I chose this song because it is a beautiful ballad written that can be interpreted in many ways and written by an artist that I enjoy, Faouzia.  

B.) How does your song connect to the song of a slave? 

I imagine a slave singing this song in a somber depressive manner since the instrumental is simple but sad. One amazing thing about this song is the gorgeous piano playing which is the only instrument. You can feel the emotions of the pianist and the singer who sings with a range of an E3 to a belted F#5. In this song Faouzia sings about battling her personal demons but it can be interpreted as an actual "demon" in that scenario, the slave owners. Many slaves had little sleep during at night and were afraid of their masters. Similarly, in this song, those fears (of their masters) were true, and the masters easily could (and have) hurt the slaves. When interpreted, both convey anxiety and a fear that was thought to be imagined but is real. 

C) Lyrics chosen 

Taking us through a heartbreaking story; one of Faouzia’s lyrics which I think would relate to the slaves is:
 Run, run, run, run.
 I'm tired but I can't sleep. 
'Cause they're waiting for me 
These bad dreams are more than true 
And they'll get you

D.) Device and Explanation 
 

“Before they capture your mind,” is an example of a metaphor because this lyric is comparing controlling someone’s mind to capturing their mind. 

Another example of a literary device is repeating the lyric, “Run, run, run,” showing repetition and the recurring theme that someone is trying to run away from her problems but still “they” manage to find her. 

 

 

B) We can envision the slaves singing this song as they march through the woods; dreaming of freedom. This is a loud, rapturous song, and represents the need for freedom. We believe the slaves would have sung this song while dreaming of freedom. The lyrics show the slaves' fight for freedom and are demanding to be freed from their chains. It's an empowering song and shows the hopes and dreams that a slave might have.  

C) 'Cause I need freedom, too
I break chains all by myself
Won't let my freedom rot in hell 
Hey! I'ma keep running 
'Cause a winner don't quit on themselves 

 

Eight blocks left, death is around the corner
Seven misleadin' statements 'bout my persona
Six headlights wavin' in my direction 
Five-o askin' me what's in my possession 
Yeah I keep runnin', jump in the aqueducts 

 
D) These are both personifications.  

For the first example, it is personification because freedom is an idea, not an object. Therefore, it cannot rot in hell, and is a personification. This lyric shows that the speaker wants to protect their freedom. They won't let it go to waste and connects it to hell to show that a life without freedom is like being in hell.  

For the second example, it is personification as well. Headlights are non-living objects, and thus cannot wave. This shows it is personification. In these lyrics, it is a countdown, to show the moments of a police encounter. It relates back to slavery because America had many stereotypes about slaves and shows that they were not treated equally. These lyrics can connect the past to now.  

 

 

That's when I'm gonna stand up
Take my people with me
Together we are going
To a brand new home
Far across the river
Can you hear freedom calling?
Calling me to answer
Gonna keep on keepin' on
I can feel it in my bones

D) Device and Explanation:
This is an example of personification as freedom cannot call to someone. Adding this to the song shows that the slaves have such a longing for freedom they can practically hear it calling them. 

A) “Since I lost you” 

The song we picked is “Since I lost You” by Phil Collins. We picked this song because it is a song of grief and losing someone.  

B) How does my song connect to the life of a slave 

We thought a slave’s life would be one filled with grief and sadness, and this song is perfect for it because it is one about love and losing people. Phil Collins wrote this song after losing his son who was 4 years old. It is like a slave’s life filled with losing people. They are separated from their family on their birthday and will never see them again. This is a song that slaves would sing to help cope with their situation.   

C) Lyrics Chosen 

 But it is so hard to find the words to say 
Like a castle in the sand the water takes away 

Cause my heart is broken in pieces 

D) Device and Explanation 

Simile: This is an example of simile because he compared his words to the castle in the sand washed away by water. He cannot find any words to describe what he is feeling, it is incredibly hard to deal with the loss of a loved one, especially his son at such a young age. 
 

