You Oughta Know

There is no question that men and women sometimes deal with things differently, especially when it comes to relationships. The song “You Oughta Know”, by Alanis Morissette, is a good example of one woman’s point of view and how she deals with breakups. According to Literature and the Writing Process, the gender focus critical approach focuses on psychological, sociological, and political thought through gender and analyzes the story in terms of women’s strategies (McMahan, 2007). By applying a feminist criticism of this song, we can identify why some women may react more emotionally to broken relationships than some men do.

            Identifying why the artist produced the song and who it is directed toward is very revealing. Most songwriters express their work through past experiences. When Alanis wrote this song, it triggered rumors about her past relationship with actor David Coulier, best known as Joey on the television series Full House. Morissette has been quoted and has confirmed that the song was indeed an abstract version of her break up with a specific person. In an interview, Coulier suggested the song was probably referring to him and identified with the line, “I hate to bug you in the middle of dinner” (5, 4). He said that she used to interrupt him all the time. They reportedly broke up due to their age difference; he was fifteen years older than her. He also said that the line “an older version of me” hit close to home because at the time, he needed someone more mature and closer to his age (2, 1), (“You Oughta Know”, 2007). It seems like a logical reason to break up with someone, but most women do not care if love is logical because the feeling of being in love outweighs the importance of it making sense. In many cases, men see being with someone as a logical decision. When a man tells a woman “don’t take it personally”, no matter what the reason is, many women take it personally and hold the man accountable. We can see why Alanis would be infuriated with him because she trusted him enough to be in a relationship and then he was not honest with her. He knew how old she was from the start and instead of working things out, he chose to detach himself from the emotion of the relationship and make a decision based on logical factors. After a breakup, women appear to be the one who is distressed when the man has already moved on. Morissette shows after women recover emotionally, they often come out even stronger. In the song, after Alanis has had time to rage, she has an epiphany. Her anger and desperation turn into her taunting him, suggesting that she has moved onto other relationships, and now he is the one hung up on her. The artist has made her female character switch identity roles, resulting with the female dominating the situation.

In the “You Oughta Know” video, the female character is alone in the desert with a suitcase. The setting is intentionally in the desert to symbolize lack of life or drought. She is literally falling apart and her emotions are draining her. She dances around the desert in a fashion that communicates her insanity. The suitcase represents a woman’s feeling of being abandoned by a man. She carries it around wherever she goes because that is all she has left without him. In the last verse, she switches from hostile and uncontrollable to a hopeful and powerful woman. She is basically teasing him by saying, “I’m not gonna fade as soon as you close your eyes,” because the roles have reversed and he cannot stop thinking about her (8, 2). She teases him by saying, “and every time I scratch my nails down someone else’s back/ I hope you feel it” (8, 3). The video setting shifts from her being in the lifeless desert to a desert full of colorful flowers all around her. The flower’s vibrant colors represent life and optimism. You can see a shift in persona when she replaces her all white outfit with a blinding bright blue jacket. The blue jacket symbolizes her independence. She has evolved into a woman who does not need a man to make her happy. Ending the video, the female character is hitchhiking out of the desert and officially over him.

This song clearly represents a tone of anger, desperation, and wanting revenge. At the beginning verse of the song, “I want you to know/ that I’m happy for you/ I wish nothing but/ the best for you both” (1, 1). This is an example of the artist using verbal irony to emphasize how mad she really is at him and his broken promises. Instead of her wanting him to be happy, she wants him to suffer. She is angry because she has been deceived into believing all of the promises that he made to her when they were together. A number of women tend to dwell over past relationships and what went wrong, while the man is most likely over it. When she says, “It was a slap in the face/ how quickly I was replaced” (5, 5), she feels resentment towards him because he did not take her feelings into consideration. She compares the new woman to herself suggesting that she is still involved in the man’s life. Analyzing the new woman she says, “An older version of me/ is she perverted like me/ would she go down on you in a theater/ does she speak eloquently/ and would she have your baby/ I’m sure she’d make a really excellent mother” (2, 1). She correlates herself to the other woman by using images that she has made up in her head when trying to figure out why she was not good enough in the situation. When women result to this, they aimlessly lose self esteem and confidence. It is bothersome to know that the approval of a man can sometimes make or break a woman’s character. A woman could be strong and successful but because a man doesn’t like her, she feels weak and powerless.

Alanis Morissette wrote the song, “You Oughta Know”, to inspire women to have confidence and faith in themselves. She uses persona, imagery, and verbal irony to attribute to the audience’s interpretation of the song (McMahan, 2007). Noting all literary devices for deeper meaning and using a feminist approach of criticism to this song, it is obvious that some women may deal with relationships in a different manner than men do. 

                                                          Works Cited

Morissette, Alanis. "You Oughta Know." Rec. 13 June 1995. Maverick. By Alanis 

          Morissette. Glen Ballard, 1995.

          "You Oughta Know." Snopes.com. 24 May 2007. Urban Legends. 3 Mar. 2009

           http://www.snopes.com/music/songs/oughta.asp. 

Image 1 : http://www.lifesux.ro/cat76374/art3605427194/alanis.jpg

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"Good, Evil, Redemption"

 

            In T.I.’s latest soundtrack featuring Justin Timberlake’s “Dead and Gone,” T.I. gives many symbols and verses to his commitment of change. I am approaching this paper from a reader response method. Even though I waiver towards one side I give all three sides of T.I.’s good, evil, and redemption concepts in his song. So I leave it up to the reader to voice their own opinion from the examples I give. In his song, T.I. states “the old me is dead and gone.” T.I. was recently released from prison, and also recently came out with his latest album “Paper Trail.” In his new album, he had many of his latest hits such as “Live Your Life,” “Whatever You Like,” along with “Dead and Gone.” Some wonder how far T.I. is willing to change. I believe T.I. shows three different phases of himself in the song: an evil side, a good side, and the side heading towards redemption with his fans as well as the people. Through his songs, he tries to give his fans and the people a better understanding of where he is coming from and what he is faced while growing up in the projects with gang violence.

            Though he states he’s going to change, honestly, I do not believe he will. Just recently after being released from prison, T.I. broke parole by having a concealed weapon. T.I. is going to have to return to jail for a year’s sentence after breaking parole. This leads me to believe he really is not serious about changing and wants to continue his old ways of helping gangs and thugs. Even in one of his songs, he references back to his old life of being in gangs and gang wars. In his song T.I. says, “Run into a group of niggas getting they hate on / you walk by they get wrong you reply then shit get blown.”(Verse 1 Lines 2 and 3) This can be interpreted as back when T.I. lived in the projects and was in a gang. He also has images of his past like the ghetto and fights in his music video to help show he might not change, or why would he hold on to these images? They will remind him of his past and might push him back in that direction in a time of weakness. In his song he states, “Time to think before I make mistakes just for my family’s sake,” (Verse 1 Line 17) but if he really did think for his family’s sake, why would he conceal a weapon and break parole?

            In his song, he also shows the good side of who he is. T.I. does show room for change in his life. In the “Dead and Gone” music video, when T.I. says, “so I turn my head to the North, swallow that pill that they call pride.”(Verse 3 Line 3) He looks up to the heavens and Justin Timberlake points his hands up towards the sky. This could be interpreted as T.I. bringing God and Jesus into his life. Even though T.I. brings up his past with the gangs, he also brings up his pain and loss of losing a friend. He claims, “Had I not hit the nigga in the mouth that time/I won that fight, I lost that war/I can still see my nigga walkin out that door/Who’da thought I’d never see Philant no more/Got enough dead homies I don’t want no more,” (Verse 2 Lines 14-17) so he evidentially is sorry for what he has done in the past and especially costing his friend his life. There are even images in the music video of the cemetery where Philant was buried and also shows pictures of his grave. He lost his friend Philant at the age of 26 because of something he did, and that really has to effect a person’s way of thinking. A traumatic event like losing your friend that young in your life because of you could set you right and make you want to work harder to become a better person.

            There are even images of the crucifix in his video and in his words. He is sort of reborn by changing his ways and becoming a new him. He even claims he has no regrets and that the old him is dead and gone away. In a way, he is somewhat redeeming himself in the eyes of the people. Also, in the beginning of his music video, he has a passage from the bible, Corinthians 13:11. It states, “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put childish things away.” Evidently, he believes he is going to put his childish things away and become a better image. Through these images of the church, some might forget his old ways and gang life. Others though might believe his past could be his undoing and be his “crucifix” and believe he will not change from his old ways.
            Through all this, I believe T.I. might eventually try to change his ways, though he has all the facts against him and many people do not believe he will actually change. He may be trying to change, but he will need the support of the people around him to actually begin to change. If the people around him are negative influences or they are not there for him, I believe he will continue his thug life and gangsta ways. In the video, when the word “good” appears, a picture of his family appears and pictures of churches and graves appear. Also, when the word evil appears, the big image that sticks out is the barbed wire chain fence encircling a jail yard. This may lead the viewer to believe that T.I. thinks if he does not change, then he will end up back in jail and may never see his family again. With that thought, now that T.I. is going back to jail, this may lead you to believe he chooses the evil path and may not correct his past mistakes. I guess the viewers will see if he intends to stay down the path he has chosen, or if he will try to change his life and make a better name for himself when he gets out of jail. 


Works Citied
 

“Dead and Gone.” Youtube. 18 February 2009.        <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4YQETvb2Vw> 
 

“T.I. Dead and Gone Lyrics.” Elyrics. 2004-2009     <http://www.elyricsworld.com/dead_and_gone_lyrics_t.i..html >

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Daddy Don't Leave

    In Eminem’s song ‘When I’m Gone,” he describes his relationship with his own daughter and how he must change it. By using biographical criticism, one can connect outside experiences into Eminem’s song lyrics. Eminem was born into a harsh life and his road to fame was not an easy one to surpass. From an early age, he never got to enjoy the things an average child would. He soon fell in love with music and was lucky enough to make it out of poverty. Now he uses hip-hop to tell stories of his life and what he must do different. One story in particular sticks out to many: the story to his daughter.              

    Marshal Bruce Mathers III, Eminem’s biological name, was born into a welfare state world. With two parents that could not support a child and drug addictions that tore them apart, it drove one parent away. Eminem’s father left at a very early age and never did return. Once Eminem started to get older he could see the problems that his mom had. She was trying to raise a kid,while also fighting a horrible drug addiction. In Eminem’s free time, he wrote songs and would rap at places for fun. Eminem later had a daughter with a woman named Kim. Not too long after this birth, Eminem was lucky to have his CD published by a man named Dr. Dre. Dr. Dre was a rap music producer and also an artist himself. Eminem was a huge hit and was constantly on the road. This leaves Hailie alone with her drug addicting mother, almost like Eminem and his mother. The only difference would be that they could still afford this, because Eminem was a huge star. It took a few years, but Eminem realized how much of his own daughter’s life he was missing and decided to write this song to her and to the fans to explain why he will not be continuing on tour any longer.

            “What happens when you become the main source of a pain/Daddy look what I made, dad’s gotta go catch a plane. (Eminem 1)” Eminem emphasizes how his work effects the time he gets to spend with his daughter Halie. Ignoring her leaves her sad and disappointed, and it’s hard for her to recover each time he turns her down. He also mentions how he is the main source of a pain, the pain his daughter feels towards her dad. Eminem then goes to say “Turn right around in that song and tell her you love her. (Eminem 1)” Stressing the fact that he knows he ignores her too much, and does not give her the love she needs. Eminem realizes that his love to his own daughter is not stressed towards her enough, and he doesn’t treat her like he loves her. Then in his songs he talks about how she is the main thing in his life. That is why he wants to change and spend more time with Halie. “That’s all I wanted, I just wanted to give you this coin/ I get the pint, fine me and mommy are goin’/ but baby wait, no it’s too late dad, you made your choice/ Now go out there and show ‘em that you love ‘em more than us. (Eminem 3)” Halie gave her a coin that said “Number One Dad,” when she was younger. Now Eminem looks at this coin, and looks at how he neglects his daughter. Halie tells him that it’s too late to change, but he knows it isn’t. These statements where only in his head, but they are very real in the sense that it is how Halie really feels.

            “How could it be, that the curtain is closing on me/I turn around, find a gun on the ground, cock it/ put it to my brain, scream “Die Shady” and pop it. (Eminem 4)” Eminem is not talking about killing himself here, he is talking about his rap character Slim Shady. He is explaining to his audience that he is done being Slim Shady, because everything in his life is coming to a halt. His wife has a drug addiction and is looking to leave him, his daughter wants to leave with her, and he cannot get the fact that he loves her more than anything out of his head. “That’s when I wake up, alarm clock’s ringin’, there’s birds singin’/its spring and Halie’s outside swining (Eminem 3).” Eminem has woke up from this horrible, but self awakening dream. He knows what he must do, and he notices things in life now that he normally would not have. Normally he would have woken up to get ready for his next act. Now he realizes what his daughter is doing and that he must go spend time with her instead of working. “I walk up to Kim and kiss her/ Tell her I miss her, Halie just smiles/ And winks at her little sister (Eminem 3).” There is a huge message portrayed in this part of the song. The emphasis on Halie winking at her little sister makes the audience see that she knows Eminem feels the pain she is going through, and now he wants to change. She knows her actions contributed to it and know he will be a better father. “And when I’m gone, just carry on, don’t mourn/ rejoice every time you hear the sound of my voice/ Just know that I’m looking down on you smiling/ And I didn’t feel a thing/ So baby don’t feel no pain/ Just smile back (Eminem 1)” The chorus of this song has the most meaning. The meaning of the chorus is to tell Halie that one day he will not be with her anymore. When that day comes for her to know that he loves her, and to be with him again all she has to do is listen to this song.

            This song is very meaningful and rated as one of his top sellers. Everything said in the song, has happened to him at some point in his life and now he is fixing them. This song is not only loved by his audience, but it is used by Halie herself to listen to anytime Eminem is on the road, to know that he loves her and will always be there for her. These two songs have wrapped up Eminem’s career for a while now, and he has been able to spend most of his time with his daughter. Although Eminem and his wife Kim are no longer together, Halie still gets to visit her on a regular basis. Kim is still fighting her drug addiction and other family matters in Eminem’s life are still not right. Eminem’s own mother has sued him for millions of dollars, and he still has to face the fact that he loves music and wants to continue.



 

Yeah

It’s my life

In my own words I guess

 

Have you ever loved someone so much, you’d give an arm for?

Not the expression, no, literally give an arm for?

When they know they’re your heart

And you know you are their armor

And you will destroy anyone who would try to harm ‘em

 

But what happens when karma, turns right around and bites you

And everything you stand for, turns on you, despite you?

What happens when you become the main source of a pain/

“Daddy look what I made,” dad’s gotta go catch a plane

 

“Daddy where’s mommy? I can’t find mommy, where is she?”

I don’t know, go play Halie, baby, your daddy’s busy

Daddy’s writing this song, this song ain’t gon’ write itself

Ill give you one underdog, and you gotta swing by yourself

 

Then turn right around in that song and tell her you love her

And put hands on her mother, Who’s a spitting image of her

That’s Slim Shady, yeah baby, Slim Shady’s crazy

Hady made me, but tonight Shady’s rocka-by-baby

 

And when I’m gone, just carry on, don’t mourn

Rejoice every time you hear the sound of my voice

Just know that I’m looking down on you smiling

And I didn’t feel a thing

So baby don’t feel no pain

Just smile back

 

And when I’m gone, just carry on, don’t mourn

Rejoice every time you hear the sound of my voice

Just know that I’m looking down on you smiling

And I didn’t feel a thing

So baby don’t feel no pain

Just smile back

 

I keep havin this dream, I’m pushing Halie on a swing

She keeps screaming, she don’t want me to sing

“You’re making mommy cry? Why? Why is mommy crying?

Baby, daddy aint leaving no more, “Daddy you’re lying?”

 

“You always say that, you always say this is the last time

But you aint leaving no more, daddy you’re mine”

She’s piling boxes in front of the door, trying to blick it

“Daddy please, daddy don’t leave, daddy, no stop it!”

