares the
girl to a rose, and how every “rose” has a thorn, or a bad side. Also, he
compares the situation to “a knife that cuts you, the wound heals, but the
scar, that scar remains.” Michaels is saying that he will eventually heal
from his wound that the woman caused, but the affect she left on him will
remain like a scar. The scar will always remind him of how sad he was after
she left him. Michaels is obviously pointing out how sad he is and is
showing his despair in this song.
In “Every Rose has its Thorn”, the song is written with many poetic
devices to show despair in the lyrics. The song title “Every Rose has it
Thorn” is actually a metaphor, and it is comparing a beautiful woman to a
rose, that has a bad side, like how a rose has a thorn. The use of the
metaphor allows the audience to compare how Michaels is feeling about this
woman, to a rose. The song also uses a simile in the line “like a knife
that cuts you”. In this line, Michaels is comparing how he feels after the
woman left, to a knife that slices you. Also in the lyrics, Michaels uses
imagery. He writes and sings about roses and scars, and he uses these to
create the image in the mind of the audience/reader. The song also has a
bridge and a breakdown in it. The bridge comes right after the first
chorus, and it adds a different tempo to the song. The breakdown comes
after verse 4, and it is a solo that adds a more dramatic affect to the
song. Michaels and the band did a wonderful job developing a great song
structure with the use of the bridge and the breakdown. With the use of
these poetic devices, the lyrics furthermore show how sad Michaels is over
his lost.
Poison’s overall message in the song is that even though somebody
looks so elegant and beautiful; they have a downside or as they call it a
“thorn.” Their mood in the song is a loss of happiness and it makes the
listener/reader feel pity for Michaels. When I listen to the song, I feel
sorry for him. It has a slow and sad tempo that really gets you to feel for
him. It also creates a well developed image and really makes you feel what
Michaels is feeling. It relates to my theme of despair because the song is
clearly showing how sad this man is. To me “Every Rose has its Thorn” is
one of the saddest songs from the 1980’s and should be considered one of
the best written songs from that decade.

Song Analysis #3 lyrics-"Every Rose has its Thorn"

"Every Rose has its Thorn"-Poison

We both lie silently still
In the dead of the night
Although we both lie close together
We feel miles apart inside

Was it something I said or something I did
Did my words not come out right
Though I tried not to hurt you
Though I tried
But I guess thats why they say

Chorus:
Every rose has its thorn
Just like every night has its dawn
Just like every cowboy sings his sad, sad song
Every rose has its thorn

Yeah it does

I listen to our favorite song
Playing on the radio
Hear the dj say loves a game of easy come and
Easy go
But I wonder does he know
Has he ever felt like this
And I know that youd be here right now
If I could have let you know somehow
I guess

Chorus

Though its been a while now
I can still feel so much pain
Like a knife that cuts you the wound heals
But the scar, that scar remains

Solo

I know I could have saved a love that night
If Id known what to say
Instead of makin love
We both made our separate ways

But now I hear you found somebody new
And that I never meant that much to you
To hear that tears me up inside
And to see you cuts me like a knife
I guess

Chorus

Creative Project, Short Story, lyrics- "Every Rose has it Thorn"

"Every Rose has it Thorn" by Poison, short story

"Killing in the Name" by Rage Againest the Machine

"Killing in the Name" by Rage Againest the Machine is one of the most controversial songs ever. The song is talking about how some police officers and other public officials belong to the KKK. The song is describing that the police officers murdered African-Americans and "justified" their murders because they were cops and wore badges. Rage Againest the Machine is explaining their disgust towards these racist cops and how just because they wore a badge doesn't mean they can kill innocent people. This song relates to my theme/genre because it is talking about the despair that KKK caused many innocent families and how some police officers were involved in the brutal attack of these people. The song often recieves complaints because of how the band says the F word over 15 times in the soing, but I feel it raised an important social time in American history.

"Killing in the Name"

Killing in the name of!
Some of those that were forces are the same that bore crosses
Some of those that were forces are the same that bore crosses
Some of those that were forces are the same that bore crosses
Some of those that were forces are the same that bore crosses
Huh!

