Song Meaning Pro Discussion #3: Symbolism and What to Do with It

Discussion: Symbolism and Why It's Awesome: Featuring Lots of Artists

Glad you made it! I can’t wait to hear what song you found and what you think of it.

Just to help keep the creative juices flowing, I’ve copied down the “homework” part of the email I sent you.

Your Turn:  Why is symbolism powerful? How can an artist use it to speak to us in a way that he/she couldn't with just literal meanings? 

Homework: Pick a song (preferably from Mumford & Sons' album Sigh No More--it's full of symbols) and read the lyrics while listening to it. Can you identify any symbols? Is there any object, action, or reference in the song that symbolizes a feeling or idea that the artist doesn't explicitly state?  

NOW ANALYZE! In the comment area below, mention your song and tell us what you learned about it. You and your findings may get featured in an email or a podcast in the future!

I can't wait to see what you found, and I hope you're looking forward to tomorrow's lesson about never being wrong when you analyze music! We're going to talk about "Tear in My Heart" by Twenty One Pilots and how we can KNOW we're right about a song.

Thanks for reading!

Sincerely,

Clifford Stumme