 

Goes in her pocket, pulls out a tiny necklace locket

It’s got a picture, “This’ll keep you safe daddy, take it witcha”

I look up, it’s just me standing in the mirror

These stinkin’ walls must be talking, ? cuz man I can hear ‘em

 

They’re saying, “you got one more chance to do right

And it’s tonight, now go out there and show that you love ‘em before it’s too late

And just as I go to walk out of my bedroom door

It turns into a stage, they’re gone, and this spotlight is on

And I’m singing

 

And when I’m gone, just carry on, don’t mourn

Rejoice every time you hear the sound of my voice

Just know that I’m looking down on you smiling

And I didn’t feel a thing

So baby don’t feel no pain

Just smile back

 

And when I’m gone, just carry on, don’t mourn

Rejoice every time you hear the sound of my voice

Just know that I’m looking down on you smiling

And I didn’t feel a thing

So baby don’t feel no pain

Just smile back

 

Sixty thousand people, all jumping out their seat

The curtain closes, they’re throwing roses at my feet

I take a bow and thank you all for coming out

They’re screaming so loud, I take one last look at the crowd

 

I glance down, I don’t believe what I’m seeing

“Daddy it’s me, help mommy, her wrist are bleeding”

But baby we’re in Swede, how did you get to Sweden?

“I followed you daddy, you told me that you weren’t leavin’

You lied to me dad, and now you made mommy sad

And I bought you this coin, it says ‘Number One Dad’

 

“That’s all I wanted, I just wanted to give you this coin

I get the point, fine, me and mommy are goin’”

But baby wait, “it’s too late dad, you made your choice

Now go out there and show ‘em that you love ‘em more than us”

 

That’s what they want, they want you Marshall

They keep screamin’ your name

It’s no wounder you can’t go to sleep, just take another pill

Yeah, I bet you will, you rap about it

Yeah, word, k-keep it real

 

I hear applauses, all this time I couldn’t see

How could it be, that the curtain is closing on me?

I turn around, find a gun on the ground, cock it

Put it to my brain, scream, ‘Die Shady” and pop it

 

The sky darkens, my life flashes

The plane that I was supposed to be on crashes and burns to ashes

That’s when I wake up, alarm clock’s ringin’, there’s birds singin’

It’s spring and Halie’s outside swinging

 

I walk right up to Kim and kiss her

Tell her I miss her, Halie just smiles

And winks at her little sister

Almost as if to say

 

And when I’m gone, just carry on, don’t mourn

Rejoice every time you hear the sound of my voice

Just know that I’m looking down on you smiling

And I didn’t feel a thing

So baby don’t feel no pain

Just smile back

 

And when I’m gone, just carry on, don’t mourn

Rejoice every time you hear the sound of my voice

Just know that I’m looking down on you smiling

And I didn’t feel a thing

So baby don’t feel no pain

Just smile back

 


 

Works Cited

Eminem.net. “Eminem’s Biography.” Official fan Website. 2004.

            <http://www.eminem.net/biography/>

Mathers Iii, Marshall B; Resto, Luis Edgardo. “When I’m Gone.” Encore. 2004

            < http://www.metrolyrics.com/when-im-gone-lyrics-eminem.html>

Figure 1. <http://misskind.no.sapo.pt/dbimg/Eminem-TheMarshallMathers11082_f.jpg>

Figure 2. <http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/eminem_narrowweb__300x423,2.jpg

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From Father to Son, From Son to Father

Cat's in the Cradle by Harry Chapin was a song written in order to teach a life long lesson.  The song is narrated by a father about his son.  The tone of the lyrics is melancholy considering it is about a father who was never there during his son’s childhood, and in return the son was absent as the father aged.  In 1974, the year before my Dad graduated from college, he heard this song and to this day it holds a special place in his heart.  After hearing this song, my Dad promised that he would never let anything come between him and his family.  I will be writing a reader response critique on this song’s affect on my Dad’s life and therefore my life. 

The song begins with a boy being born while his father is too busy to be around.  He was traveling when the boy learned to walk, and he was paying bills when his son first spoke, but the boy still wants to be just like his Dad.  The boy grows older and wants to learn how to play baseball.  Thinking it would be a good bonding time, the boy asks his father to teach him how to play, but his father is just too busy.  The boy smiles and once again says he wants to be just like his Dad.  Several years down the road the boy comes home from college and his Dad wants to visit with him, but all the boy wants are his Dad’s car keys.   Years later, the Dad is retired and calls his son wanting to see him.  But the son is just too busy with his job, then it occurs to the father that his son has grown up to be just like him. 

            There is so much symbolism in the chorus.  I think the first line of the chorus: “Cat’s in the Cradle and the Silver Spoon” (Chapin 8) is referring to the lack of relationship between the father and the son.  While the boy, referred to as the cat, is in his cradle, his father is too busy worried about making money, which is represented by the silver spoon, which is synonymous for wealth.  The father’s yearn for wealth interferes with his fatherly duties.  The second line of the chorus, “Little Boy Blue and the Man in the Moon”(Chapin 9) symbolizes the boy’s longing for a father.  I do not think Chapin is necessarily talking about the nursery rhyme, Little Boy Blue, instead I think he is inferring the little boy has the blues without a nurturing father.  He sees his father as the moon.  The moon is so far away.  One cannot touch it or feel it; one can only see it.  The little boy longs for closeness with his father.  All the little boy wants to do is hug, kiss, and be held by his father.  But to the little boy, his Dad is as far away as the moon. 

            While reading the lyrics of this song, I cannot help but think of my Dad.  He has lived the opposite life of the father in the Cat’s in the Cradle.  My Dad’s first priority is our family.  He will drop everything in order to attend to my family.  When the father says, “he learned to walk while I was away,” (Chapin 4) I think of when my Mom told me about the time my Dad came home early from work when I spoke my first words.  When the boy tells his father, “thanks for the ball Dad, come let’s play.  Can you teach me how to throw?” (Chapin 14-15), I think of every sports team my Dad coached my friends and me.  From Pre-K until eighth grade, my Dad was the baseball and basketball coach.  Not only did he coach me, but he coached all five of his children.  Many of my friends have an older brother the same age as my older brother so we decided to make an indoor soccer team called the “Bros.” No ones’ Dad knew how to play soccer; therefore, no one volunteered to coach us except my Dad.  Even though my Dad knows absolutely nothing about soccer, he looked at it as a way to bond with two of his boys.  Another line in the song, “well he came home from college just the other day” (Chapin 25) really sunk in with me.  I happen to be coming home this weekend, and I am not coming home and borrowing my Dad’s car keys like the boy in Cat’s in the Cradle.  I am coming home because my parents are throwing my little brother a surprise birthday party.  The birthday party this weekend is the same weekend of my fraternity’s formal in Hot Springs, but my Dad has taught me something I will take with me for the rest of my life: family comes first.

            I can proudly attest to the profound effect that diction and imagery, written in music, can have on people’s lives.  Harry Chapin constantly reminded my Dad about the importance of family.  With me writing this critique, my Dad has a success story.  I obviously recognize my Dad’s determination to be a good father.  I would not be critiquing this song today had my Dad not followed through with his promise to put his family first.  One day, I too will raise a family of my own, and every time I hear the song Cat’s in the Cradle, I will think about my children and how they are the most important things in my life.

 

Works Cited

"Cat's in the Cradle."

Http://www.picsearch.com/search.cgi?q=Cat%27s+in+the+Cradle&cols=5&thumbs=20&t=B%252BTo9CryayIz7jCgJhvUbgg%252BN8vCzdTWWg6qicZ65Ws%253D. Pic Search.

Chapin, Harry. "Cat's in the Cradle." Ask Lyrics. 28 Feb. 2009
<http://www.asklyrics.com/display/Cat_Stevens/Cats_In_The_Cradle_Lyrics/110355.htm>.

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3 Doors Down: The Champion in Me

            Songs to many people can mean many things. One person may take it differently than someone else, but in the end the way people interpret the meanings of a song can be entirely different than what the artists intended for it to mean.  Although this happens every single one of these people have something in common; they are all right.  While thinking of songs and artists that I normally listen to, I came across a song that I had listened to many times; but never actually concentrated on what the song was meaning.  By using socio-political criticism, which is when we use both political and social criticism, we can connect the outside influences of events and to the lyrics in the song.

        3 Doors Down is a rock band that originated from Escatawpa, Mississippi.  One thing that stands strong among the chaos most rock bands go through is that no matter what, 3 Doors Down still holds on to their small town identity that has branded them rock’s truest underdogs (“3 Doors Down: Biography”).  The band’s original purpose for writing the song “The Champion In Me” was for the 2008 Olympics, but unknowingly to them it would become a major success and gain them many fans both nationally and internationally.

        The music video for the song itself speaks volumes.  It displays the American flag and shows the hard work that the people in the Olympics have to endure to become the number one athlete in their chosen field of sport.  The video also has many forms of patriotism displayed throughout while the group members become very passionate about what they are saying.  One of he major things that fans will notice about the music video is the massive number of actual Olympic athletes throughout the video.

            The first part of the song uses both rhyme and imagery to get the point across.  It says, “ You said that mountains too high, you said that oceans too wide. I’ve heard all new beginnings started with an end. Watch this journey I take, turn into something I make. Please watch closely, you may not see it again (stanza 1). This can be used to describe how Olympic athletes might have been told that they would never make it for many reasons by past coaches, but that they countered it with telling them to watch because they were going to make their dreams happen no matter what.

            The second, fourth, and fifth parts of the song uses redundancy to get the point across.  It says, “Cause I know, I know, I was born to be this way. Everyday I try and I’ll do everything it takes to become the one what I’ve always wanted to be. Watch right now and you will see the champion in me. The champion in me (stanza 2, 4, 5). This is taken as the Olympic athletes knowing that they can win and that they were made to do this so that they alone can make their country proud or in some countries, such as those from the middle east, being saved from being killed for losing a game.

            One of the most vivid uses of imagery comes in the third part of the song.  “When the others cower I’m in my finest hour. We are the champions created by design.  While I remember falling I hear these dreams keep calling. I work so hard, so long, I’ll take it what is mine(stanza 3).  This alone is amazing use of not only words, but of playing on the audience’s senses.  Fans  can imagine the other athletes cowering because they know that the one who won is better at the sport.  Also fans can picture the athletes falling and their dreams of victory calling out to them.

            While this song mostly is about the Olympics, it can be related to a presidential victory because candidates never give up until they lose, the lives of the guys that form 3 Doors Down and their ascent to fame, and to the lives of many Americans.  This song is not only about finding what your dreams are in life, but also about making them come true and succeeding.

3 Doors Down - The Champion In Me lyrics

Provided by Lyrics Mania

 You said that mountains too high,

You said that oceans too wide

I've heard all new beginnings

started with an end

Watch this journey I take,

turn into something I make

Please watch closely,

you may not see this again

 Cause I, know I,

I was born to be this way

Everyday I try and I'll do

everything that it takes

to become the one

what I've always wanted to be

Watch right now

and you will see the champion in me

The champion in me

When the others cower,

I'm in my finest hour

We are champions created by design

While I remember falling,

I hear these dreams keep calling

I work so hard, so long,

I'll take it what is mine

 Cause I, know I,

I was born to be this way

Everyday I try and I'll do

everything that it takes

to become the one

what I've always wanted to be

Watch right now

and you will see the champion in me

The champion in me

Champion, champion in me,

champion, champion

Cause I, know I,

I was born to be this way

Everyday I try and I'll do

everything that it takes

to become the one

what I've always wanted to be

Watch right now

and you will see the champion in me

The champion in me

Works Cited

LYRICS Mania. 04 Mar. 2009 <http://www.lyricsmania.com/lyrics.html>.

3 Doors Down: Biography. 04 Mar. 2009 <http://www.3doorsdown.com/bio>.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.popstarsplus.com/images/3DoorsDownPicture001.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.popstarsplus.com/music_3doorsdown.htm&usg=__7WGL-fo94WSh_ucjUNpV-JWibVo=&h=582&w=800&sz=116&hl=en&start=2&um=1&tbnid=TPIwhnGY9q_6QM:&tbnh=104&tbnw=143&prev=/images%3Fq%3D3%2BDoors%2BDown%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den-us%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1

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"The Ballad of Curtis Lowe"

J. Blackburn

Comp. 2

March 4, 2009

 

 

            “The Ballad of Curtis Lowe”, performed by Lynyrd Skynyrd is an emotional song.  Written by Ronnie Van Zant and Allen Collins, the lead singer and lead guitar player, it reflects on childhood memories of listening to an old black man play the dobro in exchange for money for wine. (songfacts.com) Using historical criticism one can recognize the biographical and cultural influences on the lyrics of this song. 

 The song begins with a young boy waking up early to collect bottles to take them to the “country store” for money. (stanza 1 line 5)  He then gave the money to an old black man named Curtis Lowe; in exchange Curtis would play his dobro, “a resonator guitar with a mechanical amplifier”, for him. (songfacts.com) He reflected on how his mother would “whoop” him and he would continue his visits to Curtis. (stanza 3 line 2) The mood of the song becomes gloomier in the last versus.  He reflects on the death of Curtis Lowe.  He remembers,  “ on the day old Curtis died nobody came to pray”. (stanza 5 line 1)  The boy believes Curtis was “ the finest picker to ever play the blues” and that he was over looked by society. (stanza 2, 4, and 6 line 4)

           

Ronnie Van Zant, the lead singer was raised in Jacksonville, Fl in the sixties.           (artistdirect.com) He was raised in a time where racism was very common in the south.  One could imagine the animosity a white mother at this time in history would feel about her 10 years old son being with an old poor black man by himself. Van Zant sings of his mother’s ill feelings about the situation, “ momma used to whoop me/ but I’d go see him again”. (stanza 3 line 2 and 3)  Van Zant was said to of grown up in the “tough Westside of Jacksonville” where one would think people like Curtis Lowe could be found on the street side. (sing365.com) Lynyrd Skynyrd’s personal memories and raising had a large influence on these lyrics, a prime example is when Van Zant recalls waking up “before the rooster crows” and going to “ the country store”. (stanza 1 line 2 and 5)

Being raised in the south and considered “ the definitive southern rock band” culture played a big part of defining the lyrics of this song. (artistdirect.com) The song over all as a very southern rock and country sound to it as one could assume from Lynyrd Skynyrd.  The lyrics have a southern sound to them as well, referring to Curtis as “old Curtis” and using terms such as “old preacher” and leaving the g off of words with ing. (stanza 5 line 2)  Racism was also linked to southern culture during this time period.  The fact that Curtis Lowe was an old black man played a role in way Curtis was treated when he died, and probably through out life.  This could of caused his skills on the dobro to be over looked.  Just as he was over looked on the day of his funeral.  Van Zant explains that his whole life “playin the black mans blues” and when he died “that’s all he had to lose”. (stanza 5 lines 4 and 5)  He speaks of people calling Curtis “useless” and refers to them

as “fools”. (stanza 2, 4, and 6 line 3).  Southern culture and the time period inspired the lyrics to this song.

            “The Ballad of Curtis Lowe” is a deep and touching song, more then one may notice when listening.  The use of historical criticism allows one to break down the song and analyze the lyrics and the inspiration behind them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Work Citied

 

           

·      “ Lynyrd Skynyrd Biography”

http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/music/artist/bio/0,,461252,00.html

 

·      http://www.lyrics007.com/Lynyrd%20Skynyrd%20Lyrics/The%20Ballad%20Of%20Curtis%20Lowe%20Lyrics.html

 

·      “Lynyrd Skynyrd Biography” http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Lynyrd-Skynyrd-Biography/2AF63E7621AF1067482569EB000F58D5

 

·      http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=4554

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"Imagine"

Asking us to imagine a place where things that divided the world were nonexistent, John Lennon wrote the timeless masterpiece “Imagine”, evoking rays of emotion and response throughout the entire world, even decades following. The simplistic lyrics of “Imagine” can be understood and personally interpreted by remotely anyone, of any age, or of any background, making it one of the most universal songs ever written.  The analysis of the poem could be separated by various aspects of Lennon’s writing including religion, materialism, poverty, greed, and most importantly, world peace. The amaranthine poem is proven to be timeless by its unbelievable impact on music culture, being sung and performed by hundreds, possibly thousands of artists across the globe. John Lennon, the celebrated creator and brilliant poet to “Imagine”, can also be biographically critiqued from writing one of the most monumental and memorable songs of all times.  Because the poetic lyrics of “Imagine” are so universal and open for individual interpretation, it is utterly impossible to singly utilize one type of criticism because of the content, background, history, and culture that coincide with the poetic song, and the meaning that each listener derives from the words, ultimately leaving interpretation to the listener through reader response.  Lennon writes, “Imagine all the people/ living life in peace” compelling each listener to envisage a place of neutrality that may never exist, but throughout the composition, he ultimately provides us profound hope of a better world (2.5-6).