Idiom: Phil Collins did not mean his heart is broken in pieces when he said that. It is an idiom for the grief he is feeling. It is a clever way to describe his deep sadness. 

 B.) We chose this song because it has many connections to nature and provides much imagery to an open field/forest back in the 1800s, before all the infrastructure. It also rapturously captures the idea of freedom and how the singer has finally taken it for themselves, feeling triumphant. The gospels songs sung in the field represent the kind of message taken here. A promise of a new life, free from the bondage of slavery. The singer sings the praises of a good god and a beautiful world. 

 

C) Birds flying high 
You know how I feel 
Sun in the sky 
You know how I feel 
Breeze driftin' on by 
You know how I feel 

It's a new dawn 
It's a new day 
It's a new life 
For me 
And I'm feeling good 
I'm feeling good 

D) This represents the literary device of imagery. It creates the image of a nice, peaceful day, and how the singer views every day as a chance to start over. The singer describes a visible sun in the sky with a light breeze that is “drifting on by”, not a violent gust of wind. Days like these are often tied to being “good weather” days, which helps convey a peaceful, joyous tone in the song. (Elise Vu)

 
D) This represents the literary device of analogy. The singer sings of different parts of nature existing without restriction, making a reference to the sense of freedom. In the line 'Birds flying high, You know how I feel', it shows analogy by saying that a bird flying through the air is how the singer feels, which is a representation of the singer feeling a sense of freedom. (Hunter Wood)

We chose this song because it really describes how the singer is feeling.  

B. How does your song connect to the song of a slave? This song connects to a song of a slave because the way Adele sings this song makes the tone sad and depressing, like she is pleading for help. 

C. Lyrics Chosen 

There ain't no gold in this river
That I've been washin' my hands in forever
I know there is hope in these waters
But I can't bring myself to swim
When I am drowning in this silence
Baby, let me in 

Go easy on me, baby
I was still a child
Didn't get the chance to
Feel the world around me
I had no time to choose
What I chose to do
So go easy on me 

D. Device and Explanation 

Metaphor: “Washing my hands in forever” is a metaphor for time, like how the slaves have been born into slavery all their life. 

 

Personification: “I know there is hope in these waters” is a form of personification because hope cannot physically live in water. Adele is expressing finding hope in the abyss, similar to how the slaves sang in hope of feeling better. 

Metaphor: “Drowning in this silence” is a metaphor (and kind of a personification). The slaves had to suffer and obey their masters, even when they did not want to. Drowning in silence can symbolize hurting in silence. 

Metaphor: “Feel the world around me” is a metaphor because you can’t feel the world physically. Adele says this maybe to suggest she feels connected to the world mentally.  

B) This song relates to the song of a slave because just like the slaves staying together when their world is collapsing, the characters in this song stay together when “the tide takes California”. While singing, the slaves “sing the most pathetic sentiment in the most rapturous tone” (Douglass, pg 29). Similarly, Ashe and FINNEAS sing in an up-beat, exciting tone while singing about how one day they will be split up when the world comes to an end. Instead of fearing this time, they are enjoying the time they get to be together while they can.  

C) If the tide takes California 
I'm so glad I got to hold ya 
And if the sky falls from heaven above 
Oh, I know I had the best time falling into love 
We've been living on a fault line 
And for a while, you were all mine 
I've spent a lifetime giving you my heart 
I swear that I'll be yours forever 
'Til forever falls apart 
'Til forever falls apart  

Da) “And if the sky falls from heaven above”: PERSONIFICATION- This is an example of personification because the sky cannot physically fall but it may feel like it is when your life is very hard. The slaves may feel like the sky is crashing down on them because of how they are treated and the hardships they are experiencing.  

Db) “I’ve spent a lifetime giving you my heart” : HYPERBOLE – This is an example of a hyperbole because you cannot literally take your heart out and give it to someone, but it may feel like you have when you put a lot of work or energy into something that means a lot to you. The slaves have spent a lifetime giving their heart to working on the plantation and doing it well.   

