Music as Poetry

Poetry Terms

Poetry

Music

Lyrics

Sound Devices

Writing that uses imagination using language that is arranged to create a specific mood

The art putting together sounds in an order that ends in something that has unity and continuity

Words within a piece of music

Devices such as rhyme or alliteration used in poetry to help the flow or sound of the poem

Tone

Theme

Mood

The writer’s attitude towards their audience and subject

Central message, concern or purpose in a literary work

The audience’s attitude while reading the poem

Imagery

Figurative Language

Allusion

Words that paint a picture in the readers mind by using figures of speech, sensory language and vivid adjectives

Language that is not meant to be taken literally and contains figures of speech (example: personification, metaphor, simile, etc..)

A reference to a well-known person, event, place, literary work or work of art

Rhythm

Rhyme

Symbolism

The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in spoken or written language

The repetition of sounds at the ends of words

Anything that stands for or represents something else

Refrain

Stanza

A regularly repeated line or group of lines in a poem or song

A group of lines of poetry that are usually similar in length and pattern

How can music be poetry?

When you begin to analyze song lyrics you will see that most songs fall in to one of two types of poetry.

Lyrical Poems or Narrative Poems

Lyrical Poems/Songs

Lyrical Poems are highly musical verses that express the observations and feelings of a single speaker.

Think of a romantic ballad or a moody teen angst song, these are lyrical poems.

Narrative Poems/Songs

Narrative Poems are stories told in verse.

Think about country songs or oldies that tell a whole story set to music.

Figurative Language, Imagery and Sound Devices

Song writers often use examples of poetic devices within their

writing. They use comparisons and vivid descriptions to help the listeners imagine what the singer

is feeling.

Figurative Language,

Imagery and Sound Devices

Remember to look for:

Personification

Onomatopoeia

Alliteration

Hyperbole

Sensory Language

Simile

Metaphor

Idioms

Allusions and SymbolismSong writers often will use symbolism and allusion to help the listener to understand the theme of the song. Listen carefully for allusions to historical and literary ideas.

Rhyme and RhythmSongwriters use rhyme in their songs, but is not required. Some songs could be considered free verse – poetry with no specific rhyme scheme.

With music, songs have their own rhythm. Rhythm, beat and melody that makes us want to get up and dance!

How to analyze a song as if it’s poetry

• First read through the lyrics of the song.

What are your first impressions of the song?

• Is it Narrative or Lyrical?

• What is the theme/mood? How does it make you feel?

Now go back for a closer read through

• Highlight and label examples of sound devices, figurative language and imagery

How to analyze a song as if it’s poetry

• Circle and identify use of symbolism, allusion or extended metaphor within the song

• Define any new or complicated words

• Underline rhyme patterns

• Identify the theme and give a brief explanation your analyzation of the song.

Do you ever feel like a plastic bagDrifting thought the windWanting to start again

Do you ever feel, feel so paper thinLike a house of cardsOne blow from caving in

Do you ever feel already buried deepSix feet under screamBut no one seems to hear a thing

Do you know that there's still a chance for you'Cause there's a spark in you

You just gotta ignite the lightAnd let it shineJust own the nightLike the Fourth of July

”Firework,” by Katy Perry

'Cause baby you're a fireworkCome on show 'em what your worthMake 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"As you shoot across the sky-y-y

Baby you're a fireworkCome on let your colors burstMake 'em go "Oh, oh, oh!"You're gonna leave 'em fallin' down down down

Starry, starry nightPaint your palette blue and grayLook out on a summer's dayWith eyes that know the darkness in my soul

Shadows on the hillsSketch the trees and the daffodilsCatch the breeze and the winter chillsIn colors on the snowy linen land

Now I understand what you tried to say to meAnd how you suffered for your sanityAnd how you tried to set them freeThey would not listen, they did not know howPerhaps they'll listen now

”Starry Night,” by Don McLean

Starry, starry nightFlaming flowers that brightly blazeSwirling clouds in violet hazeReflect in Vincent's eyes of china blue

Colors changing hueMorning fields of amber grainWeathered faces lined in painAre soothed beneath the artist's loving hand

Now, I understand, what you tried to say to meAnd how you suffered for your sanityAnd how you tried to set them freeThey would not listen, they did not know howPerhaps they'll listen now

For they could not love youBut still your love was trueAnd when no hope was left in sightOn that starry, starry nightYou took your life as lovers often doBut I could have told you, VincentThis world was never meant for oneAs beautiful as you

Starry, starry nightPortraits hung in empty hallsFrameless heads on nameless wallsWith eyes that watch the world and can't forgetLike the strangers that you've metThe ragged men in ragged clothesThe silver thorn of bloody roseLie crushed and broken on the virgin snow

Now I think I know what you tried to say to meAnd how you suffered for your sanityAnd how you tried to set them free

They would not listen, they're not listening stillPerhaps they never will

Your Turn

Choose a song to analyze for yourself.

Choose a song you care about and enjoy listening to. It’s not just historical songs that contain poetic elements!

Your Turn

Create a TWIST analysis of your song

Include the lyrics for the song, as well as your annotations

For extra credit, also do a SIFT

For extra, extra credit, make them into a Powerpoint