            After listening to the song and evaluating the lyrics, it is blatantly obvious that Lennon’s message in “Imagine” could be interpreted and critiqued in numerous ways, making the song profoundly beautiful and timeless. Through a reader response critical approach, a single viewpoint on the poem does not have to be taken. “It accepts that each person brings his or her own experiences and points of view to bear while reading” (McMahan 1179). Lennon created the universal text to be straightforward and simplistic, creating a sole purpose for the listener to just imagine; Making it obvious by the repetition of the word, in that it is present at the beginning of every stanza. The thought evoking start to the song is “Imagine there’s no heaven/No hell bellow us” (1.1-3). In no way do I interpret this as Lennon suggesting that there should be no life after death, but that in his imaginary utopia, everyone would end up in the same place of never ending peace and love. Using a metaphor, “Nothing to kill or die for/And no religion too”, Lennon imagines that we as one unified body, could make this world a better place (2.3-4). The quarrels and wars in this world, present and past, have occurred because of religion, not because of God or the belief that He exits. Ending the poem, Lennon writes, “I hope someday you’ll join us/And the world will live as one”, expressing to the reader that this idealistic view of the world is shared by many people, and the more people that believe and hope for a better world, the closer it will come to being realistic (5. 3-4).

Although “Imagine” is one of the most universal and listened to songs of all time, John Lennon has received criticism regarding the lyrics, especially when he compels the listener to “Imagine no possessions/I wonder if you can” (4.1-2). Many have questioned Lennon and believe that he contradicted himself because he rode around in expensive cars and owned hundreds of houses, but in reality, he wanted to escape his materialistic obsession. Before writing “imagine” or even before marring Yoko Ono, possessions and material things possessed John, but he soon realized there after that they were not the answer. I think that to criticize someone who is trying to make people see what could happen if the world was at peace is unjustifiable and hypocritical.  John Lennon never said that he had no possessions, and never said that he was perfect, he blatantly said to just “imagine” the world undivided. This song is in no way saying how the world should or needs to be, but rather how life could be. Lennon’s lyrics of imaging “the world as one” should be praised not criticized due to the fact that it can relate to every person in the entire world, which is rare and nearly impossible (5.4).

Although the song “Imagine” is 38 years old, proof that John Lennon’s lyrics are timeless and everlasting is shown through the immense impact and inspiration that his song has taken on in the music industry and culture, even still today. Performers such as Jack Johnson, David Archuletta, Diana Ross, and the band, a Perfect Circle, have done alternate versions, creating alternate moods, styles, and tones using the poetic words of “Imagine”. Lennon’s melodic piano and slow, mellow beat create a relaxing and tranquil mood, so that the listener can imagine what life would be like in peace and gain the ability to sympathize with the world. Using the exact poetry from Lennon’s version of “Imagine”, the alternative rock band, a Perfect Circle, performs the song in a lower key, including various rock instruments, to create a darker alternative mood, with a depressing morose outlook on the division of the world. The music video by a Perfect Circle contains images parallel to the mood the song creates by disturbing and truthful images of the divided world that we live in today. As “No need for greed or hunger” is being sung, the video shows a starving boy in Africa searching for food and then flashes to an obese man in America shoving his face in a hot dog eating contest (4.3). This proves that John’s poem is unbiased, illimitable, and universal, in that it can be interpreted or performed differently to create numerous opinions, thoughts and ideas from the song. As “an enduring hymn of solace and promise that has carried us through extreme grief, from the shock of Lennon's own death in 1980”, it is clear John’s poetic lyrics with remain everlasting and undeniably impacting now, and for years to come(Weener,2004).

“John Lennon was self-important enough to believe that he could wrestle with the times he lived in and make a difference, and the difference he made was immense” (Weener,2004). With a growing impact almost 40 years after the song was released, it is clear that “Imagine” will remain one of the most perennial song’s to ever be written. The lyrics can be interpreted or performed in any way and the words can be inspirational to anyone who listens, creating an ageless masterpiece that is still making an undeniable impact in our world. In an interview with Debbie Elliot, former president of the United States, Jimmy Carter, said that “In many countries around the world, my wife and I have visited about 125 countries; you hear John Lennon's song “Imagine” used almost equally with national anthems, so John Lennon has had a major impact on some of the countries that are developing in the world” (qtd. in NPR). It is safe to assume that John Lennon’s imagine is in fact universal and effective, and it will forever be one of the greatest songs ever written, because of its ability relate to any listener across the globe. With peace on his mind, Lennon asks us to simply “Imagine” a place without division or hurt, but of love, hope, and without question, peace.

                                   

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today...
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one

 

 

Work Cited

A Perfect Circle. "YouTube - A Perfect Circle - Imagine Music Video." YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. 2004. 02 Mar. 2009 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGSUG-cSZ-M>.

 

 

Elliot, Debbie. "Carter Helps Monitor Nicaragua Presidential Election : NPR." NPR : National Public Radio : News & Analysis, World, US, Music & Arts. 06 Nov. 2006. NPR. 03 Mar. 2009 <http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6439233>.

 

"Imagine : Rolling Stone." Rolling Stone: Music News, Reviews, Photos, Videos, Interviews, Politics and More. Ed. Jann S. Weener. 09 Dec. 2004. Rolling Stone. 05 Mar. 2009 <http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/6595848/imagine>.

 

Figure 1,http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2005/10/25/John_Lennon_wideweb__430x336,0.jpg

 

Figure 2, http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.jack-johnson.net/

 

Figure 3, http://www.seatwave.com/filestore/SEASON/IMAGE/Diana%2

            0Ross723/Diana%20Ross723_MainPicture.jpg

 

Lennon, John. "JOHN LENNON - IMAGINE - JOHN LENNON & THE PLASTIC ONO BAND (WITH THE FLUX FIDDLERS) LYRICS." Lyrics. May 2004. Metro Lyrics. 02 Mar. 2009 <http://www.metrolyrics.com/imagine-john-lennon-the-plastic-ono-band-with-the-flux-fiddlers-lyrics-john-lennon.html>.

 

McMahan, Elizabeth et. al. Literature and the writing process. Eighth ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J: Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2007.

 

.

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"The End Doesn't Justify the Means"

In Jose Gonzalez’s song, “How Low,” the nature of human interaction is explored.  The song references the shift in society toward a Machiavellian ideal.  It also uses repetition to emphasize the meaning behind the lyrics.  Finally, the song uses metaphors and symbolism to examine the causes of the societal circumstances.  By utilizing socio-political criticism, we are able to connect outside influences from the political atmosphere and various political ideologies to specific poetic/lyrical moments in the text. 

            Jose Gonzalez challenges the ideas of Machiavelli throughout his song, “How Low.”  Generally Machiavellianism states that people are untrustworthy, malevolent, and self-serving; thus justifying those in power to use exploitative and deceitful actions to maintain his or her position (“Machiavellian”).  Gonzalez begins the song with “how low are you willing to go / before you reach all your selfish goals” (1,1-2).  While society may stress the importance of success, these lyrics confront the means in which to obtain such success.  It begs the question of what should be compromised for achievement and this may be applied on the macro and micro levels of society.  Another line of the song discusses the corruption on a macro level as it describes those in power “absorbed in all your ill hustling” (2,1).  This includes all illegal actions and controversial unmoral actions, but in the song it more specifically pertains to backroom deals and secret agreements of those with political power.  As the song, continues, Gonzalez composes a line, “someday you’ll be up to your knees / in the shit you see” (3, 1-2), which expresses his thoughts on the consequences those who practice the Machiavellian ideas will suffer.  Eventually, the unmoral actions will create too many issues and problems for those in power to successfully deal with. 

            One library device Gonzalez uses is repetition to emphasize various aspects of the governmental powers and its effects.  The political power in societies is able to use almost any means to accomplish an agenda, which makes the Machiavellian approach extremely appealing for those in power.  Gonzalez’s understanding of this and the effects governmental decisions have on the masses leads to this lyric, “punch line, after punch line / leaving us sore, leaving us sore” (1, 3-4).  This line can be interpreted in many ways.  One reading of it could conclude the punch line referring to government promises and the way they are intended to manipulate or avoid solving the real problems that society is faced with every day.  Another interpretation of the line could be the new programs introduced to society, as the punch line, which only worsens the problem leaving the people in trouble, or “sore” as the line states.  Manipulation is a tool commonly used by governments to sway the people in their favor.  The song displays this with the line “invasion after invasion / this means war, this means war” ( 2, 3-4).  The repetition illustrates the manipulation by way of bombarding the people with the message the government wants to send.  Also, the line demonstrates the way in which actions can have more than one name with differing connotations.  Gonzalez tries to show this by explaining how invasion essentially means the same as war. 

            Finally, Jose Gonzalez explores the causes hat contribute to this political atmosphere.  He uses metaphors and symbolism to exhibit these causes.  He continues to use repetition in the line, “feeding a monster, just feeding a monster” (2,2).  This line also acts as a metaphor since it compares the cycle of immoral behavior to gain success that requires more immoral behavior with feeding a monster.  This cycle is one of the main causes of the untrusting political atmosphere.  Also this line provides a good sensory image of this cycle as a gruesome monster to stress Gonzalez’s point.  Another cause would be the media and the text accuses them of “all the gullible that you mislead” (3,3) to believe what they want the people to believe.  This quote symbolizes the masses that are easily swayed by the media.  The major media outlets have biased coverage leaning to one side of the political spectrum that work with that political party.  This quote also refers back to the previous quote because the cycle of what the media feeds to the public wants to hear are constantly at odds.  The audience of this song is also expressed in this quote.  The implied audience is the masses in any society, as this song is not limited to one culture or country because the basis is on human nature, regardless of geography.   

            “How Low” is not only a good song musically, but also lyrically.  Jose Gonzalez is able to express his ideas on the society, human nature, and politics in few words.  His use of repetition is brilliantly placed to put the right amount of emphasis on his most important points.  Other literary devices such as symbols and metaphors are used to give further meaning to his lyrics.  The socio-political stance challenges the audience to take an interest in politics and to critically look at the measures it takes for end results. 

 

“How Low” by Jose Gonzalez

How low are you willing to go

Before you reach all your selfish goals

Punch line after punch line

Leaving us sore, leaving us sore

 

Absorbed in the ill hustling

Feeding a monster, just feeding a monster

Invasion after invasion

This means war, this means war

 

Someday you’ll be up to your knees

In the shit you see

All the gullible that you mislead

Won’t be up or it

Where to, will you relocate

Now that its war, now that its war

 

Works Cited

“Machiavellian” Infoplease. 1997. Random House Unabridged Dictionary. 1 March 2009.  http://dictionary.infoplease.com/machiavellian

Gonzalez, Jose. “How Low”. In Our Nature. Oct 2007.

“Picture 1” http://www.philosophypages.com/ph/macv.htm

 “Picture 2” http://search.live.com/images/results.aspx?q=Jose+Gonzalez&mkt=en-us&FORM=H9RE3#focal=9f823ba5e1054b7cf183609c1edad868&furl=http%3a%2f%2ffiles.list.co.uk%2fimages%2f2007%2f09%2f20%2fjose-gonzalez-lp.jpg

“Picture 3” http://www.parasol.com/artists/bandpics/jose_gonzalez_490_bw.jpg

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"Hello, I am Johnny Cash:

Poetry is very different from other kinds of literature in that it allows the reader to evaluate the meaning based on how he/she interprets the poem. Words are the heart and soul of poetry. They can create images crucial to the theme and tone of the poem, as well as tell a story in a very beautiful language. There are different ways to analyze and critique poetry. One such way to analyze a poem is by using a biographical approach. In this type of critique the critic examines how the authors life influenced his writings (McMahan). By using biographical criticism, we are able to link the past experiences of Johnny Cash to certain moments in the text.

Johnny Cash has been considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. His songs did not just have a great beat, they told a story. People all around listened to his songs and could feel a connection with what he was talking about. Many of his songs depicted sorrow and redemption. The song “Folsom Prison Blues” tells the story of an inmate in Folsom prison. In the opening line, he states “I hear a train a comin’” (stanza 1 line 1) and from then on the prisoner tries to envision what it would be like to be outside of the prisons walls, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5Ts4M3irWM.  The prisoner remembers “my momma told me Son,/ Always be a good boy, don’t ever play with guns” (stanza 2 lines 1 and 2), which makes him cry because he later shot and killed someone. The man pictures the rich people dinning on the train and he realizes he will never be like them and get to ride on the train. The train continues on its journey along with his dreams of freedom.


Figure  SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 1             One way to analyze “Folsom Prison Blues” is to use a biographical approach. During his lifetime, Johnny Cash lived up to the bad boy image. Johnny Cash was known to use drugs such as amphetamines, and as a result Cash landed himself in jail a couple of times. Although he never actually served time in jail, he did on several occasions have to spend the night in jail. Cash’s experiences in a jail cell allowed him to write a song from a prisoner’s perspective, http://everything2.com/title/Folsom%2520Prison%2520Blues. The true inspiration for “Folsom Prison Blues” came from the movie Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison, a movie about a cruel warden and the conflict between one of the inmates. He wrote passionately about “the one’s who are held back” (Johnny Cash’s America), because he had compassion for the people locked up in prison. Cash sang with “a deep, gravelly voice filled with conviction” (Johnny Cash’s America). I believe Cash could rightfully write a song from an inmate’s perspective as he, at one time or another spent the night in jail.

            The lyrics of “Folsom Prison Blues” have touched many and remind us about the sorrow of what it would be like to be in jail. When Cash states “I’m stuck in Folsom prison and time keeps dragging’ on” (stanza1 line 4) he really conveys the emotion of a prisoner stuck in jail, considering he may or may not have spent time in jail. From that line I think the prisoners who heard Cash’s songs understood that he has been in their place before, and it gives them a sense of hope for a brighter future. “I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die” (stanza 2 line 1) is probably the most famous line from the song. The inspiration for this line came from trying to think of one of the worst ways to kill another man, Cash has stated. His lyrics could really relate to the prisoners he performed for, which is probably why they enjoyed his music so much.


Figure  SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 2             When Johnny Cash first introduced the song “Folsom Prison Blues” in 1957 it reached as high as #4 on the country charts. A little over 10 years later he reintroduced the song by performing it at the San Quentin prison. It was there that the song became an instant classic, and not just to the prisoners but to a whole nation. By taking a biographical look at the song “Folsom Prison Blues,” we are able to see how Johnny Cash’s life experiences made an impact on his musical career. We are also able to see the huge following surrounding his music and why “The Man in Black” (Johnny Cash’s America) will forever be loved.

 

 

I hear the train a comin'; it's rollin' 'round the bend,

And I ain't seen the sunshine since I don't know when.

I'm stuck at Folsom Prison and time keeps draggin' on.

But that train keeps rollin' on down to San Antone.

 

When I was just a baby, my mama told me, "Son,

Always be a good boy; don't ever play with guns."

But I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die.

When I hear that whistle blowin' I hang my head and cry.

 

I bet there's rich folk eatin' in a fancy dining car.

They're prob'ly drinkin' coffee and smokin' big cigars,

But I know I had it comin', I know I can't be free,

But those people keep a movin', and that's what tortures me.

 

Well, if they freed me from this prison, if that railroad train was mine,

I bet I'd move on over a little farther down the line,

Far from Folsom Prison, that's where I want to stay,

And I'd let that lonesome whistle blow my blues away

 

 

 

 

Works Cited

Figure 1. http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/75/san20quentinty1.jpg

Figure 2. http://thomasroche.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/folsomprison.jpg

Johnny Cash. “Folsom Prison Blues.” With His Hot and Blue Guitar. Sun Records,
1957.

“Johnny Cash’s America.” Bio. True Story. 2003. Bio. March 2, 2009.
http://www.biography.com/deathiversary/johnny-cash/johnny-cash.jsp.

McMahan, Elizabeth, Susan X day, Robert Funk. “Critical Approaches for Interpreting
  Literature.” Literature and the Writing Process. Eighth edition. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education Inc., 2007.

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"The River"

“The River”

By using historical literary criticism through a biographical aspect, we are able to take parts of Bruce Springsteen’s history and background to determine the specific meaning in the lyrics of the song “The River.” In 1979 Bruce Springsteen introduced the song “The River” at the No Nukes concert at Madison Square Garden (mixonline.com).” In the time this song was written, the economy was suffering which is a historical basis to the nature of “The River.” Furthermore, dipping into Springsteen’s biography shows us another aspect that heavily influences the nature of this song. Springsteen’s poetic “The River” has been said to be possibly this superstar’s finest work.

