Song Analysis #3 Paper

"Unstoppable"

People all have different events that occur in life which change or disrupt other events. There are things such as the weather changing plans or different plans coming up that stray us off the path of what we were planning to take. Things such as past mistakes in our lives however are very different from those little occurrences. Love, however, prevails and triumphs over these mistakes even though they may seem at the time like the end of the world. This kind of perseverance is shown throughout the song "Unstoppable" by Rascal Flatts, which tells about the different things that love can go through without fail.

The song "Unstoppable" by Rascal Flatts shows just how strong the bond of love is and all that it can help to carry through. By saying, "So you made a lotta mistakes, walked down the road a little sideways, cracked a brick when you hit the wall" he is telling about the different struggles that this person has been though within their lifetime. Then he goes on to say, "Hey, it happens to us all, when the cold hard rain just won't quit and you can't see your way out of it." This is saying that it is not just that person that is faced with these unique situations everyday, but as a matter of fact, every single person that deals with this. "You find your faith has been lost and shaken... Get on your knees and dig down deep... It'll come and make you whole again, it always does. Love is unstoppable." This chorus helps the person move on from those past mistakes and know that it does not matter if you are perfect or if you have the worst luck. Love looks past all of those mistakes and on to the beauty that lies inside of the person. This is what matters most of all and that is the message given by the
song.

Throughout the song there are many uses of poetic devices. It compares the past mistakes throughout her life as both a "walk down the road a little sideways" and a crack in "a brick when you hit the wall." It also uses imagery to describe the same thing, "you had a pocket full of regrets, pull you down faster than a sunset." There is also the usage of alliteration within the song when he says, "Get on your knees and dig down deep" and, "Bring you back to being born, again." Another one is, "You find your faith has been lost and shaken." Furthermore, there is another metaphor used to describe the depth of his love for her. When he says, "A lighthouse shinin’ on the coast that never goes dim" he is saying that his love will be like the lighthouse because his love for her will never fade or grow dim. Finally there is a usage of personification within the song. By saying, "Love it can weather in a storm" and, "It’s a helpin’ hand when you need it most" he is giving qualities to love that are similar to an object.

The song "Unstoppable" by the Rascal Flatts is about the love for another person shown through metaphors, similes, personification and many other figurative language strategies. He shows that a passionate love is not effected by our past mistakes or the mistakes that we will eventually make in the future but by what we are like on the inside and that that is all that matters in the long run. Love is not about what we can do, but what we are like as a person. This is shown throughout this song.

Music and the Arts Project Assignment

For my project I am going to do a short story on "Unstoppable" by Rascal Flatts.

So, so you made a lot of mistakes
Walked down the road a little sideways
Cracked a brick when you hit the wall
Yeah, you've had a pocketful of regrets
Pulled you down faster than a sunset
Hey, it happens to us all
When the cold, hard rain just won't quit
And you can't see your way out of it

CHORUS:
You find your faith that's been lost and shaken
You take back what's been taken
Get on your knees and dig down deep
You can do what you think is possible
Keep on believing, don't give in
It'll come and make you whole again
It always will, it always does
Love is unstoppable

Love, it can weather any storm
Bring you back to being born, again
Oh, it's the helping hand when you need it most
The lighthouse shining on the coast
That never goes dim
When your heart is full of doubt
And you think that there's no way out

You find your faith that's been lost and shaken
You take back what's been taken
Get on your knees and dig down deep
You can do what you think is possible
Keep on believing, don't give in
It'll come and make you whole again
It always will, it always does
Love is unstoppable
It's unstoppable

Like a river keeps rollin'
Like a North wind blowin'
Don't it feel good knowin'
Yeah

You find your faith that's been lost and shaken
You take back what's been taken
Get on your knees and dig down deep
You can do what you think is possible
Keep on believing, don't give in
It'll come and make you whole again
It always will, it always does
Love is unstoppable
Love is unstoppable

So, so you made a lot of mistakes
Walked down the road a little sideways
Love, love is unstoppable

Social and Political Messages #2

Last Name lyrics

Songwriters: Underwood, Carrie; Laird, Luke; Lindsey, Hillary;

Last night I got served a little bit too much of that poison, baby

Last night I did things I'm not proud of and I got a little crazy

Last night I met a guy on the dance floor and I let him call me baby

And I don't even know his last name

My momma would be so ashamed

It started off, "Hey cutie, where are you from?"

