Song Lyrics Research Articles

Unveiling Hidden Meanings in the Lyrics of One Direction’s Story of My Life

This study delves into the hidden meanings in the lyrics of Story of My Life by One Direction, utilizing Ferdinand de Saussure’s semiotic framework, specifically the concepts of signifier and signified. Employing a qualitative descriptive approach, the research examines the song’s lyrics as the primary data, complemented by secondary data from scholarly sources to provide additional insights. The analysis reveals themes of emotional vulnerability, resilience, and memory, articulated through symbolic and metaphorical expressions in the lyrics. Key findings highlight the interplay between individual emotions and universal human experiences, such as love, loss, and perseverance, making the song relatable to a broad audience. The study demonstrates how the lyrics transcend mere entertainment, offering profound reflections on personal and cultural narratives. By applying semiotics, this research underscores the significance of song lyrics as a form of literary and cultural expression. It also paves the way for future studies to explore similar frameworks in analyzing music and its impact on audiences.

Language and Identity in Ketepik Bulian Padi Played in Gambus Belitung: A Sociolinguistic Study

Gambus and song lyrics complement each other, creating harmony while representing the history and cultural identity of their communities. This study aims to explore identity through diction choices, phonological processes, and musical notes in Gambus. These elements are assumed to reflect social relations and cultural identity. The sociolinguistic theory of isolect and identity theory are applied to analyze the lyrics and musical notes. This qualitative descriptive study employs library research using the song lyrics of Ketepik Belian Padi and the Gambus melody played by Sukino (a Gambus maestro) and his daughter, accessible at https://youtu.be/wEJMsTUhY9c. The research addresses two questions: (1) How is Ketepik Belian Padi in Gambus Belitung portrayed as a social identity? and (2) How is Ketepik Belian Padi in Gambus Belitung used as an element of social identity? The findings show that the identity of the people of East Belitung is deeply influenced by historical events and is preserved through these song lyrics.

THE FUNCTIONING OF COMONYMS IN MODERN SONG TEXTS OF THE TATAR AND MARI PEOPLES

The article is devoted to the analysis of the modern musical and song tradition of the contacting ethnic groups of the Middle Volga region. The main attention is focused on the study of song texts in the Tatar and Mari languages contained in the names of rural settlements of the Republic of Tatarstan and the Republic of Mari El. The preservation of a common trend for all ethnic groups, expressed in the unification of thematic groups, the preservation of common features of national and cultural specificity in the performance of musical works, has been established. An archaic pentatonic characteristic of the Tatar song model, borrowed into the Mari folk song, has been recorded. It is confirmed that the basis of the modern Tatar and Mari musical and song culture of the village is the genre of village chant, marking the place of existence of the song and informing about the attribution of the song to a certain locality. There is a direct connection between the village and the rustic motif (chant). The implementation of the village tune is carried out mainly in everyday languages through lyrical songs and “takmak”. “Takmak” (analogous to Russian chastushka), as a legacy of the musical influence of the Turkic-Tatar population of the Middle Volga region, retained its influence on the musical tradition of the Cheremis (Mari) people, which allowed to establish a certain kinship of modern folkish songs of these peoples in rural society. The marking of the geographical affiliation of the song works is provided by toponyms describing the location of a particular locality. Song collections of a consolidated type in the Tatar and Mari languages are presented in printed and electronic versions. A comparative analysis of modern songs, including comonyms, revealed the manifestation of similar features when they are implemented in a natural cultural environment. Most modern folkish songs, both Tatar and Mari, are based on traditional motifs of the small homeland, nostalgia for the rural nativity, love of nature, autobiographical history, memories of past youth and childhood, indicating the characteristic features of the geo-landscape for this territory, as well as linguistic and cultural images based on the motives of sociocommunication – the presentation of the settlement, its residents, outstanding natives, self-presentation, promotion of village traditions, relationships of the multiethnic composition of the village, etc.

A Study on “Chou” Metaphors in 300 Song Lyrics

Advancements in modern cognitive linguistics have rendered metaphor a conceptual tool for understanding the world. The interplay between emotion and cognition highlights the importance of studying human emotions, which are often metaphorized by people. The expression “Chou” is one of the most prevalent emotions in Chinese Song Lyrics. This paper adopts a cognitive linguistics perspective, utilizing 300 Song Lyrics as the corpus, to conduct a detailed exploration and analysis of the types and meanings of “Chou” metaphors by applying Conceptual Metaphor Theory. The study identifies six main types of “Chou” metaphors in 300 Song Lyrics, namely ontological metaphors, image metaphors, body metaphors, personification, synaesthetic metaphors, and reverse metaphors. Among them, the most common are ontological metaphors and image metaphors. This paper aids in a better understanding of the emotion of “Chou” in Song Lyrics. It is also significant for enhancing appreciation of Chinese poetry and literature, while facilitating a deeper understanding of the characteristics of national metaphorical thinking and promoting cultural exchange.