Killing in the name of!
Killing in the name of

And now you do what they told ya (11 times)
But now you do what they told ya
Well now you do what they told ya

Those who died are justified, for wearing the badge, theyre the chosen whites
You justify those that died by wearing the badge, theyre the chosen whites
Those who died are justified, for wearing the badge, theyre the chosen whites
You justify those that died by wearing the badge, theyre the chosen whites

Some of those that were forces are the same that bore crosses
Some of those that were forces are the same that bore crosses
Some of those that were forces are the same that bore crosses
Some of those that were forces are the same that bore crosses
Uggh!

Killing in the name of!
Killing in the name of

And now you do what they told ya (4 times)
And now you do what they told ya, now youre under control ( 7 times)
And now you do what they told ya!

Those who died are justified, for wearing the badge, theyre the chosen whites
You justify those that died by wearing the badge, theyre the chosen whites
Those who died are justified, for wearing the badge, theyre the chosen whites
You justify those that died by wearing the badge, theyre the chosen whites
Come on!

(guitar solo: yeah! come on!)

F*** you, I wont do what you tell me (8 times spoken becoming a shout by the 8th time)
F*** you, I wont do what you tell me! (8 times, shouted)
Mother******!
Uggh!

"Born in the U.S.A" by Bruce Springstein

"Born in the U.S.A" by Bruce Springstein is considered one of the most misinterpreted songs ever. Many people believe that Springstein is showing his national pride with this rock anthem, but he actually is showing how shamefully Americans treated the Vietnam veterans after they did not win the war. Springstein says, "So they put a rifle in my hand, Sent me off to a foreign land." He is expressing how people were given a gun and were sent to Vietnam to fight in the war. He is publically criticizing the way the veterens were treated and how America should be ashamed for what they did. The song relates to my theme/genre because it talks about the despair the veterens had to face when they cam home from the war and were treated with no respect. This song clearly cast a shameful eye on Americans, and it is not a song about national pride as most people think.

"Born in the U.S.A."

Born down in a dead mans town
The first kick I took was when I hit the ground
You end up like a dog thats been beat too much
Till you spend half your life just covering up

Born in the u.s.a., I was born in the u.s.a.
I was born in the u.s.a., born in the u.s.a.

Got in a little hometown jam
So they put a rifle in my hand
Sent me off to a foreign land
To go and kill the yellow man

Born in the u.s..a....

Come back home to the refinery
Hiring man said son if it was up to me
Went down to see my v.a. man
He said son, dont you understand

I had a brother at khe sahn
Fighting off the viet cong
Theyre still there, hes all gone

He had a woman he loved in saigon
I got a picture of him in her arms now

Down in the shadow of the penitentiary
Out by the gas fires of the refinery
Im ten years burning down the road
Nowhere to run aint got nowhere to go

Born in the u.s.a., I was born in the u.s.a.
Born in the u.s.a., Im a long gone daddy in the u.s.a.
Born in the u.s.a., born in the u.s.a.
Born in the u.s.a., Im a cool rocking daddy in the u.s.a.

Political Songs

"Stupid Girls" by Pink
The message of the song is not to sell yourself short. Prove you have a brain and use it to better yourself not be what someone else wants you to be. One of the passages states "With their itsy bitsy doggies and their teeny weeny tees, Where, oh where have the smart people gone?" This is criticizing the Hollywood stars that are looked up to and idolized, such as Paris Hilton who go around carrying her little dog, and wearing skimpy clothing and is a celebrity not for her intelligence but because of her money. Pink's tone in the song is angry, and irritated. She doesn't understand why these celebrities act like this just to get attention.

"Rockstar" by Nickelback
The message of this song is about how so many people will do anything to become rich and famous, and live like a rockstar. Nickelback is criticizing how people will do anything to get recognized and become famous. They use a tone of mocking to show what people do to get noticed. In the lines "I'm gonna trade this life for fortune and fame, I'd even cut my hair of change my name" Nickelback is showing what people would do to be a star. They find it bad that people do these things for fame.

"American Idiot" by Green Day
This song is sending the message of how America is changing. Green Day is explaining how everything is described in the media, and people are going crazy. They clearly are angry and vindictive against the direction in which America is headed. In the lines "One nation controlled by the media, Information nation of hysteria" they are showing their disapproval of how everything is shown in the media and how everyone is going crazy over it. They are clearly showing a tone of disgust in this song.

