Imagery Song #1: Tuesday Afternoon - The Moody Blues

Tuesday Afternoon

The Moody Blues

Tuesday, afternoon,
I'm just beginning to see,
Now I'm on my way,
It doesn't matter to me,
Chasing the clouds away.

Something, calls to me,
The trees are drawing me near,
I've got to find out why
Those gentle voices I hear
Explain it all with a sigh.

I'm looking at myself, reflections of my mind,
It's just the kind of day to leave myself behind,
So gently swaying thru the fairy-land of love,
If you'll just come with me and see the beauty of

Tuesday afternoon.
Tuesday afternoon.

Tuesday, afternoon,
I'm just beginning to see,
Now I'm on my way,
It doesn't matter to me,
Chasing the clouds away.

Something, calls to me,
The trees are drawing me near,
I've got to find out why
Those gentle voices I hear
Explain it all with a sigh.

Analysis:

"Tuesday Afternoon" by the Moody Blues contains lots of imagery, all of which compliment the song greatly. The song begins with the speaker having a sort of epiphany one "Tuesday afternoon", and he realizes that "now I'm on my [his] way". Something inspired the speaker to embark on a new journey in his life, and the song begins on an optimistic note. The speaker then states, "It doesn't matter to me, chasing the clouds away", hinting to the listener that perhaps his new journey was to be carefree and happy. He no longer worries about the trivial things in life, and "chasing the clouds away" appeals to the sense of sight, and gives the listener a vision of fluffy white clouds in the afternoon sky, and a carefree man chasing away his problems (the "clouds" in his sunny sky). More imagery occurs in the next verse of the song, and the speaker says, "Something calls to me, the trees are drawing me near", which gives the listener a visual image in their minds. Then he continues, "Those gentle voices I hear explain it all with a sigh", which gives another clear mental picture to the listener. The third verse contains the most imagery, with lines such as, "I'm looking at myself, reflections of my mind" and, "It's just the kind of day to leave myself behind", which are optimistic and illustrate a certain optimistic mentality to the reader. The optimism in the song continues in the next lines, "So softly swaying through the fairy-land of love, if you'll just come with me and see the beauty of Tuesday afternoon", showing that the speaker appreciates the beauty of life.

Song Analysis # 2: "Hey Jude" - The Beatles

Songwriters utilize music as a form of expression, and songs can be written for many different purposes. Songs may be written in a general sense to address a people and send them out a message, or it can be written on a more personal and dedicated to a certain person, group, or issue that the speaker feels strongly about. Many pieces of music have been written and dedicated to a certain individual (whether they are real or fictitious) with the purpose to send a message to them. Songs such as these often prove to be inspirational to the listener as well, and allow the listener to develop their own meaning for the song. “Hey Jude”, written by Paul McCartney for his son, Jules, to console him, serves to be an optimistic song that inspires not only Jules McCartney, but also the listener. 

“Hey Jude” is an encouraging ballad that’s purpose is to lift the spirits of ‘Jude”, a young man in despair, and inspire him to go after the girl he’s in love with. The speaker begins by saying, “Hey Jude, don’t make it bad”, trying to inspire Jude not to focus on the negatives, and instead on the positives by taking “a sad song and make[ing] it better”, or taking a bad situation and making the best of it. The speaker wants Jude to let the girl that he loves “into [Jude’s] heart” so that he can “start to make it better”. Once Jude has his love in his life, he will become a happier person and make his life better. The speaker assures Jude not to be afraid, and that he was “made to go out and get her”, insinuating that he believes Jude and the girl he loves are soul mates and meant to be together. The speaker insists that the minute that Jude and his lover become close, when he “lets her under [his] skin”, his life will be better and happier. In the next verse, the speaker tries to advise Jude not to let things build up and stress him out. He sings, “Anytime you feel the pain, hey Jude, refrain” and tells him “don’t carry the world upon your shoulders”. He then tells Jude that he is a fool for pretending he is fine when he really is not (“for well you know that it’s a fool who plays it cool by making his world a little colder”). The next verse serves as a piece of motivation for Jude, and the speaker tells Jude, “Don’t let me down”. He then says, “You have found her, now go and get her”, motivating him to go after the girl who could very well be the one who is meant for him. The speaker then repeats, “Remember to let her into your heart, then you can start to make it better”, which hints to Jude that by getting to know her, his life will be better. The next verse begins, “So let it out and let it in, hey Jude, begin”, and the speaker tells Jude to take deep breaths and just calm his thoughts. Then he points out, “You’re waiting for someone to perform with”, meaning that Jude has been solo for so long, and he has been waiting for a companion to spend his life with. He asks Jude, “Don’t you know that its just you?” meaning that Jude is the only one for her. According to the speaker, the “movement [Jude] need is on your shoulder”, the movement being a shrug. Jude needs not to carry the stresses of the world on his shoulder, and instead needs to shrug it all off and live for himself. This song is trying to get the message out that one shouldn’t carry the burdens of the world upon their shoulders, and that love in any form cures anything. 