Decoding the Implicit Meanings: Analyzing Alan Walker’s ‘The Drum’ from a Social Semiotic Perspective

This research explores the application of social semiotics in analyzing the lyrics of Alan Walker's song "The Drum." Social semiotics examines how signs and symbols construct meaning within a social context. The research employs a qualitative approach, focusing on thematic analysis of the lyrics. The findings reveal that the song incorporates various social semiotic elements, including symbolism related to life's struggles, success, and the significance of guidance. The analysis suggests that "The Drum" can be interpreted as a motivational message about overcoming challenges and pursuing dreams. To realize the results and analysis of the songs, "The Drum" by Alan Walker's social semiotics into practice in the classroom, it needs to be done using various methods in various co-curricular activities (especially those integrating life skills) or through the habit of reading and singing or listening to beautiful songs of art, especially the works of young people who always have a very creative and constructive spirit.

‘한국 동요 새노래 지도’경험 탐색: 우즈베키스탄 예비유아교사들을 중심으로

The purpose of this study is to improve students' Korean language and deliver advanced Korean music education to pre-service early childhood teachers in Uzbekistan through ‘the new-song learning activities of Korean children's songs’. 65 students in the Department of Early Childhood Education at Ferghana Korea International University in Uzbekistan were targeted. Starting in September 2023, 15 weeks of ‘the new-song-learning activities of Korean children’s songs’ classes were applied. As a result of the study, interest in the Korean language are increased, Korean was difficult for TOPIK preparation.. However, speaking Korean through song lyrics is a fun everyday English. the basic composition of music was learned through the scale of Korean Children’s songs, and an integrated approach was naturally learned through physical movement activities. It is significant in that it has prepared basic data for research on Korean language classes (bilingual classes) through Korean children's song lyrics and children's music teaching and learning methods in Uzbekistan, which is envious of advanced Korean education.

Anti-Pastoral and the Prophetic Mode in Moddi’s Climate Songs

This article explores aspects of apocalypse and pastoral in the climate themed song lyrics of Norwegian indie folk artist Moddi. Through close listening and contextualizing of the songs “Noens ark” (“Someone’s ark”, 2013) and “En sang om fly” (“A song about planes”, 2013), apocalypse and pastoral emerge as key motifs. These are navigated in an exploration of a conflicted Norwegian response to global warming. The songs express critique of unrelenting pursuits of economic growth and personal consumption even as the future imposes itself on the present. In two different ways, elements of indie folk music are tailored to express an ontologically unsettling encounter with a global environmental risk scenario. “Noens ark” employs forceful instrumentation and polyrhythms to evoke a sense of alarm and urgency called for by the projection of future disaster. “En sang om fly” is a soft composition projecting nostalgia for the material conditions of the present. The desire for these conditions ultimately locks the singer in a cycle of repetition that destabilizes the very conditions he desires. The nuances afforded by this expression in musical performance allows song lyrics to sustain contradictory attitudes towards globalization. In their pursuit of these contradictions, Moddi’s climate songs can be seen as part of an anti-pastoral tradition. Features of musical genre and a prophetic lyric mode are employed to evoke and subvert a pastoral response to apocalypticism. By musically sustaining contradictions between pastoral and apocalypse, Moddi’s songs reflect a conflict between Norwegian identity and a global cultural imaginary in the face of global warming.

