Using Symbolism and Semantics in Song Interpretation

Lyrics, whether to a forlorn love song, or a party anthem, are not merely vocal accompaniment to the melody, but often stand alone as poetry in itself. Well written lyrics are just like some of the great poems of our time: difficult to interpret, but not impossible.

Artists often create songs based upon meaningful events in their own lives or in reflection of the zeitgeist of the times. One key thing to look for in songs are symbols hidden within the lyrics. Look for proper nouns or names that may stand in for a larger thematic element.Get more information here. http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2011/09/lyrics-gaps-musical-way-to-practice.html References to other objects or animals are also often used to represent things greater than themselves. Search for metaphors or comparisons and you can often pinpoint the noun being used as a symbol.

Confined typically to four minutes of lyricism, each word is chosen carefully and it helps in song interpretation to understand the choice that goes behind each word. For example, rather than saying there were bluebirds outside, a choice is made to say there were crows outside. Each bird represents something very different; it is not simply an issue of semantics, but a choice of words that reflects a greater meaning.

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