Bruce Springsteen’s single, “The River”, <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_q3LvjD-eZ8>  was first performed in 1979 in Madison Square Garden and has since been come to be known as one of his most popular and touching songs. The song begins with Bruce explaining where the character in his poem comes from, down in the valley where he is enrolled in high school raised by a poor family. Springsteen uses first person through the entire song which is a use of verbal irony, as the person he is actually talking about is his brother-in-law. The entire song is true and continues on to tell us that Bruce (but actually his brother-in-law) took his girlfriend down to the river where at nineteen he got her pregnant. Springsteen writes, “Oh down to the river we’d ride, Then I got Mary pregnant, and man that was all she wrote, and for my nineteenth birthday I got a union card and a wedding coat.”  The song goes on to express despair at a seemingly jovial situation as the tone of the song tends to bring across a sense of being at a funeral other than a wedding. The song then continues to stay that Springsteen was forced to get a job to support the family, but because of the economy, jobs were scarce. Springsteen writes “Now all those thing that seemed so important, well mister they vanished right in the air.” This describes how the mistake Springsteen made ruined his dreams and aspirations for the future, as he was now forced to work a dead-end job just to support his new family. The song concludes with Springsteen recanting on childhood memories that “haunt me like a curse” and sends him “down to the river, my baby and I, oh down to the river we ride.”

            We can further understand lyrical meaning in “The River” by taking a historical point of view to analyze the song. In the song Springsteen states he cannot find much work, on account of the economy. When this song was written, America was experiencing inflation and slow economic growth post World War II. (bookrags.com) Springsteen’s character in “The River” is feeling the hardships brought on by this recession in his struggle to find good work to support his new family. In the lyrics it is stated that Springsteen’s character “got a job working construction for the Johstown Company. But lately there ain’t been much work on account of the economy.” This line infers that Springsteen was let off from his job and forced to find new work, much like thousands of American are experiencing now in our economic struggles in 2009. By using a historical literary approach we can determine that the events in his life and the world at this time had heavy influences on how this song was construed. If the character in Springsteen’s song was not a victim of the times then this song would have been missing several key elements as well as the historical criticism literary criticism device to approach it.

            Historical approaches to literature can be studied in three aspects, including biographical, cultural, or political.(McMahan) In the case of Springsteen’s the river we can use the biographical aspect to further understand the background of this song through the song’s featured character’s past personal experiences. As explained earlier, the character the song “The River” is about is Springsteen’s brother-in-law and actual events in this character’s life that led to the creation of this song. “The River” is “based on conversations Springsteen had with his brother-in-law. After losing his construction job, he worked hard to support his wife and young child, but never complained” (songfacts.com). The series of events is clearly stated through Springsteen’s lyrical poetry when he states that his brother-in-law was let off by the Johnstown Construction Company in lieu of the suffering economy. Also stated in “The River” is the situation of Springsteen’s brother-in-law getting his girlfriend (Springsteen’s sister) pregnant and in turn being compelled to an early marriage. This is also a true statement, as the “shotgun wedding in the story relates to Springsteen’s sister who got married as a teenager” (songfacts.com). Apparently, when Springsteen’s sister first heard the song she “knew it was about her and her husband” <http://www.songfacts.com/ >. By dipping into Springsteen’s biography we are able to use another type of literary criticism to analyze “The River.” The events that actually transpired in Springsteen’s life had monumental value to the weight of this song.

            Thanks to the techniques used in historical literary criticism through a biographical context we can thoroughly analyze this particular song. When superstar Bruce Springsteen introduced “The River” to audiences in 1979 he told a compelling story of two young teens and their struggles to get by in a bad economy and support a new family. By taking a historical critique to “The River” we can discover how the events going on in the world at the time this song was written heavily influenced the nature of the work. Furthermore by dipping into Springsteen’s biography we see the events that transpired in the song were actually true which gave us another way to critique. Springsteen’s “The River” is a touching and compelling story of life and its struggles for families in the late 1970s. 

 

Works Cited

 Droney, Maureen. "Classic Tracks: Bruce Springsteen's "The River"" Mix. 1 Oct.

2003. 2 Mar. 2009 <http://mixonline.com/recording/interviews/audio_bruce_springsteens_river/>.

Gale, Thomas. "America 1970-1979: Business and the Economy." Bookrags. 2005-2006. 3 Mar. 2009 <http://www.bookrags.com/history/america-1970s-business-and-the-economy/>.

 "The River." Songfacts. 3 Mar. 2009 <http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=997>.

 

McMahan, Elizabeth. Critical Approaches for Interpreting Literature. New Jersey  Pearson Prentice Hall.

 Image 1 http://blog.jacarandafm.com/breakfast/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/bruce-springsteen.jpg

Image 2 http://www.allaboutjazz.com/photos/profile/bruce_springsteen.jpg

Image 3 http://cathylwood.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/bruce_springsteen.jpg

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"Beautiful Day"

         Poetry can come in many forms. It is an expression of an experience or feeling written with meaning, sound, and rhythmic language in order to convey a certain emotion. Although traditional poetry consists of multiple stanzas describing in detail an experience or feeling, it can also come in the form of a song. The song “Beautiful Day,” by the band U2, is considered poetry to me. The lyrics as well as the background of the song evoke emotion in the listener and express meaning behind the literal interpretation. By using biographical criticism, “how the author’s life is reflected in his or her imaginative writing” (McMahan 1176), we are able to connect the history of the song and background of the artist with the lyrics of the song.
            “Beautiful Day” was released as the first single of the bands 2000 album “All that you can’t Leave Behind.” Although the song, like most, can be interpreted in many ways the lead singer, Bono, says that it is about “‘a man who lost everything’ but finds joy in what he has,”  (Songfacts). Also Bono says that it could be interpreted as a modern day Christmas song. The song is incredibly inspirational and full of hopeful lyrics. The song begins talking about a person who has lost everything, telling the person basically that it is still “a beautiful day” (Stanza 4 line 1) and there is always a chance to make the best of it. It references places around the world like China and cultural events like the “Bedouin fires at night” (Stanza 9 line 5). The song is uplifting and motivational.

            This song has been performed hundreds of times in many different locations. It was used as President Obama’s entrance for campaign events in the 2008 election. A professional baseball team in Washington DC plays the song after every win in the Nationals Park (Songfacts). It was featured in Live 8 concerts across the world and was also included in the New Orleans Super

bowl XXXVI. “Beautiful Day” was also played at the first New Orleans Saints game since Hurricane Katrina, (Songfacts).

            This song has been performed in these environments due to the emotional attachment people associate with the song. President Obama’s entire campaign was focused on “change”. He concentrated on giving people what they wanted and strived to make sure we knew it was possible. This song went along perfectly with his campaign. “Sky falls you feel like/ It’s a beautiful day/ Don’t let it get away,” (Stanza 4 Lines 2-4). The country is going through complicated times but Obama promises that he has plans and it will improve. This is exactly what the lyrics of “Beautiful Day” explain that it may seem like you have lost everything but there is always a chance to turn it around.

            During events like after every win at the Nationals Park and at the New Orleans Super bowl explains the motivational aspect of the song. When it was played at the first New Orleans Saints Game since Hurricane Katrina, the purpose was to bring about hope in the people, the people who went through losing everything they had and were forced to start over again. “What you don’t have you don’t need it now” (Stanza 12 Line 1). This line spoke to the people and gave them hope and inspiration that life would change and improve.

            This song represents a wonderful piece of inspirational poetry. It has been used to motivate, inspire, and bring change to people across American and throughout the world. Although it was recorded around 9 years ago it is included in every U2 performance to date and will continue with its lasting popularity, (Songfacts). The History of the song along with the locations and events it has been featured at has a direct connection with the purpose and lyrics of the song. The lyrics of this song reflect in many ways the atmosphere where it has been performed. It brings pride and motivation when listened to and will continue for years to inspire many people.

Lyrics

The heart is a bloom
Shoots up through the stony ground
There's no room
No space to rent in this town

You're out of luck
And the reason that you had to care
The traffic is stuck
And you're not moving anywhere

You thought you'd found a friend
To take you out of this place
Someone you could lend a hand
In return for grace

It's a beautiful day
Sky falls, you feel like
It's a beautiful day
Don't let it get away

You're on the road
But you've got no destination
You're in the mud
In the maze of her imagination

You love this town
Even if that doesn't ring true
You've been all over
And it's been all over you

It's a beautiful day
Don't let it get away
It's a beautiful day

Touch me
Take me to that other place
Teach me
I know I'm not a hopeless case

See the world in green and blue
See China right in front of you
See the canyons broken by cloud
See the tuna fleets clearing the sea out
See the Bedouin fires at night
See the oil fields at first light
And see the bird with a leaf in her mouth
After the flood all the colors came out

It was a beautiful day
Don't let it get away
Beautiful day

Touch me
Take me to that other place
Reach me
I know I'm not a hopeless case

What you don't have you don't need it now
What you don't know you can feel it somehow
What you don't have you don't need it now
Don't need it now
Was a beautiful day

 

Works Cited

"Beautiful Day by U2 Songfacts." Songfacts. 05 Mar. 2009.

McMahan, Elizabeth, Susan X. Day, and Robert Funk. Critical Approaches for Interpreting                                        l            Literature. 8th ed. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education Inc., 2007.

Figure 2Stereogum: Music Blog: MP3 Downloads, Videos, News, Giveaways. 27 Apr. 2009 oooooo<http://cdn.stereogum.com/img/gallery/2009/01/we_are_one_obama_inaugural_celebration_appppppppt_the_lincoln_memorial/gallery_main/gallery_main-26.jpg>.

Figure 1Utah Pictures - Thousands of Pictures of Scenery and Hiking in Utah. 27 Apr. 2009 llllllllllll<http://utahpictures.com/images/Grandeur_West/smP1180052.jpg>.

Figure 3"YouTube - U2 - Beautiful Day: Video." YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. 23 Apr. 2009  hhhhhh<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6FwEJwwYcQ>.

 

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"Californication"

  “Calfornication”

 

            “Californication” is a song that was written by the Red Hot Chili Peppers. They
were a band that was based out of California and which emerged in the 1980s. This was a band that upheld California in the utmost sense of what America was defined as, portrayed best by their album “Californication” which was released in 1999. The album's subject material incorporated various sexual innuendos commonly associated with the band, and introduced themes of lust, death, contemplations of suicide, and drugs (Wikipedia.) The song from which the album takes its name is a clear example of their philosophy. “Psychic spies from China/ Try to steal your mind’s elation/ Little girls from Sweden/ Dream of silver screen quotations/ And if you want these kind of dreams/ It’s Californication” (Stanza 1, Lines 1-6). This line in the song is a perfect example because it is saying that the idea of California is spreading throughout the entire world and cannot be contained by just America. I plan to critique this song culturally due to the process of Californication both in America and abroad. There are two parts to Californication, the actual process of it and the application of it. First, I will discuss what the process of Californication is doing to the world, next I will talk about the application of Californication and how it is changing people’s view of themselves, and then I will conclude with a summary and my critique of the lyrics.

            The draw to the California lifestyle began as early as 1849 during the gold rush. This time period was the starting point of the mentality that still persists today, that the grass is always greener in the west. Everyone wants to move to California because that is where the money is at, and that is where all of the famous people whom they idolize reside. Inside of every average person exists the drive to become something more. Movies, music, and television provide this example of what we should strive for and they subsequently originate predominantly in California. The Red Hot Chili Peppers did an amazing job in this song, describing not only what people want when they think of California, but why people feel this innate urge to join this culture. The Red Hot Chili Peppers also emphasize this ideal of Californication to be spreading so rapidly that there is no escape from it. “Destruction leads to a very rough road/ But it also breeds creation/ And earthquakes are to a girls guitar/ They’re just another good vibration/ And tidal waves couldn’t save the world/ From Californication” (Stanza 9, Lines 1-6). These lines are describing how, while this view of California may be evaporating the original idea of America, in its place it is leaving a legacy of something new. The second part of the stanza is referring to the fact that the popularity of the mindset makes it inescapable through the medium of music and movies.

            Everyone wants to go to California, but California has spread not only from coast to coast, but also across the oceans to other countries. “Born and raised by those who praise/ Control of population, everybody’s been there/ and/ I don’t mean on vacation” (Stanza 7, Lines 1-4). The average person has experienced Californication even if they have not been there on vacation, because it is everywhere. Every grocery store someone walks in is selling magazines that are talking about the latest celebrity scandal. Turning on the radio on the way to work in the morning and all the D.J‘s can talk about is where this music is coming from and what inspired it. Celebrities have to deal with the paparazzi everyday because the world craves the idea of how they live and want to know what they do in their everyday lives, due to America’s obsession with California. “It’s the edge of the world/ And all of western civilization /The sun may rise in the east/At least it settles in the final location” (Stanza 2, Lines 1-4). This stanza corresponds with the mission statement of the song that California is the greatest extent that humanity has reached so far, the end of the world culturally that is yet known.

            The idea of Californication discusses and criticizes what California does to people. How Hollywood is pressuring everyone to have the best clothes and the ideal body, even if they have to pay for it. America is not tolerant of girls who do not have large breasts and tiny waists, because that is the image presented to them in every music video and popular movie they will ever see. If anyone is even a little bit overweight or has some other unadvisable attribute, according to Hollywood, then they are talked about and looked down upon. Luckily enough, California is also the main source of the solutions to this imagined physical inadequacy.  “Pay your surgeon very well/ To break the spell of aging/ Celebrity skin is this your chin/ Or is that war you’re waging” (Stanza 3, Lines 1-4).  These lines are talking about how everyone is getting plastic surgery to make their bodies better for Hollywood’s eyes, to pay to get the body that is acceptable and what people view as “the right kind of body.” The last line refers to how this has become a war that people wage on themselves for a perfection that was defined by California. The Red Hot Chili Peppers also reference Kurt Cobain in the song, whose destruction personifies the endgame of the California mindset. Cobain struggled against capitalism and megalomania, but was adopted by it without choice ultimately leading to his self-destruction. In this example we can see that California issues out a standard that if not conformed to, can be your social or physical end.

            In conclusion the idea of Californication has changed the way our world works today. Now we are always thinking about what society will think of us or what the latest music is sounding like, and if you’re not in the know then you’ve been left in the dust. The Red Hot Chili Peppers became aware of the prevailing and spreading mentality of Californication and expressed it beautifully in the previously mentioned song. Through the ongoing process and applications of Californication, America and indeed the world is willingly adhering to a precedent set hundreds of miles away instead of developing our own as we should. 

 

“Californication”

 

Psychic spies from China

Try to steal your mind’s elation

Little girls from Sweden

Dream of silver Screen quotations

And if you want these kind of dreams

It’s Californication

 

It’s the edge of the world

And all of western civilization

The sun may rise in the East

At least it settles in the final location

It’s understood that Hollywood

Sells Californication

 

Pay your surgeon very well

To break the spell of aging

Celebrity skin is this your chin

OR is that war you’re waging

 

(Chorus)

First born unicorn

Hard core soft porn

Dream of Californication

Dream of Californication

 

Marry me girl be my fairy to the world

Be my very own constellation

A teenage bride with a baby inside

Getting high on information

And buy me a star on the boulevard

It’s Californication

 

Space may be the final frontier

But it’s made in a Hollywood basement

Cobain can you hear the spheres

Singing songs off station to station

And Alderon’s not far away

It’s Californication

 

 

Born and raised by those who praise

Control of population everybody’s been there

And

I don’t mean on vacation

 

(Chorus)

 

Destruction leads to a very rough road

But it also breeds creation

And earthquakes are to a girl’s guitar

They’re just another good vibration

And tidal waves couldn’t save the world

From Californication

 

Pay your surgeon very well

To break the spell of aging

Sicker than the rest

There is no test

But that is what you’re craving

 

(Chorus)

 

 

 

 

 

Works Cited

 

Figure 1- http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.pjlighthouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/redhotchilipeppers-snow-hey-oh.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.pjlighthouse.com/2007/04/02/red-hot-chili-peppers-mtv-snow-hey-oh-with-lyrics/&usg=__AzppPcGQZ-MNAHMxcyr1Xr4PoMg=&h=275&w=240&sz=28&hl=en&start=46&tbnid=kcasQe5_-xwp5M:&tbnh=114&tbnw=99&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dthe%2Bred%2Bhot%2Bchili%2Bpeppers%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26start%3D36

 

Red Hot Chili Peppers. "Californication." Warner Bros., 1999.

"Wikipedia". 4/22/09 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Californication_(album)>.

