What kind of repetition do you notice? Remember, repetition can take a lot of different forms:
- sound
- syllable
- word
- phrase
- line
- stanza
- metrical pattern
But often it's not even that hard. Consider the opening lyrics for "I've got a feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas, which repeats several times in a row:
I gotta feeling that tonight's gonna be a good night
That tonight's gonna be a good night
That tonight's gonna be a good good night.
Assignment: Reply to this post and put the name of a song in the title box (don't use the same lyrics as someone else).Then copy some of the lyrics from that song that show some type of repetition.
Next, explain what type of repetition it is and how it functions in the song (does it provide meaning? does it just sound cool?)
We Weren't Born To Follow lyrics
ReplyDeleteSongwriters: Bon Jovi, Jon; Sambora, Richie;
This one goes out to the man who mines for miracles
This one goes out to the ones in need
This one goes out to the sinner and the cynical
This ain't about no apology
This road was paved by the hopeless and the hungry
This road was paved by the winds of change
Walking beside the guilty and the innocent
How will you raise your hand when they call your name?
Yeah, yeah, yeah
We weren't born to follow
Come on and get up off your knees
When life is a bitter pill to swallow
You gotta hold on to what you believe
Believe that the sun will shine tomorrow
And that your saints and sinners bleed
We weren't born to follow
You gotta stand up for what you believe
Let me hear you say yeah, yeah, yeah, oh yeah
This one's about anyone who does it differently
This one's about the one who cusses and spits
This ain't about our livin' in a fantasy
This ain't about givin' up or givin' in
Yeah, yeah, yeah
We weren't born to follow
Come on and get up off your knees
When life is a bitter pill to swallow
You gotta hold on to what you believe
Believe that the sun will shine tomorrow
And that your saints and sinners bleed
We weren't born to follow
You gotta stand up for what you believe
Let me hear you say yeah, yeah, yeah, oh yeah
Let me hear you say yeah, yeah, yeah, oh yeah
We weren't born to follow
Come on and get up off your knees
When life is a bitter pill to swallow
You gotta hold on to what you believe
Believe that the sun will shine tomorrow
And that your saints and sinners bleed
We weren't born to follow
You gotta stand up for what you believe
Let me hear you say yeah, yeah, yeah, oh yeah
Let me hear you say yeah, yeah, yeah, oh yeah
We weren't born to follow, oh yeah
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, oh yeah)
We weren't born to follow, oh yeah
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, oh yeah)
EXPLANATION
In this song there is a lot of sound/beat repetition as well as word and phrase. O think the course is the most powerful phrases and words and it sends the meaning of the song home.
Bless The Broken Road"- Rascal Flats
ReplyDeleteI 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
[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 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
[Chorus]
Now I'm just rolling home
Into 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.
In this song there is repetition of words in the chorus a lot. There is also in the verses repetition of sounds which I believe adds to the tone of the song. I also think the repetition of "God blessed the broken road that lead me straight to you" is important because it helps them convey the message of the song.
Word Forward - Foo Fighters
ReplyDeleteBut it's only words
I meant every word
They're just (bleep)ing words
Word for word? for word forward
Word for word? for word forward
Metric - Help I'm Alive
ReplyDeleteIf we're still alive
My regrets are few
If my life is mine
What shouldn't I do?
I get wherever I'm going
I get whatever I need
While my blood's still flowing
And my heart's still
Beating like a hammer
Beating like a hammer
Beating like a hammer
Beating like a hammer
The repetition is used to convey meaning as the music cuts away (mostly) to let the lead singer sing the repeated part. Also, the base drum is the only other loud part during that section so it helps convey the feeling of a heart beating. Both the sound and phrase are repeated.
Come Together - The Beatles
ReplyDeleteCome together
Yeah come together
Yeah come together
Yeah come together
Yeah come together
Yeah come together
Yeah come together
Yeah oh
Come together
Yeah come together
This happens at the end of the song as it fades out - It gives the listener the feeling that The Beatles were really into their music because of the way the lyrics sound.