There are many different poetic devices used in “Hey Jude”, all of which enhance the listening pleasure of the song and make it fit in with all of the other catchy Beatles classics. Repetitions of sounds are found frequently in the song, and alliteration, consonance, and assonance are used. In the first verse, alliteration with the consonant “s” is present: “sad song”. Assonance is also used in the song various times with the phrases: “anytime you feel the pain, hey Jude, refrain”, “for well you know that’s it’s a fool who plays it cool”, and “don’t you know that its just you, hey Jude, you’ll do”. Epistrophe, a repetition of words and phrases, is also evident within the song. The song says, “make it better” at the end of the second and fourth line in the first verse. These poetic devices increase the song’s catchiness and give it the signature Beatles sound.

This song, “Hey Jude”, fits into the theme of Optimism and Inspiration for many reasons, and is a perfect example of an inspirational ballad. This song was originally written to be inspirational to the songwriter’s son, and succeeded in fulfilling not only its original purpose, but also it inspired listeners around the world. It is very optimistic, and tries to lift the spirits of the listener, or “Jude”, by telling him or her to “take a sad song and make it better”, or make the best of the situation. This song serves to be not only inspirational for its original recipient, Jules McCartney, but also to the average listener who just needs a pick-me-up to lift their spirits when in despair.

Lyrics:

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. 

Take a sad song and make it better. 

Remember to let her into your heart, 

Then you can start to make it better. 

Hey Jude, don't be afraid. 

You were made to go out and get her. 

The minute you let her under your skin, 

Then you begin to make it better. 

And anytime you feel the pain, hey Jude, refrain, 

Don't carry the world upon your shoulders. 

For well you know that it's a fool who plays it cool 

By making his world a little colder. 

Da da da da da da, da da da, hey Jude... 

Hey Jude, don't let me down. 

You have found her, now go and get her. 

Remember to let her into your heart, 

Then you can start to make it better. 

So let it out and let it in, hey Jude, begin, 

You're waiting for someone to perform with. 

And don't you know that it's just you, hey Jude, you'll do, 

The movement you need is on your shoulder. 

Da da da da da da, da da da, hey Jude... 

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. 

Take a sad song and make it better. 

Remember to let her under your skin, 

Then you'll begin to make it 

Better better better better better better, oh. 

Da da da da da da, da da da, hey Jude...

My Found Poem: Through a Looking Glass

Through a looking glass

I see a new world

Always laughter

Singing of gratitude

Suddenly I see

A map of the world

My eyes are captivated

By the power to see

Everything around is a silver pool of light

Feel the benefit of it

Celebrate the malleable reality

Life is but a dream

(lyrics taken from: "Live High" - Jason Mraz and "Suddenly I See" - K.T. Tunstall)

Repetition of Sounds 2: I Want To Break Free - Queen

I Want To Break Free

Queen

I want to break free
I want to break free
I want to break free from your lies
Youre so self satisfied I dont need you
Ive got to break free
God knows God knows I want to break free

Ive fallen in love
Ive fallen in love for the first time
And this time I know its for real
Ive fallen in love yeah
God knows God knows Ive fallen in love

Its strange but its true
I cant get over the way you love me like you do
But I have to be sure
When I walk out that door
Oh how I want to be free baby
Oh how I want to be free
Oh how I want to break free

But life still goes on
I cant get used to living without living without
Living without you by my side
I dont want to live alone hey
God knows got to make it on my own
So baby cant you see
Ive got to break free

Ive got to break free
I want to break free yeah

I want I want I want I want to break free....

Repetition of Songs 1: All These Things That I've Done - The Killers

All These Things That I've Done

The Killers

When there's no where else to run
Is there room for one more son
One more son
If you can hold on
If you can hold on, hold on
I wanna stand up, I wanna let go
You know, you know - no you don't, you don't
I wanna shine on in the hearts of men
I wanna mean it from the back of my broken hand

Another head aches, another heart breaks
I am so much older than I can take
And my affection, well it comes and goes
I need direction to perfection, no no no no

Help me out
Yeah, you know you got to help me out
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the back burner
You know you got to help me out, yeah

And when there's nowhere else to run
Is there room for one more son
These changes ain't changing me
The gold-hearted boy I used to be

Yeah, you know you got to help me out
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the back burner
You know you got to help me out
You're gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, you're gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, you're gonna bring yourself down

[x10]
I got soul, but I'm not a soldier
I got soul, but I'm not a soldier

Yeah, you know you gotta help me out
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the back burner
You know you gotta help me out
You're gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, you're gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the back burner
You're gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, you're gonna bring yourself down

Over and in, last call for sin
While everyone's lost, the battle is won
With all these things that I've done
All these things that I've done
(Time, truth, and heart)
If you can hold on
If you can hold on