"Lifestyles of the Rich and the Famous" by Good Charlotte
In this song, Good Charlotte is clearly criticizing of how rich and famous people can basically do anything they want, but they wouldn't be able to live in a normal everyday person's shoes. The band is saying how rich people always complain over anything even though they have everything. In the lines "well did you know when you were famous you could kill your wife and there's no such thing as 25 to life" the band is describing O.J. Simpson and how he had the money and fame to be found innocent over the murder of his wife even though the evidence was clearly evident that he did kill her. The band uses a aggravated tone in the song. They are showing their disgust to rich and famous people and how they take life for granted.

"The Times They Are A-Changin'" by Bob Dylan
In this song, Bob Dylan is promoting change. He is explaining that change is going to come know matter what and that you should be ready for it. In the lines "you better start swimmin' or you'll sink like a stone" Dylan is using a metaphor to show that people must be prepared for the change or they won't survive it. Dylan's tone used in the song is excitement. He is trying to tell people about change and is promoting the idea in a positive way.

"Youth of a Nation" by P.O.D

"Youth of Nation" by P.O.D is a tragic song talking about the Columbine Shootings in Colorado that occured on April 20th, 1999. This song takes the perspective of some of the students that were tragically murdered. The lyrics are describing how people lost their lives and were killed. The lyrics describe the shooting in the line "Instead of taking the test I took two to the chest". This line is saying how instead of just a normal day of school, he was shot twice. This line is also a form of imagery. It descibes the feeling and the tragedy in the shootings.

"Youth of a Nation"

Last day of the rest of my life
I wish I would have known cause I didn't kiss my momma good-bye
I didn't tell her that I loved her or how much I cared
Or thank my pops for all the talks and all the wisdom he shared
Unaware I just did what I always do
Everyday the same routine before I skate off to school
But who knew that this day wasn't like the rest
Instead of taking the test I took two to the chest

Call me blind but I didn't see it coming
And everybody was runnin
But I couldn't hear nothin, except
Gun blast, it happened so fast
I didn't really know this kid though I sat by him in class
Maybe this kid was reachin out for love or
Maybe for a moment he forgot who he was or
Maybe this kid just wanted to be hugged
Whatever it was I know it's because

We are, we are the youth of the nation
We are, we are
Youth of the nation
We are, we are the youth of the nation
We are, we are
Youth of the nation

Little Suzzie, she was only twelve
She was given the world with every chance to excel
Hang with the boys and hear the stories they tell
She might act kinda proud but no respect for herself

She finds love in all the wrong places
The same situations just different faces
Changed up her pace since her daddy left her
Too bad he never told her she deserved much better

Johnny boy always played the fool
He broke all the rules so you would think he was cool
He was never really one of the guys
No matter how hard he tried
Often thought of suicide
It's kinda hard when you ain't got no friends
He put his life to an end they might remember him then
You cross a line and there is no turning back
He told the world how he felt with the sound of a gat

We are, we are the youth of the nation
We are, we are
Youth of the nation
We are, we are the youth of the nation
We are, we are
Youth of the nation

Who's to blame for the life that tragedies claim
No matter what you say it won't take away the pain
That I feel inside, I'm tired of all the lies
Don't nobody know why
It's the blind leadin' the blind
Guess that's the way that the story goes
Will it ever make sense somebody's gotta know
There's gotta be more to life than this
There's got to be more to everything
I thought exists

We are, we are the youth of the nation
We are, we are
Youth of the nation
We are, we are the youth of the nation
We are, we are the youth of the nation
We are, we are the youth of the nation
We are, we are
Youth of the nation
We are, we are the youth of the nation
We are, we are
Youth of the nation
Youth of the nation
Youth of the nation
Youth of the nation

"Hurt" By Johnny Cash

In the song "Hurt" by Johnny Cash, the song uses imagery to show its message.
The song is about how he reflects on his up and down life. He is displaying the pain of growing old and watching the people you love die around you. The song displays how he has gone through life "hurt" either suffering from drugs, "the needle tears a hole", of from his friends or family dying, "Everyone I know goes away...In the end." The lyrics show imagery in the line "The needle tears a hole." It is showing the sense of feeling of when you use a needle to inject substances and how is makes you "hurt." This song sends a powerful message to its listeners and shows how life causes people to "hurt".