And then it turned into, "Oh no, what have I done?"

And I don't even know his last name

And he left the club about around 3 o'clock in the mornin?

His Pinto is sittin? there in the parkin? lot when it should?ve been a warnin?

And I had no clue what I was gettin? into so I blame it on the Cuervo

Oh, where did my manners go?

And I don't even know his last name

My momma would be so ashamed

It started off, "Hey cutie, where are you from?"

And then it turned into, "Oh no, what have I done?"

And I don't even know his last name, here we go!

Today I woke up thinkin' ?bout Elvis somewhere in Vegas, I'm not sure

How I got here or how this ring on my left hand just appeared

Outta nowhere, I gotta go, I take the chips and the Pinto and hit the road

They say what happens here stays here, all of this'll disappear

It's just one little problem

I don't even know my last name

My momma would be so ashamed

It started off, "Hey cutie, where are you from?"

And then it turned into, "Oh no, what have I done?"

And I don't even know my last name

What have I done? What have I done? What have I done?

Oh, what have I done? I don't even know my last name

When it turned into, "Oh no, what have I done?"

And I don't even know my last name

It started off, "Hey cutie, where are you from?"

And then it turned into, "Oh no, what have I done?"

And I don't even know my last name, oh yeah

Analysis:

“Last Name” by Carrie Underwood has a social message about people’s actions. It talks about a woman who went to a bar in Vegas and she gets drunk. Once she wakes up in the morning, she finds, “this ring on my left hand” and finds out that when she was drunk at the bar she hooked up with a guy and she does not “even know (her) last name”. This message is about all of the people in our world that find themselves in these situations. People everywhere find themselves getting wasted and not remembering what events occurred the past day. This ever so popular method of spending evenings around our country is becoming out of control and if we all start to partake of this behavior, we ourselves might just find ourselves if not married, in some other predicament such as jail or even injured.
By producing this song, Carrie Underwood was social message of lost love as well. It is funny how, in our society today, there is little similarities to what love used to be 100 years ago. People are getting married and divorced at an astounding rate as well as getting drunk or carried away in places such as Vegas and tying the knot a bit too soon. If love was to be slowed down and not just all passion and in the moment, things would be longer lasting. (Not saying that that stuff is not good now and then!) These social messages are found throughout the song “Last Name” by Carrie Underwood.

Social or Political Messages #1

Change lyrics

By: Carrie Underwood

And it's a sad picture
The final blow hits you

Somebody else gets

What you wanted again

You know it's all the same

Another time and place

Repeating history

And you're getting sick of it

But I believe in whatever you do

And I'll do anything to see it through

Because these things will change

Can you feel it now?

These walls that they put up

To hold us back

Will fall down

It's a revolution

The time will come for us to finally win

We'll sing hallelujah

We'll sing hallelujah, oh

So we've been outnumbered

Raided and now cornered

It's hard to fight

When the fight ain't fair

We're getting stronger now

Found things they never found

They might be bigger

But we're faster and never scared

You can walk away

Say we don't need this

But there's something in your eyes

Says we can beat this

'Cause these things will change

Can you feel it now?

These walls that they put up

To hold us back

Will fall down

It's a revolution

The time will come for us to finally win

We'll sing hallelujah

We'll sing hallelujah, oh

Tonight we'll stand and get off our knees

Fight for what we've worked for

All these years

The battle was long

It was the fight of our lives

But we'll stand up, champions tonight

It was the night things changed

Can you see it now?