 

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Time

The song “Time” by Pink Floyd, which was released in 1973, was said to have been one of the most lyrical and poetic songs of its time. The band Pink Floyd consisted of Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Nick Mason, Richard Wright and Syd Barrett, the founder of the band. Barrett named the band but died shortly after they released their first album of a pancreatic cancer. Pink Floyd was a band that used numerous amounts of imagery in their lyrics. At that time and age, rock bands and music groups for the most part were not using such deep and meaningful lyrics in their songs (Rock and Roll Encyclopedia, Pink Floyd pp.756-760 lines 5-17). Through these kinds of lyrics, Pink Floyd was able to rise above most rock bands of their time. Their music sounded different to most in that it portrayed more of a psychedelic style, using different guitar effects, synthesizers and voice changers. On their “Dark Side of the Moon” album, Time was the only song in which all 4 members received a writing credit for (Rock and Roll Encyclopedia, Pink Floyd pp.760-761 lines 12-16). The album has sold over 34 million copies and still sells around 8,000 copies a week in the U.S. (Rock and Roll Encyclopedia, Pink Floyd pp.760-761 lines 16-19). By using reader response criticism, we can connect the outside meaning of the lyrics to the structure of how the song was written. The lyrics suggest how time is of the essence and how it speeds up and slows down as the years go by. What is time?

            For some people “time” means that our life is ruled by the clock and if his/her life by it, people’s life will become a waste. Others might say that we should live our lives to the fullest, going and doing things with meaning and not caring about how much time it takes. In the introduction to the song “Time” by Pink Floyd, the band has clocks going off simultaneously making it a loud collaborated noise. This could symbolize confusion or could mean the opposite. For example the loud clock noise could easily wake someone up; making a person realize what is going on around him or her. The first phrase in the song starts off with the band climaxing up from the clock noise and drums. “Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day/you fritter and waste the hours in an offhand way” (Stanza 1 lines 1-2). This first sentence in this song may represent the difference between a child and an adult. When people are young, they tend to not notice all the time they waste, whether it is watching rain come down on the windowsill or sleeping in. The part in which David Gilmour says “You are young and life is long and there is time to kill today” is one of my favorite quotes meaning that as a young innocent boy or girl, it is alright to bask in the innocence of childhood and experience as much as possible while it lasts (Stanza 2 line 2).  As we get older time goes by faster. We tend to not notice it until events happen in our life such as getting married and starting a family. Careers can also block us from the time in which we want or can hang out with the friends and people around us.

            “And then one day you find ten years have got behind you/no one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun” gives a great representation of how we as people forget to realize what kind of time we have in this world (Stanza 2 lines 3-4). People do not know how much time they have until it is too late. Gilmour, the lead singer, makes many references to the sun, creating some similarities. He says: “The sun is the same in a relative way but you’re older/shorter of breath and one day closer to death” (Stanza 3 lines 3-4). The sun is obviously older than everyone in the world but these lyrics might have a different meaning. For example, when he says “the sun is the same in a relative way but you’re older”, it might mean that humans die before the sun dies and that everyday and the next we all get closer to our deaths. In my mind, the whole song gives a message of will power and strength. In the song, will power comes to mind when Gilmour talks about time being wasted and having nowhere to go. The lyrics talk about people’s struggles in dealing with time management as well as waking them up to become more aware people in the world.

The song “Time” is my favorite song. Every time I listen to it, I feel myself stop and listen to the melody that charms me as I get rapped up in pondering about the Earth and the world. For some reason, when I hear this song, I become conscious of the world around me. I contemplate the meaning of life in which there is not much “time” for me on this planet. It gives me a sense of what is right and how I must live my life. One of my favorite lines is: “Every year is getting shorter never seem to find the time/plans that either come to naught or half a page of scribbled lines” (Stanza 4 lines 1-2). Gilmour states that the older we get, the faster time slips by, making us unaware of how sacred time is. This song made me realize that life is a precious thing, and even though it is long it does not last forever. According to Waters and Gilmour, they say that the song explains how it must be the last few minutes of being alive. Roger Waters said: “Life probably does flash before your eyes and you’re like, wow! Where did the time go?” (Rock and Roll Encyclopedia, Pink Floyd pp.760-761 lines 78-80)

            Time is of the essence and the song gives reference to live ones life to the fullest no matter what he/she’s situation is. The instruments used in the song portray an uplifting mood of euphoria toward the listener, making the melody and lyrics speak. Some people believe Pink Floyd still remains one of the best bands of all time, ranking with The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin and many others. Through music, Pink Floyd created a new genre of lyrics expressing ideas and poetry about ways of life, love and death.

 

 

  

 

Time by Pink Floyd

Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day

You fritter and waste the hours in an offhand way

Kicking around on a piece of ground in your hometown

Waiting for someone or something to show you the way

 

Tired of lying in the sunshine staying home to watch the rain

You are young and life is long and there is time to kill today

And then one day you find ten years have got behind you

No one told you where to run, you missed the starting gun

 

So you run and you run to catch up with the sun but it’s sinking

Racing around to come up behind you again

The sun is the same in a relative way but you’re older

Shorter of breath and one day closer to death

 

Every year is getting shorter never seemed to find the time

Plans that either come to naught or half a page of scribbled lines

Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way

The time is gone, the song is over

Thought I’d something more to say...

 

 

Works Cited

George-Warren, Holly, and Romanowski, Patricia.

            The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock and Roll. Rockefeller Center 1230          Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10020. Rolling Stone Press, 1983,    1995, 2001.

Song Meanings and Lyrics. 24 Aug. 2007. Song Meanings Co. Jersada Shore LLC. 1        Mar. 2009. < http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/2809>.

Pictures

1.)http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://musicstreaker.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/pinkfloyddark_side_of_the_moon.jpg&imgrefurl=http://musicstreaker.wordpress.com/2008/08/1/what-does-it-all-mean-regarding-digital-downloaded-music-imean/&usg=___2nzIdnWmiHD7R685kIujUry1Oc=&h=1987&w=1987&sz=188&hl=e&start=3&um=1&tbnid=II4l8jhju9iHxM:&tbnh=150&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3DPink%2BFloyd%26hl%3Den%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:enUS%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1

2.) http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://rgcred.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/pink-floyd2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://rgcred.wordpress.com/tag/david-gilmour/&usg=__qGbFujCCao5PoHPu7RqIYfrjdpQ=&h=300&w=450&sz=43&hl=enstart=18&um=1&tbnid=95E_5bInkrTp5M:&tbnh=85&tbnw=127&prev=/images%3Fq%DPink%2BFloyd%26hl%3Den%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:enUS%26sa%3DN%26um31 

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"Big Eyed Fish"

The Dave Matthews Band in January 2002 played at the Plant Studios in Sausalito, California where they had recorded their 3rd RCA release Before These Crowded Streets (Dave Matthews Band Website). The band revisited tracks they had previously written and recorded in 2000 and put together a couple of new tunes that they had debuted in recent months. The resulting creation was the album, Busted Stuff.  This album was a landmark record for Dave Matthews Band “DMB,” because for the first time ever, this album was without any musical guests. Included on the album was a fan favorite “Big Eyed Fish,” which was on the album, The Lillywhites Session produced in 1999-2000, but was revised along with many other songs. Dave Matthews writes on his website that the true meaning of the song is that sometimes life isn’t greener on the other side. Dave goes to say, be thankful for what you have and to not waste your time with what you don’t have. Based on reader response criticism, my own experience and a few others who gave their opinions and ideas in a blog, I was able to put all the responses together to get a good idea of what this song meant to me and to everyone else (Literature and the Writing Process).

With my own experience, my first impression of “Big Eyed Fish” was I thought it was a very depressing, gloomy song. I didn’t understand why someone would write and sing about a man, monkey, and fish dying and it was confusing to me because it has an up-beat feel, yet the words were so sad. I just did not understand how these three topics fit together to create this song and how they were all suppose to equal one meaning.  My second impression leads me to believe that life on earth carried many burdens. The song leads one to believe that life on the other side is free from the burdens and stresses that one experiences on this side.

In a Dave Matthews Band blog the song “Big Eyed Fish” was being discussed about trying to find the true meaning of the song. The discussion started by a simple question “I was wondering if you could give me a lyrical critique of Big Eyed Fish. I am an aspiring song writer and it would help if I could understand more songs, Thanks,” by a guy named Jared and after one day he had received four responses from Mykal, Kristen, Jilly, and Anne (AllExperts).

Starting off, Mykal Cave gives her opinion of “Big Eyed Fish” saying that in general she believes the song is quite depressing. She says that the song is about how one is not able to accomplish their dreams and that one is not satisfied with their life but is unable to change their situation and when attempting to do so, only fails (AllExperts).  Mykal says that when Dave talks about the monkey and the fish he is saying that these two animals want something different and new and when they do venture out, they end up dying. They think this other life looks better than the life they have now, but when taking a chance for a new life, it doesn’t turn out the way they wanted it too. In the chorus “But oh God/Under the weight of life/Things seems brighter on the other side,” she says this is suggesting the thoughts of suicide and how possibly the afterlife could hold something better than life on earth. (Matthews) Maybe she believes that the man, monkey, and fish were all trying to just kill themselves to move on to a better life, which they could have believed that life after death held more value.

Next, Kristen shares her opinion with Jared and her overall view of the song is change. She believes the man, monkey, and fish that are talked about in stanza one, three, and five have all decided to change their lives and in the end they lose their lives. “In other words, when things change, it might not come out the way you want it.” (AllExperts) Life is not easy and sometimes it may seem so hard and so we spend so much time trying and wanting to be something else, when we should just appreciate who we are, what we have going for us, and what we have. When we try being someone or something we are not, it ends up costing us. She states, “There’s no way out of life, so you just have to face your problems.” (AllExperts) It is better to just fix and face your problems and move on instead of wasting your time trying to be something you’re not. 

Then, Jilly informs Jared of her views of the song and she breaks down each stanza letting the readers know exactly what she thinks. She begins with the first stanza talking about the man saying that basically there are things in life that you do not want to do but have too. She uses the example of people working and that they do not want to work but in order to survive have to, so do not be stubborn about it (AllExperts). She moves on to the third stanza about the monkey and says the phrase, “bigger isn’t always better.” (AllExperts) Society seems to always want the flashy life and this monkey left his tree for that better, flashy life and ended up dying in the streets. Finally, the fifth stanza about the fish, Jilly’s opinion is that one should be happy with who they are, so do not try to change into something one is not because no good could ever come out of that. She sums up telling Jared that the chorus is saying that life is better on the other side and the example of the man, monkey, and fish are showing that life after all really is not better on the other side.

Last, Anne Dalmadge has a small opinion of the song, but overall it gives off a strong message. She believes that the song expresses the classic message of the “grass is always greener on the other side, but in this case, the grass isn’t always greener” (AllExperts). The three stories or examples that Dave tells through this song show a man, monkey, and fish trying to change things for the better; trying to get to the other side, when they should have realized that what they had in their lives at that moment was best for them. 

Through reader response criticism “Big Eyed Fish” a song with only one true meaning, in the end, ends up having several different meanings because everyone is different and each person brings in their own experience and points of view when reading (Literature and the Writing Process). The four responses in this blog were all very close to the true meaning of the song, but Anne Dalmadge’s point of view was exact and that sometimes the “grass isn’t always greener on the other side” (AllExperts). Life is full of surprises, disappointments, achievements, and failures. The lyrics, “Lighter on the other side” seem to suggest that we are saddled with many burden or stresses on this side of life (Matthews). One gets the impression that once you cross over, your burdens become lighter, which makes one truly believe that the grass is always greener on the other side. When life gets hard don’t give up or try to be someone else, just stick it out, get through and in the end everything will turn out the way it is suppose to be. 

 

Big Eyed Fish Lyrics by Dave Matthews Band


Story of a man who decided not to breathe
Turned red, purple, then blue, colorful indeed
No matter how his friends begged
Well he would not concede
And now he's dead, you see, cause everybody knows you got to breathe

But oh God,
Under the weight of life
Things seem brighter on the other side
Lighter on the other side

Another one, see this monkey, sitting in his tree
One day, decided to climb down and run off to the city
Look at him now, tired, and drunk, living in the street
As good as dead, you see, a monkey should know stay up your tree

But oh God,
Under the weight of life
Things seem brighter on the other side
Oh God, but under the weight of life
Things seem much lighter on the other side
No way, no way, no way out of here

Another one, a big eyed fish, yeah, swimming in the sea
Oh how he dreams he wants to be a bird, swoopin', divin’ through the breeze
One day, caught a big blue wave up on to the beach, now he's dead you see,
A fishes dream should stay in the sea

But oh God,
Under the weight of life
Things seem brighter on the other side
But oh God,
But under the weight of life
Things seem brighter on the other side
No way, no way, no way out of here

No way out of life

 

Work Cited

“Dave Matthews Band-Big Eyed Fish.” AllExperts. 2008. About, Inc. 02 March 2009 <http://en.allexperts.com/q/Dave-Matthews-Band-430/big-eyed-fish-3.htm>

 

“Dave Matthews Band History.” Dave Matthews Band Website.  2008. 02 March 2009 <http://www.davematthewsband.com/#/history/history/>

 
Image 1 <http://www.weeklydavespeak.com/media/photos/dmb_gorge_2007/WeeklyDavespeak%20-%20DMB%20-%20Gorge%202007%20-%2014.jpg>

 
Image 2 <http://imgsrv.pointradio.com/image/wpte/UserFiles/Image/dave-matthews-band.jpg>

 
Image 3 <http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/cga0319l.jpg>

 
Matthews, Dave. “Big Eyed Fish.” Busted Stuff. 02 March 2009 <http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Big-Eyed-Fish-lyrics-Dave-Matthews-Band-and-Dave-Matthews/C21B7F31105E4DBB48256BD10014BAEA>

 
McMahan, Elizabeth, Day Susan X, and Funk Robert. Literature and the Writing Process. Pearson Education, Inc., 2007.

 
<http://www.google.com/musicl?lid=L5Cb7GmRhCC&aid=L3-1_42KajF&ei=003lSYDrLejgnQeEtYSqCQ&sa=X&oi=music&ct=result>

 
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68u1lFPMivg>

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Title.

Paragraph. When a song has a title that is also a date in history, it has a clear need to be understood in its historical context. “April 26, 1992” by Sublime is no exception. As one of my favorite songs, I know every word and rhythm, but have never searched to understand what this song is really all about. It is clear from listening to this song that Sublime takes a strong side to a situation in history that had many perspectives. The situation involved destructive rioting in America. They illustrate their feelings and how they acted on their feelings throughout the song, while suggesting that they have the street level information of what is going on in these riots. To find greater meaning in this song, I will interpret this song with a historical criticism, to ensure I unpack what was really occurring in April of 1992, according to Sublime.

 

            The first line of this song is “April 26, 1992” (stanza 1, line 1). It is now clear to all audiences that this exact time period is strongly represented in this song. After this point in history is set, it is followed by Sublime’s standpoint of this time period with relation to the audience’s. They exclaim, “You were sittin’ home watchin’ your TV/ while I was participatin’ in some anarchy.”(stanza 1, lines 4-5). Sublime is directing this to an audience who they feel are outsiders to a historical event of which Sublime was a participant of. After doing little research on April of 1992, it is obvious that the anarchy they participated in was the race riots following the Rodney King courtroom decision (LA Times). They initially took place in Los Angeles, which is also Sublime’s hometown. I have always known of these race riots, and understood that people were angry because of a racist event. Beyond this, I have not understood what more went on in these riots, or why they took place. From the start, Sublime wants the audience to understand that they see things in this situation that are different from the Image 2:

things seen by the general population.            

Image 3:

The next verses show what they were doing while being a part of the rioting. “First spot we hit it was my liquor store/ I finally got all that alcohol I can’t afford/ With red lights flashing…” (stanza 2, lines 1-3). They go on describing things that they stole during the rioting and chaos. This doesn’t match up with what I know of the race riots during this time, because Sublime is an all white band. Rodney King was an African American who was beaten by four white police officers that were caught on film. The officers were acquitted with little to no charges. When the news of this broke out, the rioting began (LA Times). The issue was portrayed in this research, and in the media, as being black and white; an African American people, verses a white race and police department. Through the next three verses Sublime builds onto this, adding on more scenes of theft and rioting that they themselves took part in. “It dawned on me that I need new home furnishings. So once again we filled the van until it was full…” (stanza 6, lines 1-2). They seem light hearted during all of these images described. This also shows how they were very much involved in the rioting, even though they are white. Many would believe, including myself, that it was only the African Americans doing this act of rage and revolt. These were the highlighted accounts in the media. An example of this is in an article of The Christian Science Monitor, where it tells a story of an African American gang member, who broke more windows than he could recall, and did so much destruction that he was put to a stop because of pure exhaustion (Wood). There are endless similar articles giving emphasis to the rioting done by African Americans and minorities.