Hurt lyrics

I hurt myself today
To see if I still feel
I focus on the pain
The only thing that's real
The needle tears a hole
The old familiar sting
Try to kill it all away
But I remember everything

[Chorus:]
What have I become
My sweetest friend
Everyone I know goes away
In the end
And you could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt

I wear this crown of thorns
Upon my liar's chair
Full of broken thoughts
I cannot repair
Beneath the stains of time
The feelings disappear
You are someone else
I am still right here

[Chorus:]
What have I become
My sweetest friend
Everyone I know goes away
In the end
And you could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt

If I could start again
A million miles away
I would keep myself
I would find a way

Song Anaylsis 2

Keegan Schleicher

Poetry of Song

Ms. Malone

April 2, 2009

Song Analysis

“Adam’s Song”
By: Blink 182

The band Blink 182 was formed in 1992 and is known as a pop-rock band. They were extremely famous in the late nineties. The band took some time off in 2005 for reasons they stated as being family commitments and other music projects but the media reported the band was having “growing pains” and the band members couldn’t agree. They haven’t recorded any new music lately, however, they have recently announced on their fan site that they are getting back to work recording and performing for the fans. The band consists of members: Tom Delonge, Travis Barker, and Mark Hoppus. They all agree they were influenced by other bands such Nirvana, and The Ramones. Their music is a mix of pop and rock songs. Many of their songs send a message to its listeners. One song that especially shows despair and sadness is the song “Adam’s Song”
Blink 182’s song “Adam’s Song” is a song about teenage depression and suicide. In the verse “I never thought I’d die alone” this passage lets the listener feel the despair a suicidal person feels. The listener can feel a connection with the lyrics especially teenagers or parents of a teenager. Anyone who has ever lost a loved one to suicide can relate to this grief. In another verse the lyrics say “Please tell mom it was not her fault” this powerful statement expresses the guilt that every parent would carry if their child committed suicide. This song relates to my genre of sadness and despair in rock and alternative music because it deals with the frightening topic of teenage depression and suicide. Despair and sadness is definitely a key element in this song.
In “Adam’s song” the band Blink 182 shows despair and sadness. The narrative song focuses on depression and suicide in teenagers. Anyone can relate to this, since everyone at one time or another has been depressed. While, not everyone would contemplate suicide the lyrics rhyming sequence helps the flow of the music and keeps the listener feeling empathy. The song uses couplets to explain its theme. We see this in the lines “I traced the cord back to the wall/No wonder it was never plugged in at all”. Another element the band uses mood. The mood of these lyrics is very somber. Listening to these words sparks sadness and sympathy in the listener.
Thus, in Blink 182’s “Adam’s Song” the theme of despair and sadness is evident throughout the song. Blink’s well written song talks about teenage depression and suicide. The band uses the element of narrative song, couplets and their use of rhyming sequences, and mood allows the listener to be able to relate to the music. The topic of depression and suicide is hard for most people to deal with, and when it involves teenagers it is that much harder. The song helps explain how desperate a person must feel to contemplate such an act. The music leaves the listener feeling despair and sadness even if they haven’t experienced someone close to them suffering from depression or thoughts of suicide. While, many people disagree on whether on or not this song encourages suicide in teenagers, I think the lyrics also try to inspire some hope for the future in the verse “Tomorrow holds such better days” this an example of this of the hope. People also disagree on the final outcome of this song’s lyrics. Either way, I think the song sends a powerful message.