Dc) “We've been living on a fault line”: METAPHOR - This is an example of a metaphor because it compares a fault line, something that could fall apart at any given moment, to their relationship.  The slaves are constantly living on the edge by not knowing how their future will turn out because just a single action could change their life forever.  

 

B. How does your song connect to the song of a slave?
This song connects to the song of a slave because the writer of the song talks about feeling hopeless like how slaves were feeling at this time. The song also talks about not knowing what to do and being stuck in a disaster. 

 
C. Lyrics Chosen
Unbreak the broken
Unsay these spoken words
Find hope in the hopeless
Pull me out of the train wreck 
Unburn the ashes 

 D. Device and Explanation
The line “Pull me out of the train wreck” is an example of a metaphor. The metaphor “Train wreck” represents a disaster or a tough situation, but one of these lyrics surrounding this says “Find hope in the hopeless”. This shows how even though the slave is in a tough situation they still have a small chance of being free, if they can find some hope in the hopeless.  

 C.Lyrics Chosen
It's not too late to build it back
'Cause a one-in-a-million chance 
Is still a chance, still a chance 
And I would take those odds   

 
D. Device and Explanation
“one-in-a-million chance” is an example of hyperbole. This hyperbole represents a small chance, like the small chance a slave had to have a better life or be free. As they walk through the woods feeling worthless, they feel that there is still a chance.  

 

Money, money, money
Must be funny
In the rich man's world
Money, money, money 
Always sunny
In the rich man's world

D.) Device and Explanation
Parallelism 

-Parallelism is used within this song when the writer sings “I work all...” and repeats that phrase. The singer uses this to create a lasting effect that helps display the long, excruciating hours of work. By using this device, the songwriter makes it easier to picture difficult labor performed which helps the listener feel the agony and emotion portrayed by the singer.  

 

Repetition 

-Repetition is used when the songwriter is describing the fantasy of having a rich man’s financial support. Using this device creates a dramatic effect which helps emphasize the lack of reality in the song. It also helps portray the fact that this is a dream that many slaves share, but one that is unreachable with their circumstance.   

 
B.) How does your song connect to the song of a slave?
It has a happier tone, but the lyrics are slower paced and there are references to freedom and God. This song also has references for the attempt to be free and being trapped in pain.

C.) Lyrics Chosen 
 

Some day, some day 
Some day I'll, I wanna wear a starry crown 
Some day, some day 
Some day I wanna lay down, like God did, on Sunday – Repetition 

Some day I wanna lay down, like God did, on Sunday 

They gon’ have to rope me off 

Talk like I drank all the wine 

I wanna hit the red dot, I’ll never find 

 Some day I’ll, I wanna wear the starry crown 

 
D.) Device and Explanation 

PAUL:  Some day, some day
Some day I'll, I wanna wear a starry crown
Some day, some day
Some day I wanna lay down, like God did, on Sunday – Repetition 

The phrase “Some day” is constantly used in the song to emphasize that Kanye is waiting for the time when he can just be happy and relax and that the time will come. 

NATHAN: Some day I wanna lay down, like God did, on Sunday- Allusion to the Bible 

This lyric was chosen because it talks about rest. Slaves were forced to work all day, every day, with little food and rest. The lyric says, “ Some day I wanna lay down”, which relates to slavery because they would want to work less and have time to themselves. Many slaves in the southern USA were religious, and this song lyric is a reference to Christianity and the Bible. 

RHONE: I wanna hit the red dot, I’ll never find- Metaphor 

This lyric was chosen because it represents the goals that the slaves were striving for such as freedom and close families, but in the end these people seem to never reach their goals. Similarly, Kanye is also trying to reach his goals that seem unattainable. 

TRISTAN: Talk like I drank all the wine- Simile.  

This lyric was chosen for its use of a simile, as the word like is used to compare the artist --Kanye – to someone who drinks all the wine. This also relates to slaves, as someone who experiences pain, such as Kanye, would want to remove the pain from their lives. Sadly, the slaves aren’t able to remove the pain from their lives. 