            As the song continues to unravel, the mood shifts from their light hearted and abundant theft experiences, to their idea of why this was happening. They fill this gap with, “ Cause everybody in the hood has had it up to here/ Its getting harder and harder and harder each and every year.” (stanza 7, lines 1-2) They show here, that this problem is because the people in “the hood” have had issues with the police that were building up over time. The following line represents these people “in the hood” as being a very widespread group. “Some kids went in the store with their mother/ I saw her when she came out she was gettin’ some pampers.”(stanza 8 ,line 2). Sublime is trying to show that this entire thing isn’t only because of one racial event against minorities, but it is because of things accruing over time to a variety of different people. Up to this point, there is still no reference to race or minority groups being involved in the rioting.

            Finally, they directly oppose the media’s claim to what was going on in this time period and on who was involved. “They said it was for the black man/ they said it was for the Mexican/ but not for the white man.” (stanza 9, line 1-3). “They” is referring to the media, and this shows clearly that the media during this time had not considered the white population to be a part in this scene of history. “But if you look at the streets/ it wasn’t about Rodney King/ its about this messed up situation and these messed up police… It’s not in the paper, its on the wall.”  (stanza 10, lines 1-5). Here they try to summarize why this entire chaotic situation has taken place. Now they link who was with their reason and motive. They take the focus off of Rodney King, and put the reason for this situation entirely on a faulty police department and government system. In the end, over 50 people died, 4,000 were injured and 12,000 were arrested as a result of the rioting (LA Times). This information of this horrible of event was presented in the media of this time, but from a different perspective. Sublime shows that what was written in the newspapers and said in the media of this time was different than what was reality on the streets of the rioting. Again they show the difference of the media’s standpoint in this historical event, and their own.

Overall, trying to understand “April 26, 1992” by Sublime, is impossible without understanding the historical context of the rioting situation that this song is about. In this time period, the media and mainstream had a completely different standpoint on what people were involved, and why these people were involved.  Sublime has a contrasting perspective because they were on the streets and involved during the rioting. “April 26, 1992” takes the audience through Sublime’s own view of this situation, and I have unpacked this view with historical criticism.

 

 

April 26, 1992 by Sublime

April 26th, 1992,
there was a riot on the streets,
tell me where were you?
You were sittin' home watchin' your TV,
while I was participatin' in some anarchy.

First spot we hit it was my liquor store.
I finally got all that alcohol I can't afford.
With red lights flashin' time to retire,
And then we turned that liquor store into a structure fire.

Next stop we hit it was the music shop,
It only took one brick to make that window drop.
Finally we got our own p.a.
Where do you think I got this guitar that you're hearing today?
Hey!

(call fire, respond mobil station.
alamidos in Anahiem,
its uhh flamin up good.
10-4 Alamidos in Anaheim)

Never doin no time

When we returned to the pad to unload everything,
It dawned on me that I need new home furnishings.
So once again we filled the van until it was full,
since that day my livin' room's been more comfortable.

Cause everybody in the hood has had it up to here,
It's getting harder and harder and harder each and every year.

Some kids went in a store with thier mother,
I saw her when she came out she was gettin some pampers.

They said it was for the black man,
they said it was for the mexican,
and not for the white man.

But if you look at the streets it wasn't about Rodney King,
It's bout this * up situation and these * up police.
It's about coming up and staying on top
and screamin' 187 on a mother * cop.
It's not in the paper it's on the wall.
National guard??!
Smoke from all around,

bo! bo! bo!

(units, units be advised there is an attempt 211 to arrest now at 938 temple,
938 temple... 30 subjects with bags.. tryin to get inside the cb's house)

(as long as I'm alive, I'mma live illegal)

Let it burn, wanna let it burn,
wanna let it burn, wanna wanna let it burn

(I'm feelin' Sad and Blue)

Riots on the streets of Miami,
oh, Riots on the streets of Chicago,
oh, on the streets of Long Beach,
mmm, and San Francisco (Boise Idaho),
Riots on the streets of Kansas City
(Salt Lake, Hunnington Beach, CA),
Tuscalusa Alabama (Arcada Compton Mischigan),
Cleveland Ohio,
Fountain Valley (Texas, Barstow - Let's do this every year),
Paramount, Victorville (Twice a Year),
Eugene OR, Eureka CA (Let it burn, let it burn),
Hesperia (Oh, ya let it burn, wont'cha wont'cha let it burn),
Santa Barbara, Nevada, (let it burn)
Phoenix Arizona,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

Works Cited

 

"April 26, 1992." By Sublime. Paul Leary, 1996.

 

Los Angeles Times. Understanding the Riots: Los Angeles Before and After the Rodney King Case. / By the Staff of the Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, CA: 1992.

 

Wood, Daniel B. "L.A.'s darkest days." Http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0429/p01s07-ussc.html. 29 Apr. 2002. The Christian Science Monitor. 3 Mar. 2009.

 

Image 1 http://users.wpi.edu/~dmarsden/images/sublime.jpg

 

Image 2 http://www.liu.edu/cwis/cwp/library/african/2000/1992_00.jpg

 

Image 3 http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0a0l0sY6mycXc/610x.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Beautiful Disaster

Cornelis Oudenaarden, a writer for The Penn, once said, “Our society is obsessed with beauty.  Not just any beauty, but perfect beauty. Our society suffers from an image that will never be able to be achieved. A focus on beauty that is not only unrealistic, but also destructive in its ways” (Oudenaarden, par. 1).  Every day people, especially women, strive to reach this unattainable goal of perfect beauty, and every day these same people get torn down a little more inside. This situation is exactly what Jon McLaughlin explains in his song “Beautiful Disaster.” His song is a focus on one girl who time and time again allows society to tell her she is not good enough. Throughout the song, the listener finds that the only thing this one girl wants is for someone to love her and to make her see that she does give meaning to someone’s life. Through a biographical and feminist critique, this song explains the problems McLaughlin experienced as a child through the emotions and experiences of a female (Prentice 1175-1179).

Many of the experiences McLaughlin went through as a child are seen throughout this song. Based on his piece about “Beautiful Disaster” on Woven by Words, McLaughlin was never a straight A student, he didn’t receive the good genes of the family, and, worst of all, he never had a father figure in his life to tell him that he was perfect just the way he was (McLaughlin par. 2).  He felt as if he could never find his way because the only aspects he could see about himself were his imperfections. McLaughlin express his feelings from his childhood through his character in the song. The reason his song is from a girl’s perspective, rather than a boy’s, is because he wants the song to reach the hearts of his daughters, and at the same time he knows women experience these emotions much more often than men do. He wants women to hear his song because of one main line, “she’s just the way she is, but no one’s told her that’s okay”(stanza 7, line 1). He wants the girls of the world to hear these words because, even as a male, it was hard not to hear from someone that he was great just the way he was.

            Although McLaughlin’s song is based on his own experiences, it is directed towards women. The problem that the seventeen-year-old girl is facing is that she feels like she will never be good enough for anyone, specifically because that is what society tells her. The media in today’s culture is constantly telling women that are not worth anything if they do not look like models posted all over magazines and billboards. McLaughlin says “every magazine tells her she’s not good enough/ the pictures that she’s seen make her cry” (stanza 2, lines 1-2). If it were not for these unattainable goals, women would not obsess over beauty and break themselves down like the character in the song does. The song clearly states that she is beautiful over and over again, but she does not believe it because pictures in the media are telling her otherwise. It is not right that women allow society to tell them they have to look a certain way in order for them to be worth of anything. It makes women feel as if they are “perfect only in their imperfections,” which is no way for a woman to live (stanza 4, line 5).

            In order to cope with feeling imperfect, women strive to be loved. They turn to love as a way to fill the emptiness they feel inside. The only thing this “beautiful disaster” is looking for is “someone to take her home,” or in other words, someone to love her for who she is (stanza 3, line 3). She thinks, and any other woman in the world would agree, that if someone actually loved her, she would be giving meaning to someone’s life, which, in turn, would take away the feeling that she is worth nothing. She does whatever it takes to try to gain the love of others. One line is, “she’s given boys what they want. Tries to act so nonchalant” (stanza 4, line 1). Women constantly do this. They feel that if they give into boys, in return those same boys will love them, but this usually is not the case, leaving them, once again, feeling broken inside. Once women allow themselves to lose their self-esteem or self-worth, the put themselves through a constant cycle of unhappiness. Just like the woman in the song, they “would change everything” about themselves in order to be the ideal woman the world wants to see (stanza 3, line 1).

 “Beautiful Disaster” is a song written about Jon McLaughlin’s childhood, but through a woman’s eyes. It explains what women go through because of society and the emotions they feel that are constantly breaking them down.  He uses the song as a way to show women that being who they really are is just fine, and they should not allow the unrealistic goals set by the media tell them any different. This song reaches the hearts of women all across America because at some point in every girl’s life, at least one of these lines relates to them. It is a song that moves many women and can recap a lot of their childhood memories. 

                                                         “Beautiful Disaster"

                                                         By Jon McLaughlin

 

She loves her momma's lemonade

Hates the sounds that goodbyes make

She prays one day she'll find someone to need her

She swears that there's no difference between the lies and compliments

It's all the same if everybody leaves her

 

And every magazine tells her she's not good enough

The pictures that she sees makes her cry

 

She would change everything, everything, just ask her

Caught in the in between of beautiful disaster

She just needs someone to take her home

 

She's giving boys what they want

Tries to act so nonchalant

Afraid to see that she's lost her direction

She never stays the same for long

Assuming that she'll get it wrong

Perfect only in her imperfection



She's not a drama queen

She doesn't wanna feel this way

Only 17 and tired, yeah



She would change everything for happy ever after

Caught in the in between of beautiful disaster

She just needs someone to take her home



She's just the way she is

But no one's told her that's OK

 

She would change everything, everything, just ask her

Caught in the in between of beautiful disaster

 

She would change everything for happy ever after

Caught in the in between of beautiful disaster

She just needs someone to take her home

She just needs someone to take her home

 

                                                           Works Cited

“Critical Approaches for Interpreting Literature.” Literature and the Writing Process. Ed. Elizabeth McMahan, Susan X Day, and Robert Funk. 8th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice, 2007. 1175-1179.

“Figure 1” http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2223/1745585389_9be4a8094a_o.jpg

McLaughlin, Jon. “Beautiful Disaster.” BMG Songs, Inc. <http://www.metrolyrics.com/beautiful-disaster-lyrics-jon-mclaughlin.html> .

McLaughlin, Jon. “Beautiful Disaster.” Woven by Words. 9 January 2009. 2 March 2009. <http://wovenbywords.blogspot.com/2009/02/beautiful-disaster-by-jon-mclaughlin.html>.

Oudenaarden, Cornelis. “Society’s Perception of Beauty Off the Mark.” The Penn 24 February 2009. 4 March 2009. <http://media.www.thepenn.org/media/storage/paper930/news/2002/09/18/Opinion/Societys.Perception.Of.Beauty.Off.The.Mark-2227089.shtml>.

 

 

 

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The Hurricane

            “The Hurricane” is a song written and performed by Bob Dylan, and is based on an autobiography about a boxer by the name Rubin “Hurricane” Carter. According to the song he was framed for a triple murder because he was black. By employing cultural and historical criticism, one is able to correlate exact song lyrics to the culture surrounding African Americans of the 1960’s.  Culture criticism is, “the use of materials beyond the standard biographical information and history books to examine literature” (McMahan, Day, and Funk 1177). Dylan purposely uses racial and profane words to describe how different people felt about Rubin Carter. The police were portrayed as being biased and hated Carter using words such as “son-of-a-bitch” to describe him. The media and public were said to be manipulated by the court and authorities, “All of rubins cards were marked in advance. / The trial was a pig-circus, he never had a chance. / The judge made rubins witnesses drunkards from the slums” (Stanza 9, lines 1-3). Alternately, the African American community was depicted with the attitude that he was crazy and had no chance to be proven innocent. All of this sums up Dylan’s main view of 1960’s racial biased.



            Bob Dylan wrote the song after he read Rubin Carter’s autobiography and felt that he had been falsely accused because of his race. The song begins by describing the triple homicide and a man by the name of Bello who was robbing the register. It goes on to say that Rubin Carter was picked up in a different part of town and arrested for the murder. Then the police become in cahoots with the Bello and his partner to blame the murder on Carter. The police threaten to arrest Bello and his partner if they do not cooperate, “You think youd like to play ball with the law? / Think it might-a-been that fighter that you saw runnin that night” (Stanza 6, lines 7-8).

            The song then goes on to explain that Rubin Carter was a great fighter and very modest.  Next Dylan explains how Carter did not have any chance in the trial because he was black. Finally the song explains that Bello lied and Rubin went to jail for the triple murder. Dylan also writes about the media who, “went along for the ride,” and did not believe Rubin Carter was innocent because he was black (Stanza 10, lines 4).

        Dylan portrays the police in this song to be corrupt and racist against African Americans. He claims that the cops in that time would try to pin any crime on a black man:

When a cop pulled him over to the side of the road. / Just like the time before and the time before that. / In paterson that’s just the way things go. / If youre black you might as well not show up on the street / Less you wanna draw the heat (Stanza 3, lines 5-9).

He reinforces his view on corruption of authorities by claiming that the cops cut a deal with Bello and Bradley, the two robbers, to testify against Carter. Dylan uses some harsh language to get the point across that the cops would do anything to blame Carter, “That sonofabitch is brave and gettin braver. / We want to put his ass in stir. / We want to pin this triple murder on him. / He aint no gentleman jim” (Stanza 7, lines 6-9).

Gentleman Jim Corbett was a white boxer that was hyped as one of the best boxers and all around person. Dylan uses a comparison between Carter and Corbett so that the listener really understands how much the cops really were white supremacist. This racism was evident throughout the 1960’s culture and was not limited to the police.

            Not only does Dylan portray the authorities as being racist, but he also tags the public and media of the same thing. He uses specific words to explain how corrupt the judge and media acted, “The trial was a pig-circus, he never had a chance / The judge made Rubin’s witnesses drunkards from the slums” (Stanza 9, lines 2-3). Dylan used the term “pig-circus,” which has come to mean a phony trial were the facts are obscured by generalizations by the judge or judiciary system (“Pig Circus”). This gives a visual affect for the listener about the 1960’s. It aids in the racial and corruption theme of the entire trial. More specifically, he comments on the judge’s pick of jurors, implying that they could be easily manipulated and bribed since they were “drunkards.” While this injustice was going on in the courtroom, the media did not even consider the fact that the trial was skewed, “And the newspapers, they all went along for the ride”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsmszHWnO3k

            The white and black people of the public also had their opinions of Carter, “To the white folks who watched he was a revolutionary bum. / And to the black folks he was just a crazy nigger” (Stanza 9, lines 4-5). These two lines say a lot about the public’s opinion on the issue, both blacks and whites. To the white people of the day, Carter seemed like just another civil right activists, referring to both Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcom X. Martin Luther King Jr. had just given his “I have a dream” speech three years earlier and Malcom X was assassinated the previous year (“Malcom X”). So the white people were not really affected at all by Rubin’s mistrial. They just assumed he was another black man trying to change the world like MLK Jr. and Malcom X. The next line is referring to the black community’s outlook on all of it. They think Carter is “a crazy nigger.” Dylan uses this offensive word to bring across the racial aspect of that time. This line also hints at the black people giving up some hope for racial equality. They all think he is crazy because he believed that he was innocent and that justice would prevail. Even to the black people he was crazy, because they thought that equality would never happen. So not only does Carter have the white people mistreating him, but the black people would not even support him.

            Bob Dylan’s “The Hurricane”  based on the autobiography of Rubin Carter brings out the feelings by everyone in 1960’s toward the black community. Using cultural and historical criticism, one can deduce the true meaning behind every meaningful line in this song. By correlating exact song lyrics to the cultural surroundings of African Americans in the 1960’s, Dylan brings out the true feelings of the public, media, and police toward racism. The cultural and historical facts of the 1960’s play a huge role in the developing political and moral theme to this song.

Rubin Carter was released from jail on November 7, 1985. Judge Sarokin of the State of New Jersey ruled that trial had violated the constitutional rights of Carter. He is now very famous speaker and motivator. (“Rubin ‘Hurricane’ Carter Biography”) this song reflects the culture and history of America in the 1960’s, and show that one man can stand up for what is right.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgDxA78CJho
(Stanza 10, lines 4). All of this gives the listener the true feeling of the police, the judiciary system, and the media toward black people.

 

 

The Hurricane

                        By Bob Dylan

 

Pistol shots ring out in the barroom night

Enter Patty Valentine from the upper hall.