Blink 182: Adam’s Song

I never thought I'd die alone
I laughed the loudest who'd have known
I traced the cord back to the wall
No wonder it was never plugged in at all
I took my time, I hurried up
The choice was mine, I didn't think enough
I'm too depressed, to go on
You'll be sorry when I'm gone

I never conquered, rarely came
16 just held such better days
Days when I still felt alive
We couldn't wait to get outside
The world was wide, too late to try
The tour was over we'd survived
I couldn't wait till I got home
To pass the time in my room alone

I never thought I'd die alone
Another six months I'll be unknown
Give all my things to all my friends
You'll never set foot in my room again
You'll close it off, board it up
Remember the time that I spilled the cup
Of apple juice in the hall
Please tell mom this is not her fault

I never conquered, rarely came
16 just held such better days
Days when I still felt alive
We couldn't wait to get outside
The world was wide, too late to try
The tour was over we'd survived
I couldn't wait till I got home
To pass the time in my room alone

I never conquered, rarely came
Tomorrow holds such better days
Days when I can still feel alive
When I can't wait to get outside
The world is wide, the time goes by
The tour is over, I'd survived

Found Poem

Heaven

Baby would you visit me in heaven
You must be strong
Beyond the door
There are screams
I died alone

It’s all going to end
Tell my mom
It’s not her fault
Give it 6 months
And who would no
I died alone

It’s too late to try
To pass time
I got a cord
And I know I didn’t belong
I died Alone

Board it up
Don’t worry about things
Here in heaven there is peace
I am now in heaven
Never Alone

From:
Adam’s Song by Blink 182
3 Am by Matchbox 20
Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton

"The End" by The Doors

This is the end
Beautiful friend
This is the end
My only friend, the end

Of our elaborate plans, the end
Of everything that stands, the end
No safety or surprise, the end
Ill never look into your eyes...again

Can you picture what will be
So limitless and free
Desperately in need...of some...strangers hand
In a...desperate land

Lost in a roman...wilderness of pain
And all the children are insane
All the children are insane
Waiting for the summer rain, yeah

Theres danger on the edge of town
Ride the kings highway, baby
Weird scenes inside the gold mine
Ride the highway west, baby

Ride the snake, ride the snake
To the lake, the ancient lake, baby
The snake is long, seven miles
Ride the snake...hes old, and his skin is cold

The west is the best
The west is the best
Get here, and well do the rest

The blue bus is callin us
The blue bus is callin us
Driver, where you taken us

The killer awoke before dawn, he put his boots on
He took a face from the ancient gallery
And he walked on down the hall
He went into the room where his sister lived, and...then he
Paid a visit to his brother, and then he
He walked on down the hall, and
And he came to a door...and he looked inside
Father, yes son, I want to kill you
Mother...i want to...fuck you

Cmon baby, take a chance with us
Cmon baby, take a chance with us
Cmon baby, take a chance with us
And meet me at the back of the blue bus
Doin a blue rock
On a blue bus
Doin a blue rock
Cmon, yeah

Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill

This is the end
Beautiful friend
This is the end
My only friend, the end

It hurts to set you free
But youll never follow me
The end of laughter and soft lies
The end of nights we tried to die

This is the end

"Mad World" by Gary Jules

all around me are familiar faces
worn out places
worn out faces
bright and early for the daily races
going no where
going no where
their tears are filling up their glasses
no expression
no expression
hide my head i wanna drown my sorrow
no tomorrow
no tomorrow
and i find i kind of funny
i find it kind of sad
the dreams in which i'm dying are the best i've ever had
i find it hard to tell you
i find it hard to take
when people run in circles its a very very
mad world
mad world
children waiting for the day they feel good
happy birthday
happy birthday
and i feel the way that every child should
sit and listen
sit and listen
went to school and i was very nervous
no one knew me
no one new me
hello teacher tell me what's my lesson
look right through me
look right through me
and i find i kind of funny
i find it kind of sad
the dreams in which i'm dying are the best i've ever had
i find it hard to tell you
i find it hard to take
when people run in circles its a very very
mad world
mad world
enlarging your world
mad world

Anadiplosis Song Analysis

In the song "In Your Honor" by Foo Fighters,the lyrics show repetitiveness of anadiplosis. In the beginning, the lyrics show the repetitiveness. The lyrics are "Can you hear me/Hear me screamin'." Also, "Can you feel me/Feel me breathing." The lines are showing how the writer is dedicated to this person. He will do anything for them, and how he would risk his own life, for this person to survive. The lyrics are showing how the writer is showing his respect to this person.

