Metaphor Song #1: Suddenly I See by K.T. Tunstall

Suddenly I See

K.T. Tunstall

Her face is a map of the world
Is a map of the world
You can see she's a beautiful girl
She's a beautiful girl
And everything around her is a silver pool of light
The people who surround her feel the benefit of it
It makes you calm
She holds you captivated in her palm

Suddenly I see (Suddenly I see)
This is what I wanna be
Suddenly I see (Suddenly I see)
Why the hell it means so much to me

I feel like walking the world
Like walking the world
You can hear she's a beautiful girl
She's a beautiful girl
She fills up every corner like she's born in black and white
Makes you feel warmer when you're trying to remember
What you heard
She likes to leave you hanging on her word

Suddenly I see (Suddenly I see)
This is what I wanna be
Suddenly I see (Suddenly I see)
Why the hell it means so much to me

And she's taller than most
And she's looking at me
I can see her eyes looking from a page in a magazine
Oh she makes me feel like I could be a tower
A big strong tower
She got the power to be
The power to give
The power to see

Suddenly I see (Suddenly I see)
This is what I wanna be
Suddenly I see (Suddenly I see)
Why the hell it means so much to me

Analysis:

"Suddenly I See" by K.T. Tunstall is a song that uses metaphors to describe a powerfully optimistic and inspirational girl. The speaker begins the song by describing this girl that ultimately inspires her to be who she wishes to be. She uses the metaphor "her face is a map of the world". This girl's face is not actually a map of the world, however it is a representation of success and what a person can achieve because she has the world at her feet. This metaphor is important, because it leaves the first impression of the girl on the listener and essentially describes who this girl is and what makes her so intriguing. The speaker uses another metaphor to describe how inspiring the girl is, saying "everything around her is a silver pool of light". The light is a representation of her optimism and ability to inspire those around her and is important because it gives the reader a sense of the girl's optimism. The speaker then goes on to use the hyperbole, "she holds you captivated in her palm" to further illustrate to the listener how much of an affect this girl has on the people around her. The chorus is sort of like an epiphany to the speaker, who is inspired by this girl and suddenly sees "this is what [I] want to be". Becoming the person she wants to be means a lot to her ("why [the hell] it means to much to me"). The second verse begins with the speaker feeling like walking the world, meaning she feels like exploring and enjoying the scenery around her. This is very optimistic, and her optimism can be attributed to the girl, who acts as a role model and inspiration to her. The speaker uses a simile, "she fills up every corner like she's born in black and white" to again describe the effect the girl has on those around her. The girl makes the people around her feel warmer, and her inspiring and optimistic presence is comforting. The girl makes the speaker feel like she can be a "big strong tower", and has "the power to be, the power to give, and the power to see". This strong, optimistic individual inspired the speaker to be who she wants to be and think optimistically.