She sees the bartender in a pool of blood,

Cries out, "My God, they killed them all!"

Here comes the story of the Hurricane,                                              Stanza: 1

The man the authorities came to blame

For somethin' that he never done.

Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been

The champion of the world.

 

Three bodies lyin' there does Patty see

And another man named Bello, movin' around mysteriously.

"I didn't do it," he says, and he throws up his hands

"I was only robbin' the register, I hope you understand.

I saw them leavin'," he says, and he stops                                          Stanza: 2

"One of us had better call up the cops."

And so Patty calls the cops

And they arrive on the scene with their red lights flashin'

In the hot New Jersey night.

 

Meanwhile, far away in another part of town

Rubin Carter and a couple of friends are drivin' around.

Number one contender for the middleweight crown

Had no idea what kinda shit was about to go down                          Stanza: 3

When a cop pulled him over to the side of the road

Just like the time before and the time before that.

In Paterson that's just the way things go.

If you're black you might as well not show up on the street

'Less you wanna draw the heat.

 

Alfred Bello had a partner and he had a rap for the cops.

Him and Arthur Dexter Bradley were just out prowlin' around

He said, "I saw two men runnin' out, they looked like middleweights

They jumped into a white car with out-of-state plates."                                 Stanza: 4        

And Miss Patty Valentine just nodded her head.

Cop said, "Wait a minute, boys, this one's not dead"

So they took him to the infirmary

And though this man could hardly see

They told him that he could identify the guilty men.

 

Four in the mornin' and they haul Rubin in,

Take him to the hospital and they bring him upstairs.

The wounded man looks up through his one dyin' eye

Says, "Wha'd you bring him in here for? He ain't the guy!"                           Stanza: 5

Yes, here's the story of the Hurricane,

The man the authorities came to blame

For somethin' that he never done.

Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been

The champion of the world.

 

Four months later, the ghettos are in flame,

Rubin's in South America, fightin' for his name

While Arthur Dexter Bradley's still in the robbery game                               Stanza: 6

And the cops are puttin' the screws to him, lookin' for somebody to blame.

"Remember that murder that happened in a bar?"

"Remember you said you saw the getaway car?"

"You think you'd like to play ball with the law?"

"Think it might-a been that fighter that you saw runnin' that night?"

"Don't forget that you are white."

 

Arthur Dexter Bradley said, "I'm really not sure."

Cops said, "A poor boy like you could use a break

We got you for the motel job and we're talkin' to your friend Bello              Stanza: 7

Now you don't wanta have to go back to jail, be a nice fellow.

You'll be doin' society a favor.

That sonofabitch is brave and gettin' braver.

We want to put his ass in stir

We want to pin this triple murder on him

He ain't no Gentleman Jim."

 

Rubin could take a man out with just one punch

But he never did like to talk about it all that much.

It's my work, he'd say, and I do it for pay

And when it's over I'd just as soon go on my way

Up to some paradise                                                                           Stanza: 8

Where the trout streams flow and the air is nice

And ride a horse along a trail.

But then they took him to the jailhouse

Where they try to turn a man into a mouse.

 

All of Rubin's cards were marked in advance

The trial was a pig-circus, he never had a chance.

The judge made Rubin's witnesses drunkards from the slums

To the white folks who watched he was a revolutionary bum           Stanza: 9

And to the black folks he was just a crazy nigger.

No one doubted that he pulled the trigger.

And though they could not produce the gun,

The D.A. said he was the one who did the deed

And the all-white jury agreed.

 

Rubin Carter was falsely tried.

The crime was murder "one," guess who testified?

Bello and Bradley and they both baldly lied

And the newspapers, they all went along for the ride.

How can the life of such a man                                                          Stanza: 10

Be in the palm of some fool's hand?

To see him obviously framed

Couldn't help but make me feel ashamed to live in a land

Where justice is a game.

 

Now all the criminals in their coats and their ties

Are free to drink martinis and watch the sun rise

While Rubin sits like Buddha in a ten-foot cell

An innocent man in a living hell.

Yes, that's the story of the Hurricane,                                                            Stanza: 11

But it won't be over till they clear his name

And give him back the time he's done.

Put in a prison cell, but one time he could-a been

The champion of the world.



 

 

http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Hurricane-lyrics-Bob-Dylan/2E9FFB25FF6016164825696900386AA

 

Works Cited

 

McMahan, Day, and Funk. "Critical Approaches for Interpreting Literature." Literature

            and the Writing Process. 8th ed. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education Inc.,

            2007. 3321-     25.

 

"Pig Circus." Urban dictionary. 1 Feb. 2005. 4 Mar. 2009

            <http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Pig%20Circus>.

 

"Rubin "Hurricane" Carter Biography." Biography. © 2008 A&E Television Networks.   4 Mar 2009 <http://www.biography.com/search/article.do?id=9542248&page=1>.

 

           

"Malcom X." King Encyclopedia. 4 Mar. 2009             <http://www.stanford.edu/group/King/about_king/encyclopedia/x_malcolm.htm>.

 

 

 

---

Fearless

The song “Fearless” by Pink Floyd, composed by Roger Waters, is on the album Meddle released in 1971. “Fearless” is a song about a man who is considered a fool by many people. Nobody expects much from this fool, but in the end he faces his fears and faces a crowd with great results. The album Meddle is considered to be the first popular Pink Floyd album after Syd Barrett, one of the founding members of Pink Floyd, left the band. Syd Barrett had to leave Pink Floyd because of his schizophrenia brought on partially by his use of street drugs such as marijuana and lsd and he also had a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia (szadman). I believe that the song “Fearless” was written about how Syd Barrett made the band Pink Floyd famous and threw a lot of people off guard.
The Song starts out with, “You say the hill's too steep to climb /Climb it/ You say you'd like to see me try/Climbing,” (Waters). This section of the song is about a man who believes that everyone thinks that he cannot accomplish a task and people doubt this man will ever accomplish his goals by telling him that they would “like to see him try,” I believe that this is supposed to be Barrett questioning why people do not believe in his ability to accomplish goals (Waters) People in Barrett’s life could not have ever imagined him to be a successful person so people that Barrett knew would not think that his band could ever make it anywhere.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoL_gDylVkM

The next section of the song is, “You pick the place and I'll choose the time/ and I'll climb/that hill in my own way/ Just wait a while for the right day/ and as I rise above the tree lines and the clouds/ I look down, hearing the sound of the things you've said today,” (Waters). This section of the song is talking about how the character in this song is bragging about how he can easily accomplish a task and then laugh about how the other character doubted him at the beginning of the song. The main character seems to be the only person that believes in himself. I believe that this is about many people questioning Barrett in his earlier years, not knowing that he will become a member of a very successful and influential band. 
The next part of the song says, “Fearlessly the idiot faced the crowd /Smiling/
Merciless the magistrate turns 'round /Frowning,” (Waters).  This part of the song is about the main character of the story overcoming his fears and trying to accomplish what other people think is impossible.  The main character is happy that he can overcome his fear because he is smiling and the other character involved in this song is unhappy because he was proven wrong by the fool in the story. This part of the song is about Syd Barrett proving someone wrong that though he was a fool. Apparently before Syd Barrett showed symptoms of schizophrenia his thoughts and actions were very odd (szadman). I believe this song is talking about how people perceived Barrett as an idiot because of his weird ways, and many people that knew Barrett who heard about Pink Floyd becoming successful were caught off guard that he could help create something so great. 
The last part of the song is, “And who's the fool who wears the crown? /and go down/ in your own way/ and every day is the right day/ and as you rise above the fear-lines in his brow/ you look down, hearing the sound of the faces in the crowd,” (Waters). I believe this final section talks about how the fool in the story who faces the crowd wins over the people and becomes a king. I believe this section is talking about how once Syd Barrett did the unthinkable and his band became famous it turned Barrett into a legend. I believe that, “And go down/ in your own way/ and every day is the right day /and as you rise above the fear-lines in his brow/ you look down, hearing the sound of the faces in the crowd,” is talking about how Barrett went down because of mental illness, but the fan base that he created lives on and the musicians that are still in Pink Floyd still have to overcome their fears and win-over the faces in the crowd (Waters).
The song “Fearless” by Pink Floyd is about a man facing his fears and a crowd when someone doesn’t think that he can do it. The character in “Fearless” eventually wins over the crowd and proves the people that doubted him wrong. Many songs that Pink Floyd wrote about, after Syd Barrett left the group, were about Syd Barrett and I believe that “Fearless” is an addition to all of the songs written about their former band mate.  I believe that “Fearless” has a second meaning. “Fearless” is also about how Syd Barrett was perceived as fool by many people that knew him. Once Barrett’s voice was actually heard and Pink Floyd became popular, the people who did not believe in Barrett were proved wrong.  After Syd Barrett left the band the rest of Pink Floyd still see what Barrett helped them to accomplish. 
“Fearless”

By Pink Floyd

You say the hill's too steep to climb
Climb it.
You say you'd like to see me try
Climbing.

You pick the place and I'll choose the time
And I'll climb
That hill in my own way.
Just wait a while for the right day.
And as I rise above the tree lines and the clouds
I look down, hearing the sound of the things you've said today.

Fearlessly the idiot faced the crowd
Smiling.
Merciless the magistrate turns 'round
Frowning.

And who's the fool who wears the crown?
And go down,
in your own way
And every day is the right day
And as you rise above the fear-lines in his brow
You look down, hearing the sound of the faces in the crowd.


Works Cited

 

szadmin, "Syd Barrett, Founder of Pink Floyd band, Sufferer of Schizophrenia, Passed Away this Week." Schizophrenia Daily News Blog 12 Jul 2006 2 Mar 2009 <http://www.schizophrenia.com/sznews/archives/003640.html>.

 

Waters, Roger. Meddle, Fearless. Harvest/Capitol Records, 1971.

 

http://www.geocities.com/SouthBeach/Bluffs/7571/meddle.jpg

 

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/music/sydbarrett460b.jpg

 

---

"We All Need Saving Sometimes"

Jon McLaughlin is an up and coming pianist from Indiana that has had a huge breakthrough with his two popular CD’s “Indiana” and “OK Now.”  One of the most meaningful songs from his newest CD “OK Now” is called “We all Need Saving” in which McLaughlin sings about someone who is going through a hard time, and their stubbornness in getting help (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-WU9-1oTks&feature=related).  He explains that it is okay to admit that you cannot get through everything alone and that you can always lean on someone for help.  This song can be broken down and critiqued in many ways that can help the listener have a better understanding of the song and feel more of a connection to the artist through it, such as: a formalistic critique, biographical critique, and a reader response critique.  To understand these critiques, the audience must first listen to the song and read the lyrics to appreciate what the song is about before they can listen and read for a deeper meaning to the song.

            In the first stanza of “We all Need Saving,” McLaughlin is singing to someone about moving on past the hard things and how it is not like this person to dwell on something.  At the end of the stanza he says, “And whether or not it’s right or wrong you’ll do what you will do,” referring to the obvious stubbornness this person is showing him (Stanza 1 Line 7).  After this stanza the listener is presented with the chorus for the first time when McLaughlin refers to this person’s life as “just a storm you’re braving” (Stanza 2 Line 2).  He then goes on to say that it is okay to lean on someone because everyone goes through difficult times.  The third stanza McLaughlin says that no one on this earth should be alone because we are here for a reason and then states, “you make me what I’m worth,” which shows the listener that he obviously cares about this person (Stanza 3 Line 5).  At the end of the stanza he repeats saying how stubborn this person is.

            After repeating the chorus again the listener hears the climax of the song, which is in the fifth stanza.  By this point in the song McLaughlin says that he does not know why things have to be this way, but then encouragingly says, “but please believe someone else has felt this before” (Stanza 5 Line 3).  He ends the song with repeating the chorus for a third time and continually states, “We all need saving sometimes” (Stanza 2 Line 4).  Now he leaves the listener with the ability to look closer at this song and critique it how he or she would like.

            The first way that most people would critique this song, sometimes without even trying to would be using a formalistic critical approach.  To do a critique like this on a song, the listener must listen to how the music and the lyrics go together and how the different elements and features in the song work together as a whole.  Throughout this song, the listener will hear soft “ooo’s” coming from the background singers, along with the pleasant and peaceful lyrics that McLaughlin comes in with.  This effect gives the song a hymn-like feel, similar to something one would hear in church. The piano part in this song also adds to this peaceful, church-like feeling.  McLaughlin also uses a lot of repetition in this song, which lets the listener know where to focus in on, especially since he is taking the time to repeat it.  For example, at the end of the first stanza and the end of the third stanza, McLaughlin repeats the line, “you’ll do what you will do” to emphasize the person’s stubbornness (Stanzas 1, 3 Lines 8, 7).  He also uses this technique by repeating the chorus three times throughout the whole song.

            Another element that McLaughlin uses is imagery, which comes up every time he sings the chorus.  When he says, “when the cloud in the sky starts to pour / and your life is just a storm you’re braving,” the listener automatically pictures a severe storm which they can automatically relate to the obvious pain and hard times this person is facing (Stanza 2 Lines 1-2). One more major element that adds to this song is when McLaughlin obviously reaches the climax of the song in the fifth stanza.  By this point in the song, the listener can hear the frustration in his voice when he says, “I don’t know why it has to be this way,” as if the person he is singing to is still not listening (Stanza 5 Line 1).  When he sings this stanza, the vocals get higher and louder, which really puts an emphasis on the point he is trying to get across.  And then goes back to the slow mellow chorus one last time, ending with the piano playing one last peaceful melody.

            Another way to look at this song is by using a biographical critique and relating Jon McLaughlin’s life to the lyrics he wrote for his song.  In an interview, McLaughlin states that when looking back on his childhood “he absolutely hated taking piano lessons”, but only continued because his parents encouraged him to keep it up (Jon McLaughlin int. on clizbeats.com). McLaughlin then says that it was not until he attended his church’s youth group, and started playing piano for them that he “realized playing piano could be fun,” and that he enjoyed getting to worship through his music (Jon McLaughlin int. on Clizbeats.com).  This finally made him thankful for the many years of lessons he had taken and gave him the connection to his music that his fans hear and love today.  When knowing this, the listener can relate this to McLaughlin’s song, “We all Need Saving” because in a big way the church saved him by showing him his passion for music. 

            One last way to really feel connected to this song would be to do a reader’s response critique and relate this song to experiences the listener has gone through and interpret the song in their own way.  McLaughlin even stated in his interview on Clizbeats.com that, “songs should always be left up to interpretation, I think, because who’s to say that I have the only idea, or the best idea for what this song should be about” (Jon McLaughlin int. on Clizbeats.com).  When I hear this song, it has a very special meaning and interpretation for me personally, because of things I have experienced in the last year.  I was in a very serious car wreck during my first month of starting college, and am still healing from it to this day.  This was the most difficult thing I had ever faced because I was away from my family for the first time, had to take care of myself, catch up on the month of school I missed, and try to get over the traumatic effects along with the physical pain.  I did not know very many people on campus yet, and therefore I tried to handle all of these things on my own.  Luckily, around this same time I first heard of Jon McLaughlin and listened to his song, “We all Need Saving” and truly thought about his words, “don’t tell yourself you can’t lean on someone else” (Stanza 2 Line 3). This touched me greatly and after really listening to this, I admitted I needed help.  I relied on my friends for help, talked to my teachers, and even started seeing a counselor.  Looking back today, I know I could not have gotten through any of this without leaning on someone else, just as McLaughlin says in his song.

            As the listener can now see, there are so many ways to perceive a song. The methods of critique can really help the listener find out why the song was written, and what or whom the song is being directed to.  It can also help the listener relate the music and the lyrics together, and the different elements the singer adds to make this song their very own.  This is what makes the difference between an oblivious listener or reader, and an educated listener or reader.  Anyone can listen to a song just for entertainment, but once a listener looks past the outside appearance and critiques and analyzes it, the song can end up having a greater impact and really mean something to each individual that hears it.



 

"We All Need Saving" by Jon McLaughlin from the album “OK Now”

Come on, come on
You have got to move on
This is not the you I know
This isn't real
It's just all you can feel
And that's the way that feelings go
And whether or not it's right or wrong you'll do what you will do

[Chorus]
When the cloud in the sky starts to pour
And your life is just a storm you're braving
Don't tell yourself you can't lean on someone else
Cause we all need saving sometimes

Say what you will but the time that we fill
While we're on the earth
Should not be alone
We were meant to be known
You make me what I'm worth
But I can't keep you from yourself you'll do what you will do

[Chorus]
When the cloud in the sky starts to pour
And your life is just a storm you're braving
Don't tell yourself you can't lean on someone else
Cause we all need saving sometimes

I don't know why it has to be this way and
I don't know the cure
But please believe someone has felt this before

[Chorus]
When the cloud in the sky starts to pour
And your life is just a storm you're braving
Don't tell yourself you can't lean on someone else
Cause we all need saving sometimes.