Anaphora Song Analysis

The song "Untitled" by Simple Pane uses the repetitive term Anaphora. Anaphora is when the same word(s) is used at the beginning of each consectutive sentence. In "Untitled" the words "I Can't" is used in 3 consectutive lines. The repetitiveness in the lyrics show how the writer can't seem to do anything. He "can't stand the pain" and "can't make it go away." The lines show enhances the depression in the writer and how he can't do anything and how he is hurt. Without the repetitive "Can't" the song would not have the same remorse feeling the listerner has for the writer. The lyrics enhance the writers message of sadness.

"In Your Honor" by Foo Fighters- Anadiplosis

"In Your Honor"

Can you hear me
Hear me screamin'
Breaking in the muted sky
This thunder heart
Like bombs beating
Echoing a thousand miles

Mine is yours and yours is mine
There is no divide
In your honor
I would die tonight

Mine is yours and yours is mine
I will sacrifice
In your honor
I would die tonight
For you to feel alive

Can you feel me
Feel me breathing
One last breath before I close my eyes
This offering
For receiving
Deliver me into the other side

Mine is yours and yours is mine
There is no divide
In your honor
I would die tonight

Mine is yours and yours is mine
I will sacrifice
In your honor
I would die tonight
For you to feel alive

For you to feel alive
For you to feel alive
For you to feel alive
AHH

"Untitled" by Simple Plan- Anaphora

"Untitled" by Simple Plan

I open my eyes
I try to see but I’m blinded by the white light
I can’t remember how
I can’t remember why
I’m lying here tonight

And I can’t stand the pain
And I can’t make it go away
No I can’t stand the pain

How could this happen to me
I made my mistakes
I’ve got no where to run
The night goes on
As I’m fading away
I’m sick of this life
I just wanna scream
How could this happen to me

Everybody’s screaming
I try to make a sound but no one hears me
I’m slipping off the edge
I’m hanging by a thread
I wanna start this over again

So I try to hold onto a time when nothing mattered
And I can’t explain what happened
And I can’t erase the things that I’ve done
No I can’t

How could this happen to me
I made my mistakes
I’ve got no where to run
The night goes on
As I’m fading away
I’m sick of this life
I just wanna scream
How could this happen to me

I made my mistakes
I’ve got no where to run
The night goes on
As I’m fading away
I’m sick of this life
I just wanna scream
How could this happen to me

"Dead Flowers" By The Rolling Stones Analysis

"Dead Flowers" by The Rolling Stones is song about a man who gets his heart broken by a woman. He sings about how she left him alone, and is going to send him "dead flowers", which is a methaphor for bad mouthing him. The man is saying he will always love her even though she sends "dead flowers." He also says "I won't forget to put roses on your grave", which means no matter what she does to him, he will still express his love for her.

Well when you're sitting there in your silk upholstered chair
Talkin' to some rich folk that you know
Well I hope you won't see me in my ragged company
Well, you know I could never be alone

Take me down little Susie, take me down
I know you think you're the queen of the underground
And you can send me dead flowers every morning
Send me dead flowers by the mail
Send me dead flowers to my wedding
And I won't forget to put roses on your grave

Well when you're sitting back in your rose pink Cadillac
Making bets on Kentucky Derby Day
Ah, I'll be in my basement room with a needle and a spoon
And another girl to take my pain away

Take me down little Susie, take me down
I know you think you're the queen of the underground
And you can send me dead flowers every morning
Send me dead flowers by the mail
Send me dead flowers to my wedding
And I won't forget to put roses on your grave

Take me down little Susie, take me down
I know you think you're the queen of the underground
And you can send me dead flowers every morning
Send me dead flowers by the U.S. Mail
Say it with dead flowers in my wedding
And I won't forget to put roses on your grave
No, I won't forget to put roses on your grave

"Lake of Fire" By Nirvana Anaylsis

"Lake of Fire" by Nirvana is song that uses a metaphor to explain where bad people go when they die. The metaphor "Lake of Fire" is describing hell and when your bad in life thats where you end up. The song is explaing that you should be good in life to end up in "heaven where the angels fly." But, when your bad, you end up in a "lake of fire and fry."