The walls that they put up

To hold us back

Fell down

It's a revolution

Throw your hands up

'Cause we never gave in

We'll sing hallelujah

We sang hallelujah

Hallelujah

Analysis:

The song “Change” by Taylor Swift has a social message about the challenges of society and relationships. It talks about how, “Somebody else gets what you wanted again” meaning someone gets the something or someone that you wanted. It then goes to say that, “These walls that they put up To hold us back Will fall down It's a revolution The time will come for us to finally win”. This says that one day, these barriers or blockades in the fight will be broken and you will be able to get that something or someone that you wanted and become “champions tonight”. The message about fighting for what is right is a continuous theme throughout the song “Change”. This social message helps to show people that they will succeed in whatever they are going for if they stand united for the cause.

Imagery #2

There's somethin' 'bout the way
The street looks when it's just rained
There’s a glow off the pavement
Walk me to the car
And you know I wanna ask you to dance right there
In the middle of the parking lot
Yeah

We're drivin' down the road
I wonder if you know
I'm tryin' so hard not to get caught up now
But you're just so cool
Run your hands through your hair
Absent mindedly makin' me want you

And I don't know how it gets better than this
You take my hand and drag me head first
Fearless
And I don't know why but with you I'd dance
In a storm in my best dress
Fearless

So baby drive slow
‘Til we run out of road in this one horse town
I wanna stay right here in this passenger’s seat
You put your eyes on me
In this moment now capture every memory

And I don't know how it gets better than this
You take my hand and drag me head first
Fearless
And I don't know why but with you I’d dance
In a storm in my best dress
Fearless

Well you stood there with me in the doorway
my hands shake
I'm not usually this way but
You pull me in & I’m a little more brave
It’s the first kiss, it's flawless, really somethin’, it’s fearless.

And I don't know how it gets better than this
You take my hand and drag me head first
Fearless
And I don't know why but with you I’d dance
In a storm in my best dress
Fearless

Analysis:
The song “Fearless” by Taylor Swift uses imagery to create a feeling of love for another person. When she says, “my hands shake, I'm not usually this way, but you pull me in & I’m a little more brave. It’s the first kiss, it's flawless, really somethin’, it’s fearless” she is describing what is happening to her when she has her first kiss. The image of her standing there shaking helps the listener to understand just how this moment feels when it takes place. It is enhanced through the use of imagery appealing to these senses.
Another way that this song appeals to the senses is when she says, “But you're just so cool, run your hands through your hair, absent mindedly makin' me want you.” She is using the imagery for the senses of touch and sight when she is talking about how he acts when they are together. When he puts his hand through his hair, she is more attracted to her and you can picture a guy putting his hand through his luscious locks of hair. These are ways that imagery is used throughout “Fearless”.

Imagery #1

“Lost in this Moment”
by Big & Rich

See your mama and the candles and the tears and roses
I see your daddy walk his daughter down the aisle
and my knees start to tremble as I tell the preacher
Don't she look beautiful tonight?

All the wonderful words in my head I've been thinkin'
Ya know I wanna say em all just right
I lift your veil and angels start singing
Such a heavenly sight

Lost in this moment with you
I am completely consumed
My feeling's so absolute
There's no doubt
Sealing our love with a kiss
Waited my whole life for this
Watching all my dreams come true
Lost in this moment with you

I smell the jasmine floatin' in the air like a love song
Watch my words draw sweet tears from your eyes
Bow our heads while the preacher talks to Jesus
Please bless this brand new life, yeah

Lost in this moment with you
I am completely consumed
My feeling's so absolute
There's no doubt
Sealing our love with a kiss
Waited my whole life for this
Watching all my dreams come true
Lost in this moment with you

Lost in this moment with you
I am completely consumed
My feeling's so absolute
There's no doubt
Sealing our love with a kiss
Waited my whole life for this
Watching all my dreams come true
Lost in this moment with you

Lost in the moment
In this moment with you
Lost in the moment
Lost in the moment
In this moment with you
Lost in the moment

Analysis:

The song “Lost in this moment” by Big & Rich uses imagery to appeal to the five senses. By saying, “See your mama and the candles and the tears and roses. I see your daddy walk his daughter down the aisle” they are appealing to the sense of sight. They are also appealing to the sense of smell when talking about the roses. Another way that they appeal to the sense of smell is when they say, “I smell the jasmine floatin' in the air like a love song.” This helps the reader show how good the smell is throughout the room and it also compares it to a love song which relates to the sense of hearing. These are some ways that Big & Rich uses imagery to appeal to the five senses.