ALEC: Some day I’ll, I wanna wear a starry crown- Alliteration 

This lyric shows the artist Kanye using the first two letters for the words “wanna” and “wear” as an example for alliteration in the song. This lyric shows how Kanye wants to become a wealthy important figure as he says, “starry crown”. The slaves were always at a low point in life striving for freedom. 

I chose this song because it is sung in a very rapturous tone. 

B.) How does your song connect to the song of a slave? 

The song connects to the song of a slave because it is hopeful. As the slaves walk through the trees, I imagine them to be hopeful that they might one day be free. The song is sung with great energy and liveliness. Because of this I imagine whoever's singing it to have very hopeful emotions. 

C.) Lyrics Chosen 

Swing low, sweet chariot 
Coming for to carry me home, 
Swing low, sweet chariot, 
Coming for to carry me home. 

D.) Device and explanation 

Repetition: 

The lyrics “Swing low, sweet chariot” and “Coming for to carry me home” are both examples of repetition. The chariot represents an escape from slavery and the home represents freedom or an area without slavery. The repetition emphasizes the hope for freedom. 

B.) This song connects to slave songs because the slaves would sing louder the more depressed, they were. The lyrics have a sorrowful and remorseful meaning, but the tone and rhythm of the song is quicker. It talks about war and could be interpreted as a song about revolution. The lyrics of the song are also sad with lines like: “I vowed not to cry anymore, If we survived the Great War” (Taylor Swift).  

C.) 

My knuckles were bruised like violets
Sucker punching walls, cursed you as I sleep-talked
Spineless in my tomb of silence
Tore your banners down, took the battle underground
And maybe it was egos swinging
Maybe it was her
Flashes of the battle come back to me in a blur

You drew up some good faith treaties 
I drew curtains closed, drank my poison all alone 
You said I have to trust more freely 
But diesel is desire, you were playing with fire  
And maybe it's the past that's talking  
Screaming from the crypt  
Telling me to punish you for things you never did  
So I justified it  
  

D.) 

“My knuckles were bruised like violets” - This is an example of a simile because it compares two different things using the preposition “like”.  The person who is singing this verse describes their knuckles as bruised, and so they compare them to the deep purple shade of a violet.

 

“And maybe it’s the past that’s talking”- This is an example of personification. The past doesn’t talk; however, when it is “talking” it represents her reminiscing. She sings this line in a depressing tone, which concludes that she has regrets. 

 

“You were playing with fire” - This is an example of an idiom. It Is an idiom because the lyric does not actually mean that “you” were playing with fire in the song. It really means that “you” were doing something risky or dangerous that could result in a disaster. This is related to slavery because many slaves would escape and have a high risk of getting recaptured or dying.  

Evan Chien  

Charles Lu 

Period 1  

5/1/2023 

 

 

Song sadness assignment  

4.Quentin:  

a. Have no fear for atomic energy
Cause none of them can stop the time
How long shall they kill our prophets
While we stand aside and look? 

b. Personification, because “atomic energy” cannot “stop the time.” “Atomic Energy” relates to the Cosmic truths as well as the deities. “Kill our prophets” is the death of many modern leaders supporting Black civil Rights, including Martin Luther King and President JFK. This portion of song lyrics symbolizes the importance of believing and being confident in yourself. 

 

Evan: 

None but ourselves can free our minds 

 

Charles: 

a. old pirates, yes, they rob I 

Sold I to the merchant ships
Minutes after they took I
From the bottomless pit 

b. The connection between this quote and slavery is about the Triangular Trade. The old pirates represent the buyers of the slaves and how they sent them to America, this was almost like robbing them from their hometown and forcing them onto merchant ships. From a bottomless pit represents the Whites had no limits with the slaves. They could treat them very harshly and terribly. This quote is a symbolism and hyperbole because this is expressing the sadness of being brought to America being a slave. It is a hyperbole because the Africans are from the bottomless pit, which means the Whites treated them badly.  

 

The lyrics link 

https://genius.com/Bob-marley-and-the-wailers-redemption-song-lyrics