 

Works Cited

McLaughlin, Jon. “Clizbeats Productions, Inc. presents Jon McLaughlin’s story.”  Interviewed by Craig Clizbe and Matt Clizbe. 15 December 2008 <http://www.clizbeats.com/2008/12/clizbeats-productions-inc-presents-jon-mclaughlins-story-.html#more>.

McLaughlin, Jon. “We all Need Saving” OK Now album. Island Records, 2008.

McLaughlin, Jon.  “We All Need Saving” OK Now album. Island Records, 2008. Azlyrics.      02 March 2008 <http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/jonmclaughlin/weallneedsaving.html>.

We all Need Saving. Performed by Jon McLaughlin. World Café Live, Philadelphia, PA. 11 July 2008 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-WU9-1oTks&feature=related>

---

"Millstone"

The topic of this paper will explain the meaning of the song, “Millstone,” performed by the band Brand New.  In this song, the lead singer, Jesse Lacey, expresses how he feels he is falling away from God.  Lacey shows his confusion and does not know what to do in order to prevent the loss of the Lord from his life.  A short synopsis of this song, “Millstone,” will bring us to understand his meaning behind his words- with a few references to another song on the album, “Jesus Christ.”  We will then formalistically critique what the band does to emphasize the meaning behind their song, besides the poetic lyrics, to tie everything together.  We will do this by looking at all the features of the work as a whole.  From this album, “The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me,” one may leave feeling a bit of sorrow, but at the same time be completely amazed from the message that is sent to the listener.

            The song, “Millstone,” is about how Lacey feels he has developed into a bad person and has become very sinful.  The song talks about all the bad things that he has caused, such as:  he is the reason why his friends do not talk, he used to be a good example, or how he used to make his parents proud, but not anymore.  In the following track on the album, “Jesus Christ,” he explains and expresses how he is scared to die.  Lacey is unsure about what will become of him after death.  “Do I get the gold chariot / do I float through the ceiling,” is a lyric from “Jesus Christ” explaining Lacey’s confusion of life after death (Stanza 5 Lines 3-4).  He also asks, “And at the gates does Thomas ask to see my hands,” Thomas being one of Jesus’ disciples, curious if he will even make it into heaven, despite all of his sins (Stanza 6 Line 4). 

            The song, “Millstone,” is most certainly Christian related.  One can see this in the lyric, “A millstone around my neck” (Stanza 3 Line 3).  This lyric refers back to the Bible, specifically referenced to Luke 17: 1-3 which states “Jesus said to his disciples: ‘things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come.  It would be better for him to be thrown in the sea with a millstone tied around his neck then for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.  So watch yourselves’” (New Testament, Prov. 17.2).  What Lacey incorporated into the song by using this reference is how he has caused others to sin, and what he should have done is tie the burden for himself, instead of placing it onto others.  He also says, “If you’d be my breath, there’s nothing I wouldn’t give,” meaning that if God will save him from drowning in the sea, then he would do anything to prove his faith back into Christianity (Stanza 3 Line 4).  Overall, Lacey just wants to prove to God that he knows he has been sinful, but would be willing to put up with his burdens, his millstones around his neck, in order not to be taken from God’s faith.

            Brand New expresses a lot of ache in their melody and rhythm throughout this entire song, “Millstone.”  In the beginning, a guitar slowly fades in with a solid rhythm, but at the same time, the sound shows how the band is fighting to express their emotions of confusion and sorrow.  The lyrics become a major part of the song rather quickly, going along with the guitar’s rhythm, having the same feelings of grief with the words.  They did so by having somewhat of a hoarse tone and heavy breathing above another singers voice, whom has a deep-monotone quality, emphasizing the ending of each line.  “I used to care, I was being cared for / Made sure I showed it to those that I love,” are lyrics from the song that very much stand out, expressing the loss of something rather important in the band’s life (Stanza 1 Lines 3-4).  

Unexpectedly, the drums come into play with the song, with a big crash on a cymbal and crack on a snare drum, leading the song into the chorus.  The song takes a big jump into something much louder and more leading.  The lyrics become more intense and angry to really get their meaning across to the listener, while the listener can hear another singer’s voice, singing nonsense in the background.  All together, once every instrument comes into play, the song escalates to a much higher level, with lots of confusion while everything is taking place.  “This ship of fools I’m on will sink,” is one of the more vivid lines in the song expressing how the band feels they are not the only ones who have made mistakes (Stanza 3 Line 2).  The listener could interpret this as Brand New expressing how they feel that they are being pushed into a corner for everything they have done wrong.  However, they are not the only people who have burdens to deal with; there are plenty of other people out there who have caused problems and Brand New wants their listeners to understand that they are not the only ones.

The song proceeds into the second verse falling back into its original sound, displaying lots of sorrowfulness and remorse once again.  “Now I’ve made this bed and I can’t fall asleep in it,” is a lyric showing their understanding of the harsh situation they have gotten their selves into (Stanza 5 Line 2).  Again, in the background, the listener can hear another singer harmonizing with Lacey.  This time, however, the other singer is yelling, in a higher tone, rather than deep and monotone, expressing the war within Brand New- against their faith in God, and uncertainty of what is to become of them after death.  The ache in the melody is also a strong part of this stanza, emphasizing to the listener how difficult it is to lose faith in God.

Brand New then takes the song, “Millstone,” back into the chorus, repeating themselves over and over again.  They specifically used this repetition to emphasize a very imperative topic, to ask God for his grace and forgive them for their sins.  Although they are still confused and mourning on their mistakes, Brand New has come to many realizations.  Lacey expresses this in the lyric, “if you’d be my breath, there’s nothing I wouldn’t give,” meaning if God forgives them for their mistakes then Brand New would be willing to do anything to keep his grace (Stanza 9 Line 4).  In the final stanza Lacey sings, “Well save my life tonight,” which is a small alteration to the chorus (Stanza 10 Line 1).  This small difference, again, is Brand New asking God for his grace and to forgive them for their wrong doings.  They keep expressing their knowledge of their mistakes, hoping God is still part of their lives, praying God will save them.

Brand New’s song, “Millstone,” when first listened to, could take on a very different perspective then what it is interpreted here.  However, Lacey and the rest of the band express their selves in a very interesting way when the song is interpreted in a formalistic style critique, meaning that the work is appreciated in a unified, meaningful whole.  Not only do the words have a major factor in the in the fear of falling away from God, but the music, style, tone, ache in the melody, good turning to the bad, anything and everything incorporated into “Millstone” was influential to its outcome and tied it all together into one masterpiece.  This album, “The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me,” is very mourning, very sad, but the listener will leave with a better understanding and outlook on life after listening, especially from this song, “Millstone.”

           

“Millstone” performed by Brand New

I used to be such a burning example,
I used to be so original.
I used to care, I was being cared for.
Made sure I showed it to those that I love.

I used to sleep without a single stir,
'Cause I was about my father's work.

Well take me out tonight.
This ship of fools I'm on will sink.
A millstone around my neck,
{If you'd} be my breath, there's nothing I wouldn't give.

I used to pray like God was listening.
I used to make my parents proud.
I was the glue that kept my friends together,
Now they don't talk and we don't go out.

I used to know the name of every person I'd kissed.
Now I've made this bed and I can't fall asleep in it.

Well take me out tonight.
This ship of fools I'm on will sink.
A millstone around my neck,
{If you'd} be my breath, there's nothing I wouldn't give.

Throw me that lifeline,
This ship of fools I'm on will sink.
A millstone around my neck,
{If you'd} be my breath, there's nothing I wouldn't give.

"They never hit their brakes..."
"There was no time to see..."
"He just ran out in the street..."
"Does anybody know his name?"
"I think I recognize him..."
"He sure as hell paid for that mistake..."

Whoa.

So take me out tonight.
This ship of fools I'm on will sink.
A millstone around my neck,
{If you'd} be my breath, there's nothing I wouldn't give.

Well save my life tonight.
This ship of fools I'm on will sink.
A millstone around my neck,
{If you'd} be my breath, there's nothing I wouldn't give.

“Jesus Christ” performed by Brand New

Jesus Christ, that's a pretty face
The kind you'd find on someone that could save
If they don't put me away
It’ll be a miracle

Do you believe you're missing out?
That everything good is happening somewhere else
But with nobody in your bed
The night is hard to get through

And I will die all alone
And when I arrive I won’t know anyone

Well, Jesus Christ, I’m alone again
So what did you do those three days you were dead?
Because this problem's gonna last
More than the weekend

Well, Jesus Christ I’m not scared to die
I’m a little bit scared of what comes after
Do I get the gold chariot
Do I float through the ceiling

Do I divide and fall apart
Cause my bright is too slight to hold back all my dark
This ship went down in sight of land
And at the gates does Thomas ask to see my hands?

I know you'll come in the night like a thief
But I’ve had some time alone to hone my lying technique
I know you think that I’m someone you can trust
But I’m scared I’ll get scared and I swear I’ll try to nail you back up
(everyone now)
So do you think that we could work out a sign
So I’ll know it's you and that it's over so I won't even try
I know you'll come for the people like me
But we all got wood and nails,
And talk dirt at hating factories
But, we all got wood and nails
And talk dirt at hating factories
Yeah, we all got wood and nails
And talk dirt at hating factories
Yeah, we all got wood and nails
And we sleep inside of this machine

 

Works Cited

Brand New. “Millstone.” The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me. Interscope Records, 2006.

Lacey, Jesse. “Jesus Christ.” The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me. Interscope Records,        2006. 1 March 2009 <http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Jesus-Christ-lyrics-Brand-            New/D541C21D085AC3684825721C000A9647>.

Lacey, Jesse. “Millstone.” The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me. Interscope Records, 2006. 1 March 2009 <http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Millstone-lyrics-Brand-            New/02084A0E25B494F348257226000FA5D2>.

Picture 2 <http://us.ent2.yimg.com/musicfinder.yahoo.com/images/yahoo/triple             _crown/brandnew/0203_brand_new_b.jpg>.

Millstone and Jesus Christ. By Jesse Lacey. Perf. Brand New. Lollapalooza, Chicago, Illinois.      2008 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-b0pvHcNa_I>.

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Fighting For Peace

            According to "Literature and the Writing Process," by Elizabeth McMahan, Susan X. Day, and Robert Funk, one can critique a piece of literature by many perspectives. One in particular, the historical perspective, mainly looks at how a writer's work is affected by personal and global events (1175). In the year of 1968, as the Vietnam War raged on, riots, protests, and death became a common literary theme throughout the world. In the midst of the chaos, a band by the name of the Beatles composed a song entitled, "Revolution". By studying this song through a historical perspective, it is clear that the Beatles were standing up for peace, rather than violent protests and movements.             The Beatles wrote, "Revolution," in a time of change and reform. Riots, radical speeches, and brutal protests ruled the streets as young generations were demanding that the draft be ended, racial oppression stopped, and for the troops to be called home. As if that was not enough, two major political leaders, Robert Francis Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. were assassinated within three months of each other (Surak). It was within this chaos, the Beatles stepped out, proclaiming their message of peace.

        “Revolution” is not a song calling for more violent upheaval but for a peaceful innovative change. The Beatles state in “Revolution,” “We all want to change the world/ but when you talk about destruction/ Don’t you know you can count me out” (1,6-8).  The Beatles were clearly against the war by pushing for peace throughout world. They spoke out against the brutal revolts that did not promote peace, but only made matters worse. For example, in August, protestors battled the police in a fierce revolt in Chicago during a Democratic National Convention (Surak). The protest made a desperate statement to end the war, but only ended in more violence. The Beatles called out against revolts like these, yet they understood the revolutionaries, as they sang too, “we all want to change the world” (1,3).

      “Revolution,” is a song that also calls out radicals that protested in whim revolts or empty causes. The Beatles sang out, “You say you got a real solution/ well, you know/ we’d all love to see the plan” (2,1-3).  In a recent adaptation of the Beatles’ music, a musical called Across the Universe, boldly portrayed their perspective of the lyrics of the band and culture surrounding them. In the scene singing, “Revolution,” the main character, Jude, shows his frustration with radical revolutionaries that have no real solution to end the war, only in violent protests and radical speeches. This scene successfully portrayed the Beatles cause to fight for real solutions and peace, not just attempting to get a reaction from the government.

      Towards the end of the song, the Beatles address revolutionaries who desire funding for their revolts. The Beatles responded in their song saying, “We're doing what we can/ but when you want money/ for people with minds that hate/ all I can tell is brother, you have to wait” (2,6-9). In these lines, they boldly state, that it is not that they are not helping, but that the band would not support brutal or hateful movements. As John Lennon stated, “Count me out if it’s for violence. Don’t expect me on the barricades unless it’s with flowers.” Violence went against the peace, love, and happiness that the Beatles were trying to promote.


      In 1968, protests and riots raged to change the constitution in hope that it would end the Vietnam War. In “Revolution,” the Beatles sang against this moment of pinning the blame on an institution or trying to change the constitution. They argued that what world needed to do was changed their perspective. They state, “You say you'll change the constitution/Well, you know/ we all want to change your head/ You tell me it's the institution/ Well, you know/ you better free your mind instead” (3,1-6). These lines attempted to reveal that not all problems rested in a corrupt government or document, but in the people’s minds themselves. This song is a desperate cry to a struggling society to see the need to search for peace and unity, instead of rebellion and riots.

      One phrase that is repeated throughout the song is “Don’t you know that everything is going to be alright.” This phrase shows the Beatles hope for their generation and hope for the war to end. They sang out to bring comfort to desperate and hopeless revolutionaries, who only saw the dark side of 1968. While the crowds were calling out travesties that were occurring, the Beatles were crying out for peace and love. As John Lennon states, “Give peace a chance, and remember Love. The only hope for us is peace. Violence begets violence. You can have peace as soon as you like if we all pull together."

      In “Revolution,” the Beatles make a reference to radicals carrying around pictures of chairman, Mao Zedong. This has special significance, as Mao was a communist and revolutionary leader. Jonathan D. Spencer in Time magazine stated that while Mao Zedong united the broken nation of China, inspiring peoples all over the world, Mao cost millions of lives in pursuit of his cause (1-3). Mao is a mirror image of the fanatics that the Beatles stood against.                                These fanatics did not care about the methods that would get them peace, they only cared about the end result. The band sang out against radicals that wanted to turn to violent ways to support their cause, questioning why revolutionaries would turn to brutal methods that they were actually fighting overseas. As the Beatles state, talking about people wanting to change the current state of the war “But if you go carrying pictures of chairman Mao/ you ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow” (3,7-8).

     By examining through a historical perspective, one can see that “Revolution,” is a dynamic masterpiece painted skillfully by the Beatles to reveal the fallacies in the society surrounding them. It is a song that cries out against violent upheavals for empty causes and pinning the blame on institutions, but also sings out for hope for the war to end. This song is one of the many songs of the Beatles that calls out for society to unify under the banner of peace.  As they demonstrate, all people want to change the world, but in the end it will all work out. The Beatles in 1968, made their cause clear; there is still hope and it is in peace, not violence.

 

Revolution – The Beatles

You say you want a revolution

Well, you know

We all want to change the world

You tell me that it's evolution

Well, you know

We all want to change the world

But when you talk about destruction

Don't you know that you can count me out

Don't you know it's gonna be all right

all right, all right

 

You say you got a real solution

Well, you know

We'd all love to see the plan

You ask me for a contribution

Well, you know

We're doing what we can

But when you want money

for people with minds that hate

All I can tell is brother you have to wait

Don't you know it's gonna be all right

all right, all right

Ah

ah, ah, ah, ah, ah...

 

You say you'll change the constitution

Well, you know

We all want to change your head

You tell me it's the institution

Well, you know

You better free you mind instead

But if you go carrying pictures of chairman Mao

You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow

Don't you know it's gonna be all right

all right, all right

all right, all right, all right

all right, all right, all right

 

                                                                      Works Cited

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       lennon-quotes-it.htm>.

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“Mao Zedong.” Time. 18 Apr. 1998. The Time 100. 4 Mar. 2009.

       <http://www.time.com/time/time100/leaders/profile/mao.html>.  

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<http://www.iamthebeatles.com/article1245.html>.

McMahan, Elizabeth, Susan X Day, and Robert Funk. “Critical Approaches For  

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