FOUND POEM

My Love Story

I wanna kiss a girl,
and be the happiest man in the world.
So put your lips on mine,
because I love you.
I gave you my hand,
because you were everything to me.
So close your eyes,
and go with me,
somewhere we can be alone.
It's a love story.

Songs:
-Kiss a Girl by:Keith Urban
-Go With Me by: Josh Turner
-Love Story by: Taylor Swift

Repetition of Sounds #2

“Sweet Thing” By: Keith Urban

When I picked you up for our first date baby
Well, your pretty blue eyes, they were drivin' me crazy
And the tiny little thought that was so amazing
Is they were lookin at me.

I held open the car door for you then you climbed
Inside and slid on over
To the other side... I thought my, oh my...

Sweet thing
The moon is high and the night is young
Come on and meet me
In the backyard under the cottonwood tree
It's a good thing and I’m wishin
C'mon sweet thing
Won't you climb on out of your window
While the world is sleepin
Cause you know I need you
And there's no way I’ll be leavin
Til we're kissing on the porch swing
Oh my little sweet thing

Yeah I know I’m gonna see you first thing tomorrow
But I just couldn't wait so I had to borrow
Uncle Jake’s mustang, it’s his favorite car
And so i can't stay long...

Standin here feeling like a love struck Romeo
All I wanna do is hold you close and steal a little
More time, is that such a crime?

Sweet thing
The moon is high and the night is young
Come on and meet me
In the backyard under the cottonwood tree
It's a good thing and I’m wishin
C'mon sweet thing
Won't you climb on out of your window
While the world is sleepin
Cause you know I need you
And there's no way I’ll be leavin
Til we're kissing on the porch swing
Oh my little sweet thing

Sweet thing, sweet thing..

Oh my sweet thing
The moon is high and the night is young
Come on and meet me
In the backyard under the cottonwood tree
It's a good thing and tell me I’m not dreamin
C'mon sweet thing
Won't you climb on out of your window
While the world is sleepin
Cause you know I need you
And there's no way I’ll be leavin
Til we're kissing on the porch swing
Oh my little sweet thing

Oh c’mon sweet thing, sweet thing, sweet thing...

Yeah, c’mon now a little now...
Do do do do doo do do do do do do
Oh my little sweet thing, yes you are
Do do do do doo do do do do do do

Repetition of Sounds #1

"Would You Go With Me" By: Josh Turner

Would you go with me if we rolled down streets of fire
Would you hold on to me tighter as the summer sun got higher
If we roll from town to town and never shut it down


Would you go with me if we were lost in fields of clover
Would we walk even closer until the trip was over
And would it be okay if I didn't know the way


If I gave you my hand would you take it
And make me the happiest man in the world
If I told you my heart couldn't beat one more minute without you, girl
Would you accompany me to the edge of the sea
Let me know if you're really a dream
I love you so, so would you go with me


[Instrumental]


Would you go with me if we rode the clouds together
Could you not look down forever
If you were lighter than a feather
Oh, and if I set you free, would you go with me


If I gave you my hand would you take it
And make me the happiest man in the world
If I told you my heart couldn't beat one more minute without you, girl
Would you accompany me to the edge of the sea
Help me tie up the ends of a dream
I gotta know, would you go with me
I love you so, so would you go with me

Analysis of Repetition #2

“Before He Cheats” by: Carrie Underwood

There is a use of Anaphora is shown throughout the song “Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood. When she sings, “Right now, he's probably slow dancing with a bleach blonde tramp, and she's probably getting frisky. Right now, he's probably buying her some fruity little drink 'cause she can't shoot whiskey. Right now, he's probably up behind her with a pool stick showing her how to shoot a combo” she uses this form of repetition to show her frustration. She also uses it in the second verse to prove the same point; her frustration with him. The repetition shows just how much the fact of his cheating makes her mad. The repetition therefore adds to or enhances the song and helps her prove her point.