Conveying the Meaning through Experiential Metafunction on Song Lyrics: A Case on Ideational Metafunction

This research explores the song "Better Man" by Westlife to uncover its experiential meaning and how it impacts the audience. Using the Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) framework, the study analyzes the song's meaning by examining the processes, participants, and circumstances in the lyrics. Qualitative content analysis is employed to identify various emotional experiences expressed through language. The study involves deconstructing each sentence to understand how participants, processes, and circumstances are used in the song. The primary data source is the authentic lyrics from reliable sources like official songbooks and verified lyric websites to ensure accuracy. The SFL theory helps examine experiential meta function and its components in the lyrics, considering the entire complexity of language in social contexts. The analysis reveals that "Better Man" predominantly employs mental processes, reflecting the singer's personal thoughts and perspectives. The use of verbs like "love," "say," and "hidden" effectively conveys emotions and interactions between individuals. The song's participants, such as "better man" and "her," create emotional connections with listeners. The findings emphasize the importance of language as an expressive tool in art and music, guiding songwriters in effectively communicating deeper messages and meanings. Song lyrics, with their emotional storytelling, establish powerful connections with the audience. While this study offers valuable insights into "Better Man," there is potential for further research. Analyzing more songs and genres can deepen the understanding of how language conveys experiences and emotions in music's broader context.
 Keywords: Experiential Metafunction, Systemic Functional Linguistics, Ideational Metafunction

Hyperbole in the Lyrics of Billie Eilish's "Birds Of A Feather" (2024)

This research explores the use of hyperbole in Billie Eilish's song lyrics, specifically in "Birds of A Feather." lyrics Hyperbole, as a form of figurative language, is often used to amplify ideas or emotions through exaggerated expressions. The study aims to identify and analyze the hyperbolic elements within these lyrics and interpret their meanings using Claridge's (2011) theory of figurative language and Leech's (1981) theory of meaning. The lyrics were sourced from Genius and analyzed using a descriptive method focused on identifying and interpreting hyperbole. The findings reveal six significant instances of hyperbole, primarily conveying affective, connotative, and reflected meanings. The study underscores how hyperbole in Eilish's lyrics intensifies the emotional impact, creating vivid imagery and conveying deep feelings of love, loss, and despair. This research contributes to a broader understanding of rhetorical devices in music. Keywords: Hyperbole, Figurative Language, Song Lyrics

Islamic Educational Values in the Verses of the Song “Mars Nahdlatul Wathan” by TGKH. Muhammad Zainuddin Abdul Madjid from Lombok

This research aims to analyze the Islamic educational values embedded in the verses of the song "Mars Nahdlatul Wathan" written by TGKH. Muhammad Zainuddin Abdul Madjid. This study employs a literature analysis method to comprehend the meaning and messages conveyed in the song lyrics and to identify the Islamic educational values reflected in its verses. The research findings indicate that "Mars Nahdlatul Wathan" contains several highly relevant Islamic educational values. Firstly, the song emphasizes the importance of unity, solidarity, and harmony in society, values that are greatly emphasized in Islam. Secondly, the song encourages the preservation and love for the nation and homeland, in accordance with Islamic teachings on patriotism. Thirdly, it underscores the significance of education and knowledge enhancement as a means to advance society, aligning with Islamic teachings on the importance of knowledge and education. Lastly, the song calls for striving for the welfare of society, reflecting the values of jihad in Islam, not only in a physical sense but also in the sense of working for the common good. Thus, this research concludes that "Mars Nahdlatul Wathan" by TGKH. Muhammad Zainuddin Abdul Madjid contains several Islamic educational values that can serve as a guide for the community in understanding and practicing Islamic teachings in daily life and in building a better society.

ENGLISH PHRASAL VERBS USED IN THE ALBUM “JUSTICE” BY JUSTIN BIEBER

The objective of this research was to find out the types and the meaning of phrasal verb in the album “Justice” by Justin Bieber. The researcher used qualitative method as metodology and descriptive qualitative as approach. In analyzing the data, the researcher used theory of Miles et al, therewere data condensation, data display, drawing and verifying conclusion. The source of the data was taken from the album “Justice” by Justin Bieber. Based on the results, there are two types of phrasal verbs that the researcher found, namely: transitive and intransitive phrasal verbs. Transitive phrasal verbs divided into two types are: Separable and Inseparable. There were 38 data of phrasal verbs, the most common phrasal verb were inseparable 22, separable 6, and intransitive 10. And also the researcher found the meaning semantically from phrasal verbs that contain in the album “Justice” by Justin Bieber. Based on the results of the analysis conducted by the researcher, the researcher concluded that there were a lot of phrasal verbs that contain the song lyrics of the album “Justice” by Justin Bieber and the use of phrasal verb in the album “Justice” by Justin Bieber is added the knowledge about the vocabulary of the phrasal verbs.