Where do bad folks go when they die
They don't go to heaven where the angels fly
Go to a lake of fire and fry
Don't see them again 'till the Fourth of July

I knew a lady who came from Duluth
Bitten by a dog with a rabid tooth
She went to her grave just a little too soon
flew and lay howling on the yellow moon

Where do bad folks go when they die
They don't go to heaven where the angels fly
Go to a lake of fire and fry
Don't see them again 'till the Fourth of July

People cry and people moan
Look for a dry place to call their home
Try to find some place to rest their bones
While the angels and the devils try to make 'em their own

Where do bad folks go when they die
They don't go to heaven where the angels fly
Go to a lake of fire and fry
Don't see them again 'till the Fourth of July

"How You Remind Me" by Nickelback

"How You Remind Me" by Nickelback is a song about failures and flaws in relationships that contains a simile. The simile is when the lyrics say "tired of living like a blind man." The line describes that the man is feeling like he can't see what is right in front of him and how he is failing in the relationship. The song is pointing out the flaws in this particular relationship.

"How You Remind Me"

Never made it as a wise man
I couldn't cut it as a poor man stealing
Tired of living like a blind man
I'm sick of sight without a sense of feeling
And this is how you remind me
This is how you remind me
Of what I really am
This is how you remind me
Of what I really am

It's not like you to say sorry
I was waiting on a different story
This time I'm mistaken
for handing you a heart worth breaking
and I've been wrong, i've been down,
been to the bottom of every bottle
these five words in my head
scream "are we having fun yet?"

yeah, yeah, yeah, no, no
yeah, yeah, yeah, no, no

it's not like you didn't know that
I said I love you and I swear I still do
And it must have been so bad
Cause living with me must have damn near killed you

And this is how, you remind me
Of what I really am
This is how, you remind me
Of what I really am

It's not like you to say sorry
I was waiting on a different story
This time I'm mistaken
for handing you a heart worth breaking
and I've been wrong, i've been down,
been to the bottom of every bottle
these five words in my head
scream "are we having fun yet?"

yet, yet, yet, no, no
yet, yet, yet, no, no
yet, yet, yet, no, no
yet, yet, yet, no, no

Never made it as a wise man
I couldn't cut it as a poor man stealing
And this is how you remind me
This is how you remind me
This is how you remind me
Of what i really am
This is how you remind me
Of what i really am

It's not like you to say sorry
I was waiting on a different story
This time I'm mistaken
for handing you a heart worth breaking
and I've been wrong, i've been down,
been to the bottom of every bottle
these five words in my head
scream "are we having fun yet?"
yet, yet
are we having fun yet [3x]

"Black Balloon" Analysis

"Black Balloon" by the Goo Goo Dolls is a song written about the use of heroin, that contains a simile. The simile is seen in the line "scatter like ice." The lyrics are showing a comparison of something scattering like ice when it breaks. The song is telling about someone who has overdoes on heroin and they used a black balloon to tie their arm to inject the heroin. Goo Goo Dolls wrote this song after one of the band members lost a loved one from heroin.

"Black Balloon" by Goo Goo Dolls

Baby's black balloon makes her fly
I almost fell into that hole in your life
And you're not thinking about tomorrow
'Cause you were the same as me
But on your knees

A thousand other boys could never reach you
How could I have been the one
I saw the world spin beneath you
And scatter like ice from the spoon
That was your womb

Comin' down the world turned over And angels fall without you there
And I go on as you get colder
Or are you someone's prayer

You know the lies they always told you
And the love you never knew
What's the things they never showed you
That swallowed the light from the sun
Inside your room

Comin' down the world turned over
And angels fall without you there
And I'll go on to bring you home
All because I'm
All because I'm
And I'll become
What you became to me

"Tears in Heaven" song analysis

Eric Clapton is an extremely famous and talented blues rock guitarist, singer, songwriter, and composer. He is known as one of the greatest guitarists of all time. Clapton has been inducted three separate times into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, not only as a member of the bands The Yardbirds and Cream, but also as a solo artist. Clapton’s interest in music led to him joining a band at the age of seventeen, called “The Roosters”. His early influences were Buddy Guy, Freddy King and B. B. King, who are mostly blues singers, but he was passionate about his music and started mixing the blues with rock. After, he began his solo career and he had to endure stints with drugs, alcohol, infidelity and divorce. He has suffered many losses in his life which included the death of his half brother, the death of some of his crew members and most importantly, and the death that affected Clapton the most, the death of his four year old son Connor. Clapton expresses his despair and grief about the death of his son with his song “Tears in Heaven.” In Eric Clapton’s song “Tears in Heaven” he shows despair and sadness through the poetic devices and through the loss of his son.