Analysis of Repetition #1

“Last Name” by: Carrie Underwood

Throughout the first verse of the song “Last Name” by Carrie Underwood the use of Anaphora is found. She says, “Last night I got served a little bit too much of that poison baby. Last night I did things I'm not proud of and I got a little crazy. Last night I met a guy on the dance floor and I let him call me baby.” She uses this type of repetition to get the point across that she was at a bar “last night” and she was not in the clearest state of mind. This enhances the song by making the listener understand that she was there “last night”.

Repetition #2

"Before He Cheats" by Carrie Underwood

Right now,
He's probably slow dancing with a bleach blonde tramp
And she's probably getting frisky
Right now,
He's probably buying her some fruity little drink
'Cause she can't shoot whiskey
Right now,
He's probably up behind her with a pool stick showing
Her how to shoot a combo
And he don't know...

I dug my key into the side of his pretty
little suped up four wheel drive
Carved my name into his leather seats
Took a Louisville slugger to both headlights
Slashed a hole in all four tires
Maybe next time he'll think before he cheats

Right now,
She's probably up singing some white
trash version of Shania karaoke
Right now,
She's probably saying I'm drunk
and he's thinking that he's gonna get lucky
Right now,
He's probably dabbing on three dollars
worth of that bathroom polo
Oh, and he don't know...

That I dug my key into the side
Of his pretty little suped up four wheel drive
Carved my name into his leather seats
Took a Louisville slugger to both head
lightsSlashed a hole in all four tires
Maybe next time he'll think before he cheats

I might've saved a little trouble for the next girl
'Cause the next time that he cheats
Oh, you know it won’t be on me
No, not on me

Oh maybe next time he'll think before he cheats
Oh before he cheats
Oh...

'Cause I dug my key into the side
Of his pretty little suped up four wheel drive
Carved my name into his leather seats
Took a Louisville slugger to both head
lightsSlashed a hole in all four tires
Maybe next time he'll think before he cheats

Repetition #1

"Last Name" by Carrie Underwood

Last night I got served a little bit too much of that poison baby
Last night I did things I'm not proud of
And I got a little crazy
Last night I met a guy on the dance floor
And I let him call me baby

And I don't even know his last name
Oh, my mama would be so ashamed
It started off "Hey cutie, where ya from?"
And then it turned in,
"Oh no, what have I done?"
And I don't even know his last name

We left the club right around three o'clock in the morning
His Pinto sitting there in the parking lot Well it should have been a warning
I had no clue what I was getting into
So I blame it on the Cuervo
Oh where did my manners go?

And I don't even know his last name
Oh, my mama would be so ashamed
It started off "Hey cutie, where ya from?"
And then it turned in,
"Oh no, what have I done?"
And I don't even know his last name
Here we go...

Today I woke up thinkin' about Elvis somewhere in Vegas
I'm not sure how I got here
Or how this ring on my left hand just appeared out of nowhere
I gotta go
I take the chips and the Pinto and hit the road
They say what happens here stays here
All of this will disappear
There's just one little problem...

I don't even know my last name
Oh my mama would be so ashamed
It started off "Hey cutie, where ya from?"
And then it turned in,
"Oh no, what have I done?"
And I don't even know my last name

What have I done
What have I done
What have I done
Oh, what have I done
I don't even know my last name

It turned into
"Oh no, what have I done?"
And I don't even know my last

It started off "Hey cutie, where ya from?"
And then it turned into
"Oh no, what have I done?"
And I don't even know my last name

my last name

Metaphor #2 Analysis

Within the song “Your Everything” by Keith Urban there are many examples of metaphors throughout the text. Most of the metaphors are shown in the chorus when he says “I wanna be the wind that fills your sails & be the hand that lifts your veil be the moon that moves your tide the sun comin up in your eyes be the wheel that never rusts be the spark that lights you up all that you've been dreaming of & more so much more I wanna be your everything”. These examples of metaphors are used to tell the woman that he wants to be her everything. He uses these illustrations to tell her of his love for her and that he would do anything or be anything for her affection. The chorus in this song is a perfect sample of many different metaphors.