Anadiplosis: Life is Wonderful by Jason Mraz

Life is Wonderful

Jason Mraz

It takes a crane to build a crane

It takes two floors to make a story

It takes an egg to make a hen

It takes a hen to make an egg

There is no end to what I'm saying

It takes a thought to make a word

And it takes some words to make an action

And it takes some work to make it work

It takes some good to make it hurt

It takes some bad for satisfaction

Ah la la la la la la life is wonderful

Ah la la la la la la life goes full circle

Ah la la la la life is wonderful

Ah la la la la la

It takes a night to make it dawn

And it takes a day to make you yawn brother

And it takes some old to make you young

It takes some cold to know the sun

It takes the one to have the other

And it takes no time to fall in love

But it takes you years to know what love is

And it takes some fears to make you trust

It takes some tears to make it rust

It takes the dust to have it polished

Ah la la la la la la life is wonderful

Ah la la la la la la life goes full circle

Ah la la la la la la life is wonderful

Ah la la la la

It takes some silence to make sound

And it takes a loss before you found it

And it takes a road to go nowhere

It takes a toll to make you care

It takes a hole to MAKE a mountain

Ah la la la la la life is wonderful

Ah la la la la la life goes full circle

Ah la la la la la la life is wonderful

Ah la la la la la life is meaningful

Ah la la la la la la life is wonderful

Ah la la la la la life is meaningful

Ah la la la la la la life is full of

Ah la la la la la life is so full of love

Ah la la la la la life is wonderful

Ah la la la la la la life is meaningful

Ah la la la la la life is full of

Ah la la la la la life is so full of love

Analysis:

"Life is Wonderful" by Jason Mraz uses a form of repetition, called anadiplosis, to enhance the meaning of the song. Anadiplosis is the repetition of words at the end of a phrase that are used at the beginning of the next phrase. The song is meant to be inspirational, saying that life goes full circle, and everything happens for a reason. The speaker uses anadiiplosis in the first verse to further support his ideas. He sings, "it takes an egg to make a hen it takes a hen to make an egg" to provide an example for his philosophy that life goes full circle. The speaker uses some anaphora as well, repeating the phrase "it takes" at the beginning of most of the lines of the song. This use of anaphora illustrates the dependence one thing has on another in order to make something happen. Cranes are needed to make cranes, thoughts are needed to make words, and it takes some fears to make you trust. Every occurence in life happens because of another occurence, and everything happens full circle. This song uses repetition to enhance its message and meaning, and its meaning makes it optimisitc and inspirational.

Anaphora: Rock & Roll Dreams Come Through by Meat Loaf

Rock & Roll Dreams Come Through

Meat Loaf

You cant run away forever

But theres nothing wrong with getting a good head start

You want to shut out the night

You want to shut down the sun

You want to shut away the pieces of a broken heart

Thing of how wed lay down together

Wed be listening to the radio so loud and so strong

Every golden nugget coming like a gift of the gods

Someone must have blessed us when he gave us those songs

I treasure your love

I never want to lose it

Youve been through the fires of hell

And I know youve got the ashes to prove it

I treasure your love

I want to show you how to use it

Youve been through a lot of pain in the dirt

And I know youve got the scars to prove it

Remember everything that I told you

Well Im telling you again that its true

When youre alone and afraid

And youre completely amazed

To find theres nothing anybody can do

Keep on believing

And youll discover baby

Theres always something magic

Theres always something new

And when you really, really need it the most

Thats when rock and roll dreams come through

The beat is yours forever

The beat is always true

And when you really, really need it the most

Thats when rock and roll dreams come through...for you...

Once upon a time was a backbeat

Once upon a time all the chords came to life

And the angels had guitars even before they had wings

If you hang on to a chorus you get through the night

I treasure your love

I never want to lose it

Youve been through the fires of hell

And I know youve got the ashes to prove it

I treasure your love

I want to show you how to use it

Youve been through a lot of pain in the dirt

And I know youve got the scars to prove it

Remember everything that I told you

Well Im telling you again that its true

Youre never alone cause you can put on the phones

And let the drummer tell your heart ehat to do

Keep on believing

And youll discover baby

Theres always something magic

Theres always something new

And when you really, really need it the most

Thats when rock and roll dreams come through

The beat is yours forever

The beat is always true

And when you really, really need it the most

Thats when rock and roll dreams come through...for you...

Analysis:

There are many examples of anaphora in the song "Rock & Roll Dreams Come Through" by Meat Loaf. Anaphora is used in the song for emphasis, and enhances the song tremendously. One example of anaphora is used to connect to the listener, or who the song was written for. The speaker sings, "you want to shut out the night, you want to shut down the sun, you want to shut away the pieces of a broken heart". Repetition is used here by the speaker to tell the listener (or who the song was written for) that he understands what they are going through and knows what they want. Another example of anaphora is used to inspire the listener, and enhances the mood of optimism. The speaker sings, "there's always something magic, there always something new" and "the beat is yours forever, the beat is always true". They want to tell the listener not to give up hope, because they will always have music and past memories to inspire them. The speaker also uses anaphora to reflect upon past times and how things used to be. He sings, "once upon a time was a backbeat, once upon a time all the chords came to life" to sing of better times. This song is inspirational and optimistic, and the anaphora used helps the listener think optimistically.