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

Blister in the Sun was written by Gordon Ganofrom the Wisconsin folk-punk band Violent Femmes.

It first appeared on their debut album, Violent Femmes, in 1982.

This song has been used in a number of films including:◦ Grosse Point Blank

◦ The Benchwarmers

◦ Adventureland

◦ Rocket Science

The lyrics of Blister in the Sun make extensive use of the rhetorical technique of repetition.

Repetition is where a word or sequence of words is repeated throughout a text.

It is common for the chorus of a pop song to appear two or more times in the course of the song.

The chorus of this song, which begins “let me go on...” appears in an identical form three times.

Within the chorus, the words “let me go on” on are repeated.

Let me go on

Like I blister in the sun

Let me go on

big hands I know you’re the one

It is less common in pop songs for a whole verse to be repeated.

That makes this song unusual.

The first verse, which opens with “when I’m walking...”, appears unchanged four times in the song.

The second verse, which open with “body and beats...”, appears unchanged twice in the song.

The word “out” is used at the end of the third and sixth lines of the first verse.

And I’m so strung out

I’m high as a kite

I just might

Stop to check you out

Another technique used in these lyrics in rhyme.

Rhyme is when the sound at the end of words or phrases sounds the same.

Rhyme is found in both the chorus and both verses.

“Sun” rhymes with “one”.

Let me go on

Like I blister in the sun

Let me go on

big hands I know you’re the one

“Kite” rhymes with “might”.

I’m high as a kite

I just might

Stop to check you out

“Beats” rhymes with “sheets”.

“Why” rhymes with “cry”.

“Girlfriend” rhymes with “end”.

Body and beats

I stain my sheets

I don’t even know why

My girlfriend she’s at the end

She is starting to cry

The final technique used in this song is simile.

Simile is where one thing is compared to another.“Let me go on

Like a blister in the sun”

When I’m out walking

I strut my stuff

And I’m so strung out

I’m high as a kite

I just might

Stop to check you out

Let me go on

Like I blister in the sun

Let me go on

Big hands, I know you’re the one

Body and beats

I stain my sheets

I don’t even know why

My girlfriend, she’s at the end

She is starting to cry

Let me go on

Like I blister in the sun

Let me go on

Big hands, I know you’re the one

When I’m out walking

I strut my stuff

And I’m so strung out

I’m high as a kite

I just might

Stop to check you out

When I’m out walking

I strut my stuff

And I’m so strung out

I’m high as a kite

I just might

Stop to check you out

Body and beats

I stain my sheets

I don’t even know why

My girlfriend, she’s at the end

She is starting to cry

When I’m out walking

I strut my stuff

And I’m so strung out

I’m high as a kite

I just might

Stop to check you out

Let me go on

Like I blister in the sun

Let me go on

Big hands, I know you’re the one

In the popular song Blister in the Sun we see examples of two rhetorical techniques.

Repetition is used extensively, within the chorus and of the chorus.

Rhyme is used extensively in the chorus and in both verses.