Metaphor #1 Analysis

Throughout the song "Inside Your Heaven" by Carrie Underwood she talks about how she wants to be just that, she wants to be inside his heaven. In saying "I wanna be inside your heaven" she is using a metaphor to tell him that she wants to be apart of his world. She also says "All my dreams are in your eyes" to say that everything that she has dreamed of is with him. She is using this metaphor to tell him that he is everything she dreamed and more. Another example of a metaphor is when she says "Every time I see you I'm alive". This statement means that whenever she is around him she has something worth living for and therefore she becomes alive! These are some examples of metaphors throughout this song.

Metaphor Song #2

"Your Everything"
By: Keith Urban

The first time I looked in your eyes I knew
that I would do anything for you
The first time you touched my face I felt
what I never felt with anyone else
I wanna give back what you've given to me &
I wanna witness all of your dreams
Now that you've shown me
who I really am
I wanna be more than just your man

I wanna be the wind that fills your sails &
be the hand that lifts your veil
be the moon that moves your tide
the sun comin up in your eyes
be the wheel that never rusts
be the spark that lights you up
all that you've been dreaming of & more
so much more
I wanna be your everything

When you wake up
I'll be the first thing you see &
when it gets dark
you can reach out to me
I'll cherish your words &
I'll finish your thoughts &
I'll be your compass baby
when you get lost

I wanna be the wind that fills your sails &
be the hand that lifts your veil
be the moon that moves your tide
the sun comin up in your eyes
be the wheel that never rusts
be the spark that lights you up
all that you've been dreaming of & more
so much more
I wanna be your everything

I'll be the wheel that never rusts
be the spark that lights you up
all that you've been dreaming of & more
so much more
I wanna be your everything

I wanna be your everything
I wanna be your everything

Metaphor Song #1

"Inside Your Heaven"
By:Carrie Underwood

I've been down
Now I'm blessed
I felt a revelation coming around
I guess its right, it's so amazing
Every time I see you I'm alive
You're all I've got
You lift me up
The sun and the moonlight
All my dreams are in your eyes

I wanna be inside your heaven
Take me to the place you cry from
Where the storm blows your way
I wanna be the earth that holds you
Every bit of air you're breathin' in
A soothin' wind
I wanna be inside your heaven

When we touch, when we love
The stars light up
The wrong becomes undone
Naturally, my soul surrenders
The sun and the moonlight
All my dreams are in your eyes

And I wanna be inside your heaven
Take me to the place you cry from
Where the storm blows you away
And I wanna be the earth that holds you
Every bit of air you're breathing in
A soothing wind
I wanna be inside your heaven

When minutes turn to days and years
If mountains fall, I'll still be here
Holdin you until the day I die
And I wanna be inside your heaven
Take me to the place you cry from
Where the storm blows you away

I wanna be inside your heaven
Take me to the place you cry from
Where the storm blows you away
I wanna be the earth that holds you
Every bit of air you're breathin' in
A soothin' wind
I wanna be inside your heaven
Oh yes I do
I wanna be inside your heaven

Song #2 Analysis

Pickin’ Wildflowers by Keith Anderson is a song about someone wanting to get together with someone they fancy. Similes are used throughout the song to help create a picture. By saying “Hey Daisy don't you worry 'bout your mama, like 007 we can keep it covert.” he is saying that she does not have to worry about her mom finding out about them because they will keep it a secret like 007 does in the movies. Another simile is “Dive on in like honey bees.” When he compares then to honey bees he is talking about how the bees pollinate flowers by diving into them and taking the pollen to different places. The song has two good examples of similes within the song lyrics.