IDIOMS IN THE SONG LYRICS OF ARIANA GRANDE’S “MY EVERYTHING” ALBUM

This research was carried out to investigate the idiom in the song lyrics of Ariana Grande’s “My Everything” album. The objectives of this research were to find out the types of idioms and to describe the meaning of idioms found in the song lyrics of Ariana Grande’s “My Everything” album. This research was designed to qualitative research. The researcher collected and classified the data in seven types of idioms suggested by O’Dell & McCarthy and after obtaining the data, the researcher analyzed the data by applying data reduction, data display, drawing conclusion and verification. The result of this research showed that there were various idioms found in the song lyrics of Ariana Grande’s “My Everything” album such as similes, binomials, proverbs, euphemisms, cliché, fixed statements and other language. Each of idioms has their own meaning and they were interpreted based on their context in using them. Idioms obviously most found in the song and it really helps people to enrich their vocabularies and expand their understanding about all expressions in English. The researcher suggested to the students to read this thesis to be able know the context of idioms and also interpret the meaning of idioms. Morever, the researcher also suggested to the other researcher to complete the further research better and provide more explanation and also they can use this research as their reference.

NOSTALGIA IN SONG LYRICS: A SEMIOTIC ANALYSIS OF NIKI’S ‘HIGH SCHOOL IN JAKARTA’

The present research uses a qualitative descriptive approach to explore the meanings and experiences of nostalgia contained in the lyrics of the song High School in Jakarta. The research data consists of the song lyrics as the primary data source. Data collection techniques include observation of the lyrics by noting relevant sections, literature review to understand the cultural context, and systematic text analysis. The data analysis process is conducted through three stages. First, a denotative analysis that examines the concrete elements in the lyrics, such as names, places, and events that reflect adolescent experiences. Second, a connotative analysis that delves into the emotions and deeper meanings behind the words used. Third, a myth analysis that identifies cultural myths present in the lyrics, such as societal views on adolescence and the role of social relationships in identity formation. The research findings indicate that this song serves as a reflective tool for listeners regarding adolescence, as well as how nostalgia is formed through lyrics rich in meaning and cultural context. In conclusion, semiotic analysis provides a deeper understanding of nostalgia as a strong emotional response rooted in the complexities of adolescence.

THE ANALYSIS OF DARK TRIAD CONCEPT IN THE SONG LYRICS OF METALLICA’S “MASTER OF PUPPETS” AND “SAD BUT TRUE”

The dark triad personality is commonly understood in the field of psychological studies. However, the analysis of the dark triad is still relatively new in the realm of literary studies. This article presents the dark triad in the lyrics of Metallica’s songs “Master of Puppets” and “Sad but True”. The selection of these two songs is based on the popularity of the song and the choice of words that cause multiple interpretations among Metallica fans. The findings of this research show that there are three traits of the dark triad found in both song lyrics. Machiavellianism represents manipulation; narcissism represents self-admiration; psychopathy represents anti-social and cruelty. This article can hopefully provide in-depth understanding to listeners as the music from previous decades keeps making comebacks.

An Analysis Of Metaphor In James Arthur Song’s Lyric

This research discusses the analysis of metaphors contained in the lyrics of James Arthur's song on his 3rd album entitled "You" in 2019. The purpose of this study is to classify the types of metaphors and see the most dominant types of metaphors. This research was conducted using a descriptive qualitative method. The data this research underline song lyrics that contain metaphors. The song lyrics are taken from James Arthur’s YouTube account and also from the Google site obtained on March 26, 2024, at 08.00 pm. The data collection instruments used were observation and documentation. Data were obtained from 12 James Arthur songs. The author found 85 data in James' song lyrics. The types of metaphors contained in James Arthur's song lyrics are active metaphor 19 data, inactive metaphor 11 data, subjective metaphor 25 data, asymmetric metaphor 10 data, dead metaphor 11 data, and mimetic metaphor 9 data. The most dominant type is subjective metaphor, which is 25 data. Therefore, subjective metaphor is found more in 12 songs of James Arthur in his 3rd album “You” in 2019. The benefits of this research for the state and nation, especially in the field of teaching is that teachers can teach using subjective metaphors, that is teaching or interacting with students by using more feelings in the teaching and learning process.