Eric Clapton’s song “Tears in Heaven” is about the grief and pain he suffered after the loss of his 4-year old son Connor. In the verses, Clapton says “Will it be the same.” This heartbreaking verse lets the listener feel the pain of losing a loved one. The listener, along with Clapton, experiences the feeling of not knowing what type of relationship would be shared if they were together again in heaven and it is left as an unanswered question giving it all the more meaning and sentiment. This song relates to my theme and genre because my theme is anger and despair in rock and alternative music. Even though the songwriter is blues influenced, it is still considered a classical blues rock song. The despair is definitely shown in the lyrics and the mood of Clapton is a somber one, all the while allowing the listener to feel the despair throughout the song.

In the song Eric Clapton uses poetic devices to show despair. The theme of the song is tragedy and grief. Clearly the loss of a child brings a parent an unimaginable pain and this pain is what Clapton used to express himself throughout the song. This song is also a narrative song as Clapton is telling the story of how the loss of his son affected him. The sadness he felt when his son died left him with unanswered questions. This song is also a lyric poem because it expresses the feeling of grief, despair, and pain. In the lyric’s Clapton uses couplets such as “I’ll find my way, through night and day /Cause I know I just can’t stay” and also “I must be strong, and carry on /Cause I know I don’t belong”. These couplets help pull the lyrics together with a rhyming sequence to help the flow of the music. When a loved one dies most people use phrases such as “give it time”, in Clapton bridge he says “Time can bring you down/Time can bend your knee/Time can break your heart”. This shows the feeling of how time passing can also be heartbreaking to a grieving person.

Thus, in Eric Clapton’s “Tears in Heaven” the theme of despair is evident throughout the song. Clapton’s very well written song uses the elements of lyric poem, and couplets that allow the listener not only hear the despair and sadness that Clapton feels, but allows the listeners to feel it too. The loss of a child is devastating and in Clapton’s song, that heartbreak is conveyed to the listener. This song is portrayed like Clapton is telling a story. The song is one that many people can relate to. Most people have lost someone they have loved, and this song can help a person relate to their feelings of despair and knowing others have experienced the same pain.

"Tears in Heaven" by Eric Clapton

Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven
Will it be the same
If I saw you in heaven
I must be strong, and carry on
Cause I know I don't belong
Here in heaven

Would you hold my hand
If I saw you in heaven
Would you help me stand
If I saw you in heaven
I'll find my way, through night and day
Cause I know I just can't stay
Here in heaven

Time can bring you down
Time can bend your knee
Time can break your heart
Have you begging please
Begging please

(instrumental)

Beyond the door
There's peace I'm sure.
And I know there'll be no more...
Tears in heaven

Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven
Will it be the same
If I saw you in heaven
I must be strong, and carry on
Cause I know I don't belong
Here in heaven

Cause I know I don't belong
Here in heaven

"3am" analysis

"3am" by matchbox twenty is a sad song written by lead singer Rob Thomas about his mother who is only given 6 months to live due to cancer. He writes about how sad she has become how depressing life is becoming. He uses the rain as a metaphor to death and how it's gonna "wash" everything away. This songs means to me that the hardships that people face when given tragic news.

3am by Matchbox 20

She says its cold outside and she hands me my raincoat
Shes always worried about things like that
She says its all gonna end and it might as well be my fault
And she only sleeps when its raining
And she screams and her voice is straining

(chorus)

She says baby
Its 3 am I must be lonely
When she says baby
Well I cant help but be scared of it all sometimes
Says the rains gonna wash away, I believe it

Shes got a little bit of something, God its better than nothing
And in her color portrait world, she believes that shes got it all
She swears the moon don't hang quite as high as it used to
And she only sleeps when its raining
And she screams and her voice is straining

(chorus)

She believes that life is made up of all that you're used to
And the clock on the wall has been stuck at three for days, and days
She thinks that happiness is a mat that sits on her doorway
But outside it stopped raining

(chorus)