Simile #1 Analysis

The song “Stand” by the Rascal Flatts is about someone that is telling that they are close with not to give up and “keep holding on.” This song uses many similes He tells this special person that their life is “like a novel with the end ripped out” meaning that they get to decide their own future. He also says that “You feel like a candle in a hurricane. Just like a picture with a broken frame. Alone and helpless like you've lost your fight, but you'll be alright” to let them know that whenever they feel insignificant or unloved that they are and they get to decide their destiny. Through these similes he is able to tell this special person how he feels!

Simile Song #2

Pickin’ Wildflowers By: Keith Anderson

Hey baby whatcha doin' this evening?
Can you meet me down at the railroad tracks?
I got Tom Petty playin' in my Silverado,
And I iced down a six-pack.

Hey Daisy don't you worry 'bout your mama,
Like 007 we can keep it covert.
Undercover on the ground by the water
Gonna get a little peace... on earth.

Chorus:
Baby whatcha say we go pickin' wildflowers?
Got a spot way back in the woods.
Sneak away for a couple of hours,
You and me baby, pickin' wildflowers.

Hey baby, Mother Nature is waitin'
And love's bloomin' like a cherry tree.
Let's buzz around, maybe do some pollenating,
Dive on in like honey bees.

Repeat Chorus

Take a trail ride if you know what I mean.
Hey baby won't you come with me?

Repeat Chorus X2

Simile Song #1

You feel like a candle in a hurricane
Just like a picture with a broken frame
Alone and helpless like you've lost your fight
But you'll be alright
You'll be alright

Cause when push comes to shove
You taste what you're made of
You might bend, till you break
Cause it's all you can take
On your knees you look up
Decide you've had enough
You get mad you get strong
Wipe your hands shake it off
Then you stand
Then you stand

Life's like a novel with the end ripped out
The edge of a canyon with only one way down
Take what you're given before its gone
Start holding on, keep holding on

Cause when push comes to shove
You taste what you're made of
You might bend, till you break
Cause it's all you can take
On your knees you look up
Decide you've had enough
You get mad you get strong
Wipe your hands shake it off
Then you stand (then you stand)
Yea, then you stand (then you stand)

Everytime you get up
And get back in the race
One more small piece of you
Starts to fall into place, yea
Ooohhh
Stand By: Rascal Flatts

Cause when push comes to shove
You taste what you're made of
You might bend, till you break
Cause it's all you can take
On your knees you look up
Decide you've had enough
You get mad you get strong
Wipe your hands shake it off
Then you stand (then you stand)
Then you stand (then you stand)
Yea, then you stand (then you stand)
Yea (then you stand)
Ohhh (then you stand)
Ohhh (then you stand)
Ohhh (then you stand)
Ohhh (then you stand)
Then you stand

Analysis of "Bless the Broken Road"

Love has many different meanings to people. From the heartbreak to the most passionate, the ups and downs of love come into play in all relationships and therefore are a part of many songs, especially country. Country music has the rollercoaster of emotions within most of its songs not only because it is prevalent in everyone’s day-to-day life, but also it is easy to talk about or in this case sing about. Rascal Flatts has created a seemingly endless love in most of their songs such as “Here” and “Love You Out Loud”. But the most undying love affair is found in the song “God Bless the Broken Road” by Rascal Flatts, which tells of the paths in his life that eventually led to this love through many poetic devices.

The song “God Bless the Broken Road” is the story of someone’s life and an everlasting love, which he eventually stumbled across. “I set out on a narrow way many years ago” is his first line of the song in which he starts telling about the journey of his life. He says, “but I got lost a time or two wiped my brow and kept pushing through” which states that he did falter but he kept going because he knew that the love that he was searching for was out there somewhere and it would be worth all the hard work and effort that he put in if he kept going. By saying, “I couldn’t see how every sign pointed strait to you” he tells that he did not know that every sign in his life that he encountered brought him closer and closer to her. He also goes on to say in the chorus, “Every long lost dream led me to where you are, others who broke my heart they were like Northern stars pointing me on my way into your loving. This much I know is true, that God blessed the broken road that led me strait to you”. This statement says to his love that everything that he has experienced in his life such as the bad relationships or lost dreams was, “all part of a grander plan that is coming true” and that God blessed his life journey because it led him strait to her. This song relates to my theme of love in country music because it is about a man’s life that ultimately led to his new relationship.