Virtual Field Trips Borobudur Temple Assisted with Songs in Stimulating Writing Skills of Descriptive Texts

Writing skills are crucial to basic language skills. However, observations in the field indicate that students' descriptive text writing skills are still low, especially in the aspect of content or ideas. This limitation makes it difficult for students to develop ideas, so the text does not provide enough information and description of the object. With this problem, this study aims to investigate the effectiveness of the virtual media field trip to Borobudur Temple, assisted by songs, in stimulating descriptive text writing skills. This quantitative research uses a quasi-experimental method and a nonequivalent (pretest-posttest) control group design. The research sample consisted of 52 students, with IV A as the experimental class and IV B as the control class, with each class totalling 26 students. The sampling technique used nonprobability sampling with saturated sampling. In the experimental class, special treatment was given, a virtual field trip to Borobudur Temple with the help of songs. In contrast, the control class only used conventional media such as pictures. Research data was collected using test techniques pretest and posttest. Then, the data analysis techniques using independent sample t-test, with the results in Sig. (2-tailed) 0.00<0,05 showing a significant influence of the virtual field trip media at Borobudur Temple assisted by songs on descriptive text-writing skills. This learning media is effective for stimulating descriptive text writing skills because it can inspire students to develop ideas based on virtual field trips and increase vocabulary through song lyrics to be translated into descriptive text.

My Body is not Just Flesh and Blood, it is Emotion and Feeling. Exploring Body Parts in Songs

Our study investigates the symbolic and emotional significance of body part references in pop song lyrics. For the purpose of our investigation, we built a corpus of 100 song lyrics, namely, the top 10 songs on the Billboard Charts for the years 2011-2020. Through a combination of qualitative, quantitative, and co-occurrence analyses, the study explores how references to body parts evoke themes of intimacy, sensuality, and identity. We found recurring motifs involving various body parts, with a particular focus on the heart, hands, and face, with the heart often symbolising love and emotional connection, while the hands were found to be associated with touch and interaction. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that examines the use of body parts in a corpus of 100 topten songs.

Analysing Transitivity Process of 'Star' Song Lyrics by Colde

In several industries, song's language is often created and arranged differently from traditional language. In other words, because music expresses songwriter's feelings, some listeners may find it difficult to understand the song's message or objectives. This study aims to identify kind of the transitivity process in Colde's song 'Star'. Descriptive research was used in this research. The lyrics of Colde's song 'Star' served as the research's data source. Meanwhile, the data consists of song lyrics' transitivity-processing clauses. An interactive model is used to analyze the data. The results indicate that the lyrics of the song contains four various types of transitivity processes: material, mental, existential, and relational processes. This illustrates that several transitivity mechanisms are used in the song's realization. The 'Star' song lyrics mostly use material processes, out of the four categories of transitivity processes identified. This illustrates the chosen song lyrics link to the physical actions that happen to part in social phenomena. Understanding the transitivity process can aid readers in comprehending the song's meaning. It also gives composers an advantage when composing song lyrics because it gives them an increased selection of words.

The Transitivity of Jungkook Song Lyrics “Hate You”

A song is a series of poems that have a certain meaning. Through a song, listeners can feel different emotions. In a song, songwriters usually include their feelings into the lyrics, so that listeners can understand the meaning of the song. However, it is not uncommon for people to just listen to a song without understanding the meaning of the song. Therefore, this research discusses the transitivity system type process in Jungkook's song lyrics. This research is a descriptive qualitative research. The purpose of this research is to find out the most dominating type of transitivity process in the song "Hate You" by Jungkook BTS. The data used in this research are Jungkook's song lyrics. Based on the study results, 31 transitivity processes were identified in the lyrics of the song "Hate You" by Jungkook. The most widely used transitivity in Jungkook's song lyrics is the mental process consisting of affective, cognitive, and perceptive. They were followed by the material process as the second largest process with 8 data points. Then, in the third position, is the existential process with five data points. Furthermore, the behavioral process occupies the 4th position with 2 data points. And finally, there is one verbal process data. This shows that the theme raised in a song will affect the purpose of its transitivity.

Grammatical Alliance in the Acehian Language

This research aims to describe the grammatical alliance system found in the Acehnese language. The research method used in this research is descriptive-qualitative. Miles and Huberman Model Qualitative Data Analysis Techniques Miles and Huberman can be carried out in three stages, namely data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing and verification. Data was collected through online or offline searches, including from digital text databases and online sources, in Acehnese, namely Acehnese song lyrics. Comparison with relevant literature was also used to ensure the consistency and validity of the findings. Based on this, 16 lines were found in two Aceh-language regional songs. The data found that the Acehnese language belongs to the accusative type, which treats S the same as A and gives a gives a different treatment to P (S = A ≠ P).