Throughout the song there are many uses of poetic devices. For instance, when he refers to the “broken road” the metaphor is talking about his trek through life. This could also be an example of figurative language because it is not an actual broken road but it is his life. Another poetic device used in the song is simile. “Others who broke my heart they were like Northern stars pointing me on my way into your loving arms” compares his previous loves to Northern stars which helped him or led him to his newly found love. The tone or overall mood of the song was happy because the singer has a point and purpose in life. He feels as if all of his life was the map to the life that he has always wanted. The point of view in the song is that the things that happened in life were all worth it for her from his perspective. Style is used throughout the song in the form of imagery to tell of his life before the person in his life or the “broken road” and his life with her now. These are all uses of poetic devices used throughout the song.

All through the song “God Bless the Broken Road” by Rascal Flatts the singer is talking or singing about a new relationship that he has been involved in. He tells the whole world that this person was worth all of the heartbreak and pain that he had experienced throughout his life because in the end it all led him to her. This song uses many poetic devices and is an excellent example of love through country music. Rascal Flatts has understood the meaning of unconditional love and has helped the music world to understand it as well. This song and the many other songs help the greater scope of country love and an understanding of love.

"Bless The Broken Road" by Rascal Flatts

I set out on a narrow way many years ago
Hoping I would find true love along the broken road
But I got lost a time or two
Wiped my brow and kept pushing through
I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you

Every long lost dream led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart they were like Northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you

I think about the years I spent just passing through
I'd like to have the time I lost and give it back to you
But you just smile and take my hand
You've been there you understand
It's all part of a grander plan that is coming true

Every long lost dream led me to where you are
Others who broke my heart they were like Northern stars
Pointing me on my way into your loving arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you

Now I'm just rolling homeInto my lover's arms
This much I know is true
That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you

That God blessed the broken road
That led me straight to you.

NARRATIVE: “My Little Girl” by Tim McGraw

The song “My Little Girl” by Tim McGraw is a story told by a father about his daughter. He tells about the first time he ever saw her and how he thought that she was, “an angel wrapped in pink”. Then he skipped a few years to when she was a little older. Saying, “Now look at you, I've turned around and you've almost grown” he is telling her that she has grown too fast and before his eyes she has blossomed into a beautiful young woman. Finally he tells her that in the future, when some man comes into her life, “he won’t be good enough” because she is too good for anyone. He also tells her that to him she, “will always be, his little girl” and that nothing will change that!

LYRICS: “My Little Girl” by Tim McGraw

Verse 1:
Gotta hold on easy as I let you go.
Gonna tell you how much I love you,
though you think you already know.
I remember I thought you looked like an angel wrapped in pink so soft and warm.
You've had me wrapped around your finger since the day you were born.

Chorus:
Your beautiful baby from the outside in.
Chase your dreams but always know the road that'll lead you home again.
Go on, take on this whole world.
But to me you know you'll always be, my little girl.

Verse 2:
When you were in trouble that crooked little smile could melt my heart of stone.
Now look at you, I've turned around and you've almost grown.
Sometimes you're asleep I whisper "I Love You!" in the moonlight at your door.
As I walk away, I hear you say, "Daddy Love You More!".
(Repeat Chorus)

Verse 3:
Someday, some boy will come and ask me for your hand.
But I won't say "yes" to him unless I know, he's the halfthat makes you whole,
he has a poet's soul, and the heart of a man's man.
I know he'll say that he's in love.
But between you and me. He won't be good enough!

